Narrator (Windows): Difference between revisions

Narrator
Developer(s)	Microsoft
Initial release	February 17, 2000; 24 years ago
Operating system	Windows 2000 and later
Platform	IA-32, x86-64, ARM64
Type	Screen reader
License	Proprietary commercial software

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Latest revision as of 15:23, 12 September 2024

Narrator is a screen reader in Microsoft Windows. Developed by Professor Paul Blenkhorn in 2000,^[1] the utility made the Windows operating system more accessible for blind and visually impaired users.

Overview

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 first 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.

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 and Windows 7, Narrator has been updated to use SAPI 5.3 and the Microsoft Anna voice for English. In Windows Ultimate and Windows editions for China, the Microsoft Lili voice for Mandarin Chinese is included.

In Windows 10, Narrator is available in English (United States, United Kingdom, and India), French, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Chinese Simplified and Chinese Traditional), Cantonese (Chinese Traditional), Spanish (Spain and Mexico), Polish, Russian, and Portuguese (Brazil).^[2]

A version of Narrator is also included in all Windows Phones, though with far fewer settings than the Narrator for the desktop. Narrator for Windows Phones previously only worked if the phone's language is set to "English (United States)".

There are numerous voices included in the narrator pack, such as Microsoft David, Microsoft Zira, Microsoft Mark, and in earlier editions, Microsoft Hazel.^[2]^[3]

In Windows 11, the Narrator app was redesigned and new natural voices were added.^[4] The app is available in both Dark and Contrast Themes.^[4]

References

^ "The Microsoft Ease Of Access: How It Works?". Accessible Book Collection. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Appendix A: Supported languages and voices - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com (Windows 10 ed.). Retrieved 2023-10-24.
^ "Appendix A: Supported languages and voices - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com (Windows 11 ed.). Retrieved 2023-10-24.
^ ^a ^b Microsoft. "Windows 11 Accessibility Features". Windows. Retrieved 2023-10-24.

External links

Windows XP Accessibility Tips and How-to Articles (Microsoft.com) at the Wayback Machine (archived April 1, 2011)
Windows Vista Accessibility Tutorials (Microsoft.com) at the Wayback Machine (archived March 4, 2016)
Microsoft Windows 10 Hear text read aloud with Narrator
Microsoft Windows 10 Complete guide to Narrator - Microsoft Support

[1] "The Microsoft Ease Of Access: How It Works?". Accessible Book Collection. Retrieved October 2, 2022.

[:0-2] "Appendix A: Supported languages and voices - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com (Windows 10 ed.). Retrieved 2023-10-24.

[3] "Appendix A: Supported languages and voices - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com (Windows 11 ed.). Retrieved 2023-10-24.

[:1-4] Microsoft. "Windows 11 Accessibility Features". Windows. Retrieved 2023-10-24.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Screen reader for Microsoft Windows}}
 {{More citations needed|date=October 2022}}
 {{Infobox software
 | name = Narrator
-| logo =
+| logo = Narrator.exe icon.png
 | logo_size = x64px
 | screenshot =
 | screenshot_size = 300px
 | caption = Screenshot of Narrator in [[Windows 11]] in Light Mode
@@ Line 14: / Line 15: @@
 | license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] [[commercial software]]
 }}
-'''Narrator''' is a [[screen reader]] in [[Microsoft Windows]]. Developed by Professor Paul Blenkhorn in 2000,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Microsoft Ease Of Access: How It Works? |url=https://www.accessiblebookcollection.org/microsoft-ease-of-access/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 2, 2022 |website=Accessible Book Collection}}</ref> the utility made the Windows operating system more accessible for blind and [[visually impaired]] users.
+'''Narrator''' is a [[screen reader]] in [[Microsoft Windows]]. Developed by Professor Paul Blenkhorn in 2000,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Microsoft Ease Of Access: How It Works? |url=https://www.accessiblebookcollection.org/microsoft-ease-of-access/ |access-date=October 2, 2022 |website=Accessible Book Collection}}</ref> the utility made the Windows operating system more accessible for blind and [[visually impaired]] users.
 ==Overview==
-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 first 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 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 first 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.
 The [[Windows 2000]] version of Narrator uses [[Speech Application Programming Interface|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]] and [[Windows 7]], Narrator has been updated to use SAPI 5.3 and the Microsoft Anna voice for English. In Windows Ultimate and Windows editions for China, the Microsoft Lili voice for Mandarin Chinese is included.
+In [[Windows Vista]] and [[Windows 7]], Narrator has been updated to use SAPI 5.3 and the Microsoft Anna voice for English. In Windows Ultimate and Windows editions for China, the Microsoft Lili voice for [[Mandarin Chinese]] is included.
-In [[Windows 10]], Narrator is available in English (United States, United Kingdom, and India), French, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Chinese Simplified and Chinese Traditional), Cantonese (Chinese Traditional), Spanish (Spain and Mexico), Polish, Russian, and Portuguese (Brazil).
+In [[Windows 10]], Narrator is available in English (United States, United Kingdom, and India), French, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin ([[Chinese Simplified]] and [[Chinese Traditional]]), Cantonese (Chinese Traditional), Spanish ([[Castilian Spanish|Spain]] and [[Mexican Spanish|Mexico]]), Polish, Russian, and Portuguese ([[Brazilian Portuguese|Brazil]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Appendix A: Supported languages and voices - Microsoft Support |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/appendix-a-supported-languages-and-voices-4486e345-7730-53da-fcfe-55cc64300f01#WindowsVersion=Windows_10 |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=support.microsoft.com |edition=Windows 10}}</ref>
-A version of Narrator is also included in all Windows Phones, though with far fewer settings than the Narrator for the desktop. Narrator for Windows Phones previously only worked if the phone's language is set to "English (United States)".
+A version of Narrator is also included in all [[Windows Phone]]s, though with far fewer settings than the Narrator for the desktop. Narrator for Windows Phones previously only worked if the phone's language is set to "English (United States)".
-There are numerous voices included in the narrator pack, such as Microsoft David, Microsoft Zira, Microsoft Mark, and in earlier editions, Microsoft Hazel.
+There are numerous voices included in the narrator pack, such as Microsoft David, Microsoft Zira, Microsoft Mark, and in earlier editions, Microsoft Hazel.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Appendix A: Supported languages and voices - Microsoft Support |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/appendix-a-supported-languages-and-voices-4486e345-7730-53da-fcfe-55cc64300f01#WindowsVersion=Windows_11 |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=support.microsoft.com |edition=Windows 11}}</ref>
-In Windows 11, the Narrator app was redesigned and new natural voices were added. The app introduced a new icon and is available in both Light and Dark Theme.
+In [[Windows 11]], the Narrator app was redesigned and new natural voices were added.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Microsoft |title=Windows 11 Accessibility Features |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/accessibility-features |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=Windows |language=en-us}}</ref> The app is available in both Dark and Contrast Themes.<ref name=":1" />
 ==References==