Screen readers are a vital tool which enables blind and visually impaired individuals to use computers and smartphones. Thanks to them, the digital world becomes available to everyone regardless of any eye impairments they might have.

How Screen Readers Work

These programmes render the content of the screen as speech output. This means that every item on the screen – text, picture, button – is described verbally by a speech synthesizer. This way a blind person is able to:

• Navigate the operating system: Open programmes, browse folders, edit documents.

• Use a web browser: Access websites, fill out forms, read articles and books.

• Use apps: use messaging apps, text editors, spreadsheets.

The process can be broken down into a few stages

1. Scanning: the programme analyses the content of the screen identifying text and visual elements.

2. Translating: Information about the content of the screen is rendered into text.

3. Speech synthesis: Text is passed on to the speech synthesiser which renders it into sound.

4. Playing: The user hears a description of the screen’s content.

Popular Screen Readers

Various screen readers are available on the market. Each of them has its own functionality, interface and price. These are some of the most popular ones:

JAWS (Job Access With Speech): One of the most advanced and popular screen readers. It offers a wide range of functions. Compatibility is its great advantage, as JAWS is compatible with most popular programmes and apps on computers with the Windows operating system. This screen reader is being developed constantly and users praise its efficiency and speed. A demonstration of this screen reader can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlcY7QIsP0c

Unfortunately, it is beyond reach for many people due to its high price.

https://www.freedomscientific.com/products/software/jaws/

NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access): a programme which is gaining popularity because of its efficiency and because it is easy to use. It is intuitive and thanks to numerous keyboard shortcuts enables quick and effective navigating through the system.

It can be used not only on Windows, but also on Linux. A big advantage of this programme is that it is completely free and available under an open-source licence, which means that anyone can download it and use it without limitation. NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) is the result of the work of numerous people and communities who devoted a lot of time across the years to create a tool which would help blind people. The users themselves also play a vital part in the development of NVDA. They report mistakes, suggest new functions and test new versions of the programme. Follow this link to see how this screen reader works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCFyyqy9mqoW

Volunteers also participate in developing NVDA. They translate the programme into different languages, keep records and help other users. The programme is also supported by voluntary donations. NVDA is an example of how, thanks to teamwork, it is possible to create a tool which has a great influence on other people’s lives. This project shows that technology can be used to create a more inclusive world.

https://www.nvaccess.org/

SuperNova: a complex solution which combines screen reading, enlarging images and Braille support. Like other similar programmes, it can be used in many languages, which enables users to access resources available in various languages. Users praise SuperNova for making it possible to automate many processes, which makes work quicker and makes it easier to perform everyday tasks on the Windows operating system. Here you can see how this screen reader works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBA-dIzoi_Y

What is more, the producer of SuperNova provides its users with professional technical support which is vital in the case of such a complex software.

https://yourdolphin.com/SuperNova

The programmes described above can be used on the Windows operating system. However, those who prefer Linux also have some options to choose from.

Orca is one of these screen readers. It is built into many Linux distributions (e.g. Ubuntu). It can be used for many graphical environments and shells. It offers a wide range of functions such as reading text, describing graphic elements or navigating the interface.

https://help.gnome.org/users/orca/stable/index.html.en

Another popular programme is Emacspeak: It is integrated with the Emacs text editor and offers powerful text editing and programming tools. It can be used as a self-sufficient screen reader.

http://www.linux-speakup.org/faq.html

Talking Phones

Nowadays, screen readers are added to all smartphones and can be turned on and off at will. These are vital tools which enable blind and visually impaired individuals to use smartphones fully. Thanks to them every item on the screen (text, icon etc.) is read aloud which makes navigating and interacting with the device possible.

Most popular screen readers for smartphones

1. VoiceOver (iOS):

• Built into the system: it is a default app available on all Apple devices.

• Functionality: reads text, describes graphic elements, allows gestures. It is possible to choose a voice and adjust the speed of reading. Here you can see how VoiceOver workshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROIe49kXOc8

• Integration: it works with other iOS functions like Siri or AssistiveTouch.

https://www.apple.com/voiceover/info/guide/_1121.html

2. TalkBack (Android):

• Built into the system: available on most Android devices.

• Functionality: like VoiceOver, it reads text, describes graphic elements and allows gestures.

• Adaptability: a wide range of customisation options, which include change of voice, language and speed of reading.

Follow this link to see how TalkBack works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEp9DtiTw3s

3. Jieshuo Screen Reader (Commentary):

• An array of gestures which makes it possible to navigate the smartphone quickly.

• The possibility of adding one’s own gestures and adjusting built-in gestures to one’s needs.

• Offers many customisation options, such as the choice of voice and speed of reading or adjusting colour contrast.

• Good sound quality: the speech synthesiser offers clear sound thanks to which it is easy to understand the content. Here you can see how Commentary works and hear what it sounds like:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpL33ULnl8o

• Regular updates: the developers of Jieshuo are constantly working on improving the app by adding new functions and boosting its efficiency.

https://accessibleandroid.com/jieshuo-screen-reader/

Each of these programmes uses gestures to do things like scrolling, pressing, dragging. This makes it possible for the user to use the device without the need to press any buttons. The programme not only enables detailed exploration of all elements of the screen like icons, buttons or text fields but also informs the user about new notifications by reading their content. These programmes are compatible with many popular apps, e.g. Gmail, Facebook, WhatsApp.

How to choose the right programme

The choice of the right screen reader depends on the user’s individual needs, such as:

• Level of advancement: programmes with intuitive interfaces and a wide range of settings are better for beginners.

• Type of work: if a user mainly works with text files, a less advanced programme will suffice. On the other hand, people working in a software environment need more specialised tools.

• The user’s preferences: every user has their own preferences regarding the synthesiser’s voice, the speed of reading or ways of navigating the programme. It is true that it often depends on which programme the blind user found first or which they had the chance to master. Each of the screen readers described above has many loyal users and the differences between them are not very important.

Summary

Screen readers are a valuable tool for blind and visually impaired individuals as they enable their participation in digital life. Thanks to the constant development of technology, these programmes become more and more advanced and easier to use.

Should you wish to know more about screen readers, we recommend you visit websites of producers or organisations which rehabilitate blind people (the websites are listed above).

The article was created in close collaboration between the Polish Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired "Trakt” and Have a Book.

Translated by Aleksandra Kallas