What is a screen reader and how does it work? | IT Accessibility (2024)

FAQs

What is a screen reader and how does it work? | IT Accessibility? ›

Typically, a screen reader will start at the top of a website or document and read any text (including alternate text for images). Some screen readers allow the user to preview information, like the navigation bar or all the headings on a page, and skip the user to the desired section of the page.

Screen readers are software that enables those who cannot see the screen to access information on computers and smartphones. The technology reads the screen aloud or converts it to Braille. Almost 20 million Americans (8 percent of the U.S. population) have some type of visual impairment.

Screen readers are a specialist text-to-speech software that can be used by people with little to no vision to access website content, generally on a computer or mobile device. They are designed to run on the most popular operating systems, like Windows, iOS and Android.

A screen reader is software that enables individuals who are blind or have low-vision to use computer devices because it renders visual information coming from the computer into speech or braille. In some devices, screen readers are a built-in accessibility feature that is available without installation.

Turn screen reader on or off

You can turn ChromeVox on or off from any page by pressing Ctrl + Alt + z. On tablets: Press and hold the Volume down + Volume up buttons for 5 seconds. While holding the buttons, you'll hear a sound to indicate it's working. Keep holding the buttons, then ChromeVox will start speaking.

Every website has users with disabilities — and if your website attracts significant traffic, part of your audience probably uses screen readers or other assistive technologies (AT). But you can't reliably determine which visitors use screen readers.

Since the screen-reading application has only the contents of the visual display to examine, it conveys little or no contextual information about what is being displayed. Put another way: A Screen-reader speaks what is on the screen without conveying why it is there.

Screen readers make the digital world more accessible for people with visual assistance needs. For example, many computer users with dyslexia use screen readers to have content narrated to them to increase their comprehension of the material.

Accessibility testing is the practice of making your web and mobile apps usable to as many people as possible. It makes apps accessible to those with disabilities, such as vision impairment, hearing disabilities, and other physical or cognitive conditions.

JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver are widely considered the most popular among accessibility testers and developers. Let's briefly examine each of them: JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is one of the most widely used screen readers.

Can anyone use a screen reader? ›

Screen readers are used by anyone who is legally blind or has a severe visual impairment. If a website or mobile application can't be accessed due to a visual disability, screen readers help remove this barrier.

They're invisible to assistive technology

Disabled buttons are usually invisible to assistive technologies such as screen readers and switches when pure CSS and Javascript techniques are used.

In testing ChromeVox, students were able to navigate the Chrome browser fairly easily and found Chrome Vox to be more or less intuitive, but there were also glitches. Vox did have a very pleasant computer voice and demeanor.

How does a screen reader work? The user sends commands by pressing different combinations of keys on the computer keyboard or braille display to instruct the speech synthesizer what to say and to speak automatically when changes occur on the computer screen.

A screen reader is a technology that helps people who have difficulties seeing to access and interact with digital content, like websites or applications via audio or touch. The main users of screen readers are people who are blind or have very limited vision.

How does a screen reader work? The user sends commands by pressing different combinations of keys on the computer keyboard or braille display to instruct the speech synthesizer what to say and to speak automatically when changes occur on the computer screen.