如果您尝试在Windows 7中使用(Windows 7)讲述(Narrator)人应用程序，您就会知道它还没有准备好迎接黄金时段。幸运的是，微软(Microsoft)对Windows 8.1的(Windows 8.1)讲述(Narrator)人做了一些很大的改进，基本上把它变成了一个全新的程序。让我们看看新讲述(Narrator)人的全部内容以及如何在任何台式计算机上使用它。
注意(NOTE)：讲述(Narrator)人适用于英语(English)（美国和英国(USA and UK)）、法语、德语、西班牙语、韩语(Korean)、普通话(Mandarin)（简体中文和繁体中文(Chinese Simplified & Chinese Traditional)）和西班牙语。
在Windows 8.1中使用讲述(Narrator)人：现在你在说话！
要以最直接的方式启动“讲述(Narrator)人”，请在“开始”屏幕上开始键入“(Start)讲述(narrator)人”，然后从搜索超级按钮中选择“讲述人”。(Narrator)
您还可以从“轻松访问中心”启动(Ease of Access Center)讲述(Narrator)人。进入“轻松访问(Ease of Access)”的最快方法是按Windows键和U。您也可以转到控制面板(Control Panel)，然后转到"Ease of Access -> Ease of Access Center"。
当您执行此操作时，讲述(Narrator)人将自动为您逐一读取快速访问工具，即使您尚未启动它也是如此。(Quick Access)如果您想启动讲述人，请单击或点按它，或者在(Narrator)讲述(Narrator)人向您朗读此选项时按空格键。
讲述(Narrator)人会弹出一个窗口并立即开始讲话，但默认设置(default setting)是讲述(Narrator)人最小化到任务栏。
单击该图标，“讲述(Narrator)人”窗口将在屏幕中央弹出。此屏幕截图中的浅蓝色框和后面的框是(blue box)讲述(Narrator)人的人工制品——它是语音朗读的地方。
默认讲述人设置
当讲述(Narrator)人启动时，它使用大卫(David)的声音（美国口音的男性，在美国英语版本(English version)中——其他语言会有不同的声音）并且几乎可以说出所有内容。您可以在欢迎(Welcome)屏幕顶部看到一些基本的讲述人控件。(Narrator)尝试做它提到的事情——例如，按一个键，然后按Tab键从一个选项移动到下一个选项。如果您听到的内容正常，则无需更改任何内容。不过，我怀疑很多人会想要进行一些更改，这就是为什么我想涵盖所有可用设置的原因。
如何配置讲述(Configure Narrator)人的设置
我将一一浏览这些菜单选项。在大多数情况下，这些选择是不言自明的，但我会强调一些可能不太明显的选项。每个框包括“保存更改”("Save changes")和“放弃更改”("Discard changes")。在离开窗口之前，请务必单击相应的框。
一般的：(General:)
"Read out voiced Narrator errors" tells Narrator whether you want to hear the text of the actual error read, along with any sound that Narrator makes when there's an error.
"Highlight cursor" lets you show or hide the box that highlights where Narrator is on the screen (the light blue box in the screenshots).
"Play audio cues" tells Narrator whether you want an extra sound that Narrator plays when you do certain things.
"Read UI hints and tips" controls whether Narrator will give you a hint or tip about what Windows expects (like the yellow ToolTips balloons do).
"Retain notifications to be read for"
Narrator
The best way to decide what to do with these choices is to play around with them. They're all on by default, so, as I mentioned, if you like the way Narrator works when you start it up you don't need to change anything, but it would still be worth experimenting. I found that I typed way too fast for Narrator to keep up if I asked it to read out the characters and words as I typed.
导航：(Navigation:)
"Read and interact with the screen using the mouse" controls whether Narrator will read what's currently under your mouse cursor. Definitely something to play around with, because it has the potential for being rather annoying.
"Activate keys on the touch keyboard when you lift your finger" - this is for people who use touch devices and type by sliding their fingers from one letter to the next on the keyboard. Narrator will only announce the letter you've typed after you lift your finger off the key.
"Narrator cursor to follow keyboard focus"
Narrator
Tab
声音：(Voice:)这是微软(Microsoft)所做的改进真正变得明显的地方。在Windows 7(Windows 7)的讲述人中(Narrator)，您现在拥有三个内置选项，而不是质量差的“安娜(Anna)”声音：
我正在使用该程序的英语-美国语言版本(language version)，因此我可以选择的声音与其他语言中可能的声音不同。您可以调整语速、音量和音高（最后一个很有趣）。
有一个链接可以指向“查找与讲述人一起使用的其他声音”("Find other voices that work with Narrator")。但是，此链接会将您带到Microsoft 网站(Microsoft web)上的一个页面，该页面列出了用于辅助技术的第三方程序。
命令：(Commands:)您可以在此处查看和修改讲述人(Narrator)内置的键盘快捷键。由于有超过 100 种可能性，因此用户必须自己尝试。
如何在Windows 8.1中使用(Windows 8.1)讲述人(Narrator)
讲述(Narrator)人在非 Microsoft 程序上取得了不同程度的成功。举一个例子，我发现有时在谷歌浏览器(Google Chrome)中阅读网页有困难。切换到Internet Explorer对此有很大帮助。要进行演示，请启动讲述(Narrator)人和Internet Explorer并导航到7 教程(7 Tutorials)主页面。您将听到讲述(Narrator)人阅读该网站的元数据：“7 个教程、帮助以及如何使用 Windows 和 Windows Phone。”("7 Tutorials, help and how to for Windows and Windows Phone.")
使用鼠标将鼠标悬停在页面顶部的图标上，讲述(Narrator)人将向您朗读每个图标的功能 - 包括您不会在页面上看到的文本，除非您将鼠标悬停在图标上足够长的时间以弹出工具提示 (这是您将听到的工具提示文本）。(tooltip text)
如果您将光标切换到页面上的链接（使用Tab键导航到链接而不选择它）讲述(Narrator)人将向您朗读链接的文本，然后是链接所在的URL。
你可能会发现，当你玩这个时，你需要对讲述人的(Narrator's)设置进行一些调整，以使其最有效地为你工作。如果您打算大量使用“讲述(Narrator)人”，那么值得花时间这样做。
要退出讲述人(Narrator)，请在带有键盘和鼠标(keyboard and mouse)的系统上按Windows键并Enter。要在触摸屏设备上退出，请同时按下Windows键和音量增大按钮。
结论
在 Windows 8.1 中，讲述人(Narrator)终于成为了一个真正有用的应用程序。您仍然需要对设置进行试验以找到最适合您的设置，但此版本使试验值得(experimentation worthwhile)。有更多的设置和更多的选择，这意味着将有很多机会让一切听起来都(everything sound)正确。
有关讲述(Narrator)人的详细信息，请参阅Microsoft的信息页面(information page)，其中包括一个有用的视频：使用讲述人朗读文本(Hear text read aloud with Narrator)。
如果您在英语(English)以外的其他语言中使用过讲述(Narrator)人，我很想了解更多关于您所提供的声音以及您对它们的声音的看法。请(Please comment)在下方发表评论。
How to Use the Narrator on Windows 8.1 Desktop PCs
Іf you tried to use the Narrator application in Windows 7, you know it wasn't quite ready for prime time. Fortunately, Microsoft has made some great improvements in Narrator for Windows 8.1, basically turning it into a whole new program. Let's see what the new Narrator is all about and how to use it on any desktop computer.
NOTE: Narrator is available for English (USA and UK), French, German, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin (Chinese Simplified & Chinese Traditional) and Spanish.
Using Narrator in Windows 8.1: Now You're Talking!
To start Narrator the most direct way, start typing narrator at the Start screen and choose Narrator from the search charm.
You can also start Narrator from the Ease of Access Center. The fastest way to get to Ease of Access is to press the Windows key and U. You can also go to the Control Panel and then to "Ease of Access -> Ease of Access Center".
When you do this, Narrator will automatically read you the Quick Access tools, one by one, even if you haven't yet started it. If you want to start Narrator, click or tap it, or press the spacebar when Narrator reads you this choice.
Narrator will pop up a window and start talking immediately, but the default setting is for Narrator to be minimized to the taskbar.
Click on that icon and the Narrator window will pop up in the center of your screen. The light blue box in this screenshot and the ones that follow is an artifact of Narrator--it is where the voice is reading.
The Default Narrator Settings
When Narrator starts, it uses the David voice (American accented male, in the American English version--other languages will have different voices) and speaks just about everything. You can see some basic Narrator controls at the top of the Welcome screen. Try doing the things it mentions--pressing a key, for example, and pressing the Tab key to move from one option to the next. If what you hear is OK, you don't need to change anything. I suspect, though, that a lot of people will want to make some changes though and that's why I would like to cover all the available settings.
How to Configure Narrator's Settings
I'll go through these menu options one by one. In most cases the choices are self explanatory, but I'll highlight a few that might not be readily apparent. Each box includes "Save changes" and "Discard changes". Be sure to click the appropriate box before you leave the window.
General:
"Read out voiced Narrator errors" tells Narrator whether you want to hear the text of the actual error read, along with any sound that Narrator makes when there's an error.
"Highlight cursor" lets you show or hide the box that highlights where Narrator is on the screen (the light blue box in the screenshots).
"Play audio cues" tells Narrator whether you want an extra sound that Narrator plays when you do certain things.
"Read UI hints and tips" controls whether Narrator will give you a hint or tip about what Windows expects (like the yellow ToolTips balloons do).
"Retain notifications to be read for"
Narrator
The best way to decide what to do with these choices is to play around with them. They're all on by default, so, as I mentioned, if you like the way Narrator works when you start it up you don't need to change anything, but it would still be worth experimenting. I found that I typed way too fast for Narrator to keep up if I asked it to read out the characters and words as I typed.
Navigation:
"Read and interact with the screen using the mouse" controls whether Narrator will read what's currently under your mouse cursor. Definitely something to play around with, because it has the potential for being rather annoying.
"Activate keys on the touch keyboard when you lift your finger" - this is for people who use touch devices and type by sliding their fingers from one letter to the next on the keyboard. Narrator will only announce the letter you've typed after you lift your finger off the key.
"Narrator cursor to follow keyboard focus"
Narrator
Tab
Voice: This is where the improvements that Microsoft made really become apparent. Instead of the poor-quality "Anna" voice in Windows 7's Narrator, you now have three built-in choices:
-
David is a male voice with a standard American accent.
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Hazel is a female voice with what sounds to me like British English as spoken by a lady from India.
-
Zira is a female voice with a standard American accent.
I am using the English-USA language version of the program, so the voices I can choose from will be different from what is possible in other languages. You can adjust the speed of speech, the volume of the voice, and the pitch of the voice (that last one is fun to play around with).
There is a link to "Find other voices that work with Narrator". However, this link takes you to a page on the Microsoft web site that lists third-party programs for assistive technology.
Commands: This is where you can view and modify the keyboard shortcuts built into Narrator. Since there are more than 100 possibilities this is something users will have to experiment with on their own.
How to Use the Narrator in Windows 8.1
Narrator works with varying degrees of success on non-Microsoft programs. Just to take one example, I found that it sometimes had difficulty reading web pages in Google Chrome. Switching to Internet Explorer helped that a lot. To demonstrate, start Narrator and Internet Explorer and navigate to the main 7 Tutorials page. You'll hear Narrator read the site's metadata: "7 Tutorials, help and how to for Windows and Windows Phone."
Use the mouse to hover over the icons at the top of the page, and Narrator will read you what each one does--including text you won't see on the page unless you hover over the icon long enough to pop up the tooltip (it's the tooltip text that you'll hear).
If you switch the cursor to a link on the page (use the Tab key to navigate to the link without selecting it) Narrator will read you the text of the link, and then the URL that the link goes to.
You will probably find, as you play around with this, that you'll need to make some adjustments to Narrator's settings to make it work most efficiently for you. It's worth taking the time to do this if you plan to use Narrator much at all.
To exit Narrator, on a system with a keyboard and mouse, press the Windows key and Enter. To exit on a touchscreen device, press the Windows key and the volume-up button at the same time.
Conclusion
In Windows 8.1, Narrator is finally a truly useful application. You will still have to experiment with the settings to find what works best for you, but this version makes the experimentation worthwhile. There are a lot more settings and a lot more choices, which means that there will be plenty of opportunity to make everything sound right.
For more information about Narrator, see Microsoft's information page, which includes a helpful video: Hear text read aloud with Narrator.
If you've used Narrator in languages other than English, I would love to hear more about the voices you are offered and your opinion of how they sound. Please comment below.
