There is no problem for SpeakOn and a screen reader or magnifier to reside together on your computer.
SpeakOn is 'self-voicing' and therefore does not depend on a screen reader. Because there is nothing to see on the plain SpeakOn window, there is no need to use a magnifier either. However, when you start to use SpeakOn you may want to keep your screen reader or magnifier running so that you can switch to another application; for example if you want to browse this documentation at the same time as you operate SpeakOn.
SpeakOn can be operated using the Standard keyboard, Numerical keypad (NumPad), TouchPad or TouchScreen. For clarity, screen reader considerations for each of these interaction types are described separately in a self-contained way below.
1. Using the Standard keyboard
If you use the Standard keyboard and do not use 'Key echo On' with your screen reader, it might be possible to leave your screen reader running with no intervention. If you find that your screen reader speaks while you use SpeakOn, you have the following options:
With some screen readers you will be able to leave your screen reader running while using SpeakOn provided you mute the screen reader speech manually when the focus is on SpeakOn.
Switch the screen reader or magnifier off (exit the screen reader program) when using SpeakOn.
Configure your screen reader to stop speaking automatically while the focus is on SpeakOn; this option is available with most commercial screen readers.
These topics together with the configuration of popular screen readers are discussed in the following pages.
Screen readers and magnifiers sometimes use the NumPad as part of their own operation.
To use the NumPad, the NumLock key must be on. To avoid conflict with your screen reader or magnifier, you have the following options:
With some screen readers you will be able to leave your screen reader running while using SpeakOn provided you mute the screen reader speech manually when the focus is on SpeakOn; this will release the NumPad for SpeakOn's use as well.
Switch the screen reader or magnifier off (exit the screen reader program) when using SpeakOn.
Configure your screen reader to stop speaking and release the NumPad automatically while the focus is on SpeakOn; this option is available with most commercial screen readers.
These topics together with the configuration of popular screen readers are discussed in the following pages.
The TouchPad moves the mouse cursor and therefore you need to ensure that your screen reader does not speak when you slide your finger on the TouchPad when you use SpeakOn. To do this you have the following options:
With some screen readers you will be able to leave your screen reader running while using SpeakOn provided you mute the screen reader speech manually when the focus is on SpeakOn.
Switch the screen reader or magnifier off (exit the screen reader program) when using SpeakOn.
Configure your screen reader to stop speaking automatically while the focus is on SpeakOn; this option is available with most commercial screen readers.
These topics together with the configuration of popular screen readers are discussed in the following pages.
SpeakOn handles its own TouchScreen support; it does not rely on TouchScreen support by the screen reader. Some screen readers provide support for the TouchScreen others do not. Screen readers that provide TouchScreen support intercept TouchScreen interactions which need to be disabled when using SpeakOn with the TouchScreen.
The configuration of screen readers to allow SpeakOn to work with the TouchScreen varies and it is discussed in the following pages.
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