Microsoft Narrator

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Microsoft Narrator
Image:Narrator on Windows XP.png
Microsoft Narrator on Windows Vista
Developer Microsoft
Initial release Windows 2000
OS Microsoft Windows
Genre Screen reader
License Proprietary EULA
Website [1]

Narrator is a light-duty screen reader utility packaged with Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista. Narrator reads dialog boxes and window controls in a number of the more basic applications for Windows.

While Microsoft recommends that the visually impaired purchase a full-function screen reader for general computer use, Narrator is a significant piece of software for a number of reasons. Narrator is included with every copy of Microsoft Windows, providing a measure of access to Windows without the need to install additional software as long as the computer in use includes a sound card and speakers or headphones. Windows 2000 was the Microsoft operating system released with some degree of accessibility for the blind built in, permitting a blind person to walk up to any such computer and make some use of it immediately.

Narrator can assist a blind person in installing a full-function screen reader, assisting the user until his/her screen reader of choice is up and running. As well, because Narrator is a lightweight screen reader that requires minimal "hooks" into the operating system, Narrator can provide speech when a full-function screen reader might be unable to do so such as during the process of updating video drivers.

The Windows 2000 version of Narrator uses SAPI 4 and allows the use of other SAPI 4 voices. The Windows XP version uses the newer SAPI 5, however, it only allows the use of the default voice, Microsoft Sam, even if other voices have been installed. In Windows Vista, Narrator has been updated to use SAPI 5.3 and the Microsoft Anna voice.

Vista Narrator is not designed to read document text in Microsoft Word 2003.

[edit] External links

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