与大多数大型科技公司一样，微软(Microsoft)也有一个使命，即让每个人都可以使用其产品，包括有特殊需求的用户。近年来，微软(Microsoft)增加了许多辅助功能，目前，它具有各种内置的辅助功能，使其成为迄今为止最方便的操作系统之一。
Windows 10上的辅助功能旨在帮助您看、听和使用Windows 10。一些最著名的名字包括：旁白、放大镜、高对比度、隐藏式字幕、键盘和鼠标。这些功能中的每一个都包括旨在提高您对计算机的访问权限的自定义功能。如果您是有特殊需求的人之一或知道有人这样做，那么下面提到的Windows 10辅助功能可能值得一试。
适用于不同(Differently)能力者的Windows 10辅助功能(Accessibility Features)
查看这些可以显着改善您或您认识的残疾人的用户体验的Windows 10辅助功能：(Accessibility Features)
- 放大镜
- 高对比度
- 旁白
- 语音识别
- 隐藏式字幕
- 老鼠
- 屏幕键盘
- 眼控。
让我们简要介绍一下它们。
1]放大镜
使用此功能，您可以使屏幕上的文本和其他项目（如图标）显得更大，而无需更改显示器或笔记本电脑屏幕的屏幕分辨率。这使您可以在屏幕上调整文本或其他项目的大小，同时将显示器或笔记本电脑设置为最佳分辨率。放大镜(Magnifier)对于视力不佳或阅读屏幕有困难的人非常有帮助。
要访问此功能，请转到“设置(Settings)”中相同的“轻松(Ease)访问(Access)”部分；这是路径：Settings>Ease of Access>Magnifier. 要使用放大镜(Magnifier)，请激活“打开放大镜(Magnifier)”开关。
此功能中有几个可用设置，可让您打开/关闭工具，指定要放大的内容，以及反转放大区域中的颜色。启用此功能后，屏幕上会出现一个放大镜，您可以通过单击“+”或“-”图标轻松放大或缩小。
阅读(Read)：如何在 Windows 10 上增加字体大小并使文本更大。(Increase the Font size and make text bigger)
2]高对比度
Windows 10 允许您更改整体配色方案，以便更轻松地查看文本、图像、图标和应用程序窗口。“高对比度”功能对于患有视力障碍或色盲的人来说非常棒，因为它可以使屏幕上的项目看起来更清晰，更容易识别。
要在Windows 10(Windows 10)中选择预先指定的高对比度主题，请转到Settings>Ease of Access>High Contrast。
3]旁白
微软(Microsoft)将此功能命名为讲述(Narrator)人，因为它具有令人难以置信的功能。讲述人是一个屏幕阅读器，可以大声朗读屏幕上出现的文本。它描述了错误消息、键入时阅读文本、网站、通知、应用内内容和特定部分等事件，因此用户可以在没有显示器的情况下使用 PC。对于有失明、色盲或低视力问题的人来说，这个 Windows 10 辅助功能可以提供很大帮助。
要让您的计算机进行通话，请转到Settings > EaseAccess > Narrator人”，然后将“使用讲述人阅读并与您的设备交互”切换为“开启”。
阅读(Read)：如何在 Windows 10 中使用讲述人(How to use the Narrator in Windows 10)。
4]语音识别
语音识别(Speech Recognition)是Window 10 辅助功能(Accessibility Features)存储桶中的另一个宝石。此功能允许您通过语音命令您的 PC，包括导航菜单、指示进入几乎任何应用程序、上网冲浪的能力。此外，它还会听取您的口语并将其翻译成屏幕上的动作。
您可以通过打开Settings > Time & Language > Speech来启用此功能，然后向下滚动到听写(Dictate)文本并仅使用您的语音控制您的设备。
请注意(Please note)：语音识别(Recognition)功能仅适用于英语(English)（美国、英国、加拿大(Canada)、澳大利亚(Australia)和印度(India)）、法语、德语、日语、普通话(Mandarin)（繁体(Traditional)中文和简体中文(Chinese Simplified)）和西班牙语(Spanish)。
5]隐藏式字幕
如果您努力阅读视频、电影或电视节目中的白色字幕，尤其是在浅色背景下，“隐藏式字幕”功能可以成为救星。此功能可以帮助您编辑任何标题文本的颜色和背景。
要访问隐藏式字幕，请转到Settings > Ease of Access > Closed Captions，然后根据自己的喜好更改设置。
您还可以自定义标题的透明度、大小、样式和效果。屏幕顶部会出现实时预览，显示您所做的每项更改。请注意，这些设置将应用于所有受支持的本地媒体播放器的字幕。
6]鼠标
如果您发现难以在屏幕上找到鼠标指针，则可以使用此功能使其更明显。是的，您可以更改屏幕上显示的鼠标指针的大小和颜色。
要更改鼠标指针的外观，请转到Settings > Ease of Access > Cursor & Pointer.
阅读(Read)：如何将鼠标指针颜色更改为红色、纯黑色等，并调整文本光标指示器的大小、颜色和粗细(Adjust Text Cursor Indicator size, color & thickness)以获得更好的可见性。
7]屏幕键盘
屏幕键盘(Keyboard)在屏幕上显示一个可视键盘；像普通键盘一样，这个键盘的所有标准键都完好无损。要使用此键盘，您可以使用鼠标或任何其他指点设备。此功能为有特殊需要或残疾的人提供了多种自定义选项，使键盘使用起来更加轻松舒适。这个可访问性工具的几个惊人的迷你功能是：
- 粘滞键(Sticky keys)-非常(Ideal)适合那些难以长时间保持手指灵巧的人。这些键可让您一次按一个键以使用CTRL+ALT+DELETE等键盘快捷键组合。
- 过滤键(Filter Keys)- 对于那些难以在键盘上管理双手的人来说，此工具将非常方便。它可以检查重复的击键，这样用户就不需要每次都使用退格键来回顾他/她所写的内容。
- 切换键(Toggle keys)-告诉(Tells)您Caps Lock是否已激活。每次按下Num Lock、Scroll Lock或Function Lock键时，它都会发出声音。
8]眼控
(Eye Control Feature)Windows 10中的Eye Control Feature让您可以通过Eyes的移动来访问 PC 。您可以在 Windows 10 中使用眼控功能。 可以(Eye Control)通过转到设置 > 轻松使用 > 眼控并选择打开(Turn)眼控来启用眼控。这将打开LaunchPad，它就像一个控制面板，您可以在其中执行各种功能，如右键单击、左键单击、任务视图等。
更新：(UPDATES:)
使用讲述人改进屏幕阅读：(Improved Screen Reading with Narrator: )Microsoft对(Microsoft)讲述(Narrator)人进行了许多更改，这些更改是Windows 10 周年更新(Anniversary Update)的一部分。更新内容是：
- 改进的文本到语音语音：(Improved text to speech voices: ) Microsoft 已向讲述人添加了新语音，可提供更快的最高语音速度。当前的声音平均每分钟最多大约 400 个单词。新声音的平均速度是每分钟大约 800 个单词的近两倍。
- 讲述人新增语言：(New languages added to Narrator:)现在讲述(Narrator)人将提供更多语言，如西班牙语、法语、葡萄牙语(Portuguese)、阿拉伯语(Arabic)、加泰罗尼亚语(Catalan)、丹麦语(Danish)、芬兰语(Finnish)、挪威语(Norwegian)、荷兰语(Dutch)、瑞典语(Swedish)和土耳其语(Turkish)。
- 扫描模式的引入：这是(The introduction of scan mode:)讲述(Narrator)人的最新成员。微软(Microsoft)向讲述(Narrator)人添加了一种新的导航模式，称为扫描(Scan)模式。按CAPS LOCK(CAPS LOCK)和SPACE打开扫描(Scan) 模式(Mode)。当用户处于扫描(Scan)模式时，他们可以按空格(SPACE)键来激活感兴趣的项目，例如点击网页上的链接或按下应用程序中的按钮。
- 六级详细程度：(Six levels of verbosity:)叙述者现在可以支持六级详细程度，以便为用户提供有关文本特征的更多详细信息。他们可以通过按CAPS LOCK + CTRL + ( PLUS ) 在这些模式之间循环。例如，在详细(Verbose)模式 0（零）下，用户将只听到文本。在详细模式 1 下，用户可能会听到文本是否为标题。因此，用户可以更改详细模式以了解有关讲述(Narrator)人正在阅读的文本的更多信息。
- 标点符号模式：(Punctuation Modes: )讲述人现在可以让用户更好地控制他们在阅读文本时听到的标点符号。CAPS LOCK+ALT+ ( PLUS ) 和CAPS LOCK+ALT+ ( MINUS ) 循环设置标点符号。标点符号的设置包括 none、some、most、all 和 math 以及默认值。
除此之外，“讲述(Narrator)人”还有更多功能，例如更熟悉的键盘导航、宣布AutoSuggest结果以及轻松向Microsoft团队发送反馈。为了让讲述(Narrator)人更容易使用，微软(Microsoft)的团队正在努力编写用户指南和文档。周年更新(Anniversary Update)发布后，用户指南将在线提供。
应用程序和体验更易于访问：(Apps and experiences made more accessible:) Microsoft 的团队不仅致力于讲述(Narrator)人，而且还致力于使应用程序和体验更易于访问。Windows 10中的一些辅助功能改进如下：
- Microsoft Edge 在浏览和阅读方面变得更易于访问：(Microsoft Edge becomes more accessible in browsing and reading: )Microsoft Edge团队已经提供了许多有关其可访问性进度的更新。其中一些更新旨在帮助开发人员更轻松地构建可访问的网站。该团队还一直与最受欢迎的第三方辅助技术供应商密切合作，指导他们完成向这个新平台的过渡。
- 邮件：(Mail: ) Windows 10(Windows 10) 周年更新对(Anniversary Update)邮件应用程序(Mail app)进行了重大更改。自去年夏天首次发布Windows 10以来， (Windows 10)Mail应用程序的可访问性有了许多改进。
- Cortana：事实证明， (Cortana: )Cortana是为残障人士提供辅助功能的最佳帮助。用户可以使用键盘更可靠地操作搜索和Cortana，包括使用箭头键和 Tab 键进行导航等操作。
Windows 10为所有人的生活带来有意义的创新，无论您有残疾、个人爱好还是独特的工作方式。借助这套强大的内置Windows 10辅助功能，Microsoft允许您选择如何与屏幕交互、表达想法——最终完成您的工作。
Amazing Windows 10 Accessibility Features for Differently abled
Like most tech сompanieѕ of significant ѕize, Microsoft too haѕ a mission to make its products increasingly acсеssible for everyone, inсluding users with ѕpecial needs. In recent years, Microsoft has added many accessibility features, currently, it has an assortment of built-in acсessibility feаtures which makеs it onе of the handiest operating systems to date.
The accessibility features on Windows 10 are designed to assist with seeing, hearing, and using Windows 10. A few of the most prominent names include; narrator, magnifier, high contrast, closed captions, keyboard, and mouse. Each of these features includes customization capabilities designed to advance your access to the computer. If you are one of those with special needs or know of someone who does, the below mentioned Windows 10 accessibility features could be worth trying.
Windows 10 Accessibility Features for Differently abled
Check out these Windows 10 Accessibility Features which can significantly improve your user experience or that of a disabled person you know:
- Magnifier
- High Contrast
- Narrator
- Speech Recognition
- Closed Captions
- Mouse
- On-Screen Keyboard
- Eye Control.
Let us touch upon them in brief.
1] Magnifier
With this feature, you can make the text and other items, like icons, on your screen appear larger without changing the screen resolution of your monitor or laptop screen. This lets you play around with the size of the text or other items on your screen and at the same time keep your monitor or laptop set to its optimal resolution. Magnifier can be very helpful for anyone who has poor eyesight or faces difficulty in reading their screen.
To access this feature, go to the same Ease of Access section in Settings; here’s the path: Settings>Ease of Access>Magnifier. To use Magnifier, activate the ‘Turn on Magnifier’ toggle.
There are several settings available in this feature that allow you to turn the tool on/off, designate what you want to be magnified, and also invert colors in the magnified area. When this feature is enabled, a magnifying glass appears on your screen, and you can easily zoom in or out by clicking on the ‘+’ or ‘-’ icon.
Read: How to Increase the Font size and make text bigger on Windows 10.
2] High Contrast
Windows 10 allows you to change the overall color scheme so that it is easier to view text, images, icons, and application windows. The ‘High Contrast’ feature can be amazing for people struggling with visual impairment or colorblindness as it can make the items on the screen appear more distinct and easier to identify.
To pick pre-designated high contrast themes in Windows 10 go to Settings>Ease of Access>High Contrast.
3] Narrator
Microsoft named this feature the Narrator because of its incredible function. Narrator is a screen reader who can read the text appearing on the screen aloud. It describes events like error messages, read the text as you type, websites, notifications, in-app content, and specific portions out loud, so the user can use the PC without a display. For the people who are challenged with blindness, color blindness, or low vision issues, this Windows 10 accessibility feature can be of great help.
To get your computer do the talking get Narrator by going to Settings > Ease of Access > Narrator and turn the ‘use narrator to read and interact with your device’ toggle ‘On’.
Read: How to use the Narrator in Windows 10.
4] Speech Recognition
Speech Recognition is another gem in the Window 10 Accessibility Features bucket. This feature allows you to command your PC with your voice–including the competence to navigate menus, dictate into almost any application, surf the web. Also, it listens to your spoken words and translates them into on-screen actions.
You can enable this feature by opening Settings > Time & Language > Speech and scroll down to Dictate text and control your device using only your voice.
Please note: Speech Recognition feature is available only in English (US, UK, Canada, Australia, and India), French, German, Japanese, Mandarin (Chinese Traditional and Chinese Simplified), and Spanish.
5] Closed Captions
If you fight to read white color subtitles on a video, movie or television show, especially on a light background, the ‘Closed Captions’ feature can be a savior. This feature can help you edit the colors and backgrounds of any caption text.
To access Closed Captions, go to Settings > Ease of Access > Closed Captions and change the settings to your liking.
You can also customize the transparency, size, style, and effects of the caption. A live preview appears at the top of the screen displaying every change you make. Note, these settings will be applied to subtitles across all supported local media players.
6] Mouse
If you find it difficult to spot the mouse pointer on your screen, you can make it more visible with this feature. Yes, you can change the size and color of the mouse pointer appearing on your screen.
To alter the way your mouse pointer looks, go to Settings > Ease of Access > Cursor & Pointer.
Read: How to Change Mouse Pointer color to red, solid black, etc and Adjust Text Cursor Indicator size, color & thickness for better visibility.
7] On-Screen Keyboard
The On-Screen Keyboard displays a visual keyboard on the screen; like the normal keyboard, this one has all the standard keys intact. To use this keyboard, you can use your mouse or any other pointing device. This feature offers a variety of customization options for people with special needs or disabilities which makes the keyboard much easier and comfortable to use. Few amazing mini-features of this accessibility tool are:
- Sticky keys – Ideal for those who find it difficult to maintain finger deftness for a long time. These keys let you press one key at a time for keyboard shortcut combinations like CTRL+ALT+DELETE.
- Filter Keys – This tool will be handy for those who find it difficult to manage their hands on the keyboard. It can check for repeated keystrokes so that the user doesn’t need to use the backspace key every time to go back over what he/she has written.
- Toggle keys – Tells you whether Caps Lock is activated or not. It plays a sound each time you hit the Num Lock, Scroll Lock, or Function Lock keys.
8] Eye Control
Eye Control Feature in Windows 10 lets you access PC with the movement of Eyes. You can use the Eye Control feature in Windows 10. Eye Control can be enabled by going to Settings > Ease of Access > Eye control and selecting Turn on eye control. This will open LaunchPad which is like a control panel from where you can perform various functions like right-click, left-click, task view, and more.
UPDATES:
Improved Screen Reading with Narrator: Microsoft has done a lot of changes with Narrator that come as a part of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. The updates are:
- Improved text to speech voices: Microsoft has added new voices to Narrator that offer a much faster top rate of speech. The current voices average a maximum of roughly 400 words per minute. The new voices average nearly twice that at approximately 800 words per minute.
- New languages added to Narrator: Now Narrator will come with more languages such as Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Catalan, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish, and Turkish.
- The introduction of scan mode: This is the newest addition to the Narrator. Microsoft has added a new navigation mode to Narrator called Scan mode. Scan Mode is turned on with a press of CAPS LOCK and SPACE. While users are in Scan mode, they can press SPACE to activate an item of interest, such as following a link on a web page or pressing a button in an app.
- Six levels of verbosity: The narrator can now support the six levels of verbosity for giving the users more details about the characteristics of the text. They can cycle through these modes by pressing CAPS LOCK + CTRL + (PLUS). For example, at Verbose mode 0 (zero), the user will hear just the text. At verbose mode 1, the user might hear if the text is a heading. Thus, the user can change the verbose mode to know more about the text that is being read by the Narrator.
- Punctuation Modes: Narrator now gives the users more control over how much punctuation they hear when reading the text. CAPS LOCK+ALT+(PLUS) and CAPS LOCK+ALT+(MINUS) cycle through the settings for punctuation. The settings for punctuation include none, some, most, all and math along with the default.
Besides these, Narrator has got some more features such as more familiar keyboard navigation, announcing AutoSuggest results and easy to send feedback to the Microsoft team. To make the usage of Narrator easy Microsoft’s team is working hard on user guides and documentation. The user guides will be available online when the Anniversary Update is released.
Apps and experiences made more accessible: Microsoft’s team not only has worked upon Narrator, but they have also worked on making the apps and experiences more accessible. Some of these accessibility improvements in Windows 10 are as follows:
- Microsoft Edge becomes more accessible in browsing and reading: Microsoft Edge team has already provided a number of updates on their accessibility progress. Some of these updates were made to help developers more easily build accessible sites. The team has also been working closely with the most popular third-party assistive technology vendors to guide them through the transition to this new platform.
- Mail: The Windows 10 Anniversary Update has a significant change in the Mail app. Since the initial release of Windows 10 last summer, there have been many improvements to the accessibility of the Mail app.
- Cortana: Cortana proved to be the best assistance when it comes to accessibility provided to people with disabilities. Users can more reliably operate search and Cortana with the keyboard, including things like navigating using arrow keys and tab order.
Windows 10 brings meaningful innovation to all people’s lives, whether you have a disability, a personal penchant, or an exclusive work style. With this robust set of built-in Windows 10 accessibility features, Microsoft allows you to choose how to interact with your screen, express ideas – ultimately get your work done.
