A display screen reader is a crucial accessibility instrument for folks with no or restricted imaginative and prescient. People who find themselves blind or these with low imaginative and prescient can use a display screen reader to navigate the pc. Display readers will learn contents on the display screen and clarify to the consumer what’s on the web page. Display readers permit folks to make use of the pc for each day duties.
There are lots of display screen reader software program out there for folks via their working system or via open supply initiatives.
A 2021 analysis by WebAim discovered that from 1568 responders, greater than 53.7 p.c of individuals surveyed used JAWS on Home windows, greater than 30.7 p.c of individuals used NVDA on Home windows and little over 6.5 p.c of individuals used VoiceOver on macOS.
JAWS and NVDA for Home windows and VoiceOver for macOS are the preferred display screen readers folks use.
First, I ought to make clear that this text will likely be written from my standpoint. To provide background, I’ve been a front-end developer at a non-profit for folks with studying variations for over three years. I, together with my colleagues, search to make our initiatives extra accessible on daily basis. I’m not visually impaired and don’t use these instruments frequently. For work, I’ve a Mac machine and check accessibility utilizing VoiceOver.
Right here is my deliberate testing methodology:
- Navigate the web page by heading, till “Accessibility APIs” part.
- Within the “Accessibility APIs” part, learn the content material and the unordered checklist inside.
TABto listen to focusable objects within the unordered checklist.- Bounce to the Search subject.
TABto listen to a number of objects within the navigation part
To seek out similarities and variations between them, I made a decision to check a set of steps with every display screen reader on a Wikipedia web page about display screen readers. I’ll browse the net with Chrome for my assessments. Testing all display screen readers on the identical web page and browser will cut back the quantity of variables and maintain the assessments constant.
JAWS
JAWS is an acronym for Job Entry With Speech and is essentially the most extensively used display screen reader on this planet. It’s only out there on Home windows. Relying on the plan and options, JAWS might be bought wherever from $90 yearly license all the best way to $1605 for perpetual license.
JAWS has predefined keyboard instructions to navigate the net. Full checklist of keyboard instructions might be discovered on their web site.
Demonstration
To start with of the demo, I’m clicking on H key on my keyboard to go to the following heading. JAWS is transferring down the web page, studying me the headings together with their stage.
Later within the video, I’m clicking on quantity 2 and quantity 3 on my keyboard to have JAWS learn Heading Ranges 2s then later Heading Ranges 3s. It is a nice function as a result of we will transfer down the web page and sections by heading stage and get a greater sense of the web page structure.
After I attain the “Accessible APIs” part, I press the DOWN ARROW key till the third merchandise within the unordered checklist.
Later within the demo, I’m clicking on the TAB key for JAWS to learn to me the following focusable merchandise on the web page, which is inside this checklist. I click on TAB till I attain a focusable ingredient in one other part.
Then I press F key to concentrate on the search subject, which JAWS reads to me.
Then I click on on TAB and JAWS focuses on the navigation components which can be on the aspect of the web page.
Execs & Cons
Execs:
- JAWS is extra customizable than different display screen readers.
- There are extra choices to navigate via the web page.
- JAWS is trade customary.
- Extensively used, which implies there are many consumer to consumer help.
Cons:
- JAWS is extra sophisticated to make use of than NVDA or VoiceOver.
- Some instructions are usually not intuitive.
- There are much more instructions for the consumer to study.
- Extra studying curve for customers.
- JAWS can be not out there on the Mac, which limits its customers.
- Prices wherever between $90 – $1605 for the consumer.
- JAWS has totally different key instructions for desktop and laptop computer which can make it more durable for customers to switch data and should trigger confusion.
NVDA
NVDA, or NonVisual Digital Entry, is out there on Home windows solely. Customers must obtain the software program from NVDA’s web site, NVAccess. This software program is free to obtain however doesn’t come already put in on Home windows machines. NVDA is the second hottest display screen reader on this planet in line with WebAim’s 2021 survey.
Like different display screen readers, NVDA has outlined keyboard instructions to navigate the net. NVDA’s full keyboard instructions might be discovered on their web site.
Demonstration
Within the demo I’m clicking on H key on the keyboard to go to the following heading. First, NVDA reads me Heading Degree 1, which is “Display reader”. Then NVDA goes to learn Heading Degree 2s and 3s.
After I attain “References” I start to click on on TAB on my keyboard for NVDA to concentrate on subsequent focusable objects.
After specializing in a number of objects on the checklist, I click on ENTER and go to the New York Instances web page.
Execs & Cons
Execs:
- Total, I discovered NVDA was in a position to present me with data on the display screen.
- The out-of-the-box keyboard instructions have been simple to make use of and simple to study.
- NVDA is open supply, which implies the group can replace and repair.
- NVDA is free, which makes it an reasonably priced choice to Home windows customers.
Cons:
- NVDA shouldn’t be out there on the Mac, which limits its customers.
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is the display screen reader utilized in Mac. VoiceOver is barely out there on Mac not out there in Home windows. VoiceOver is free and is already put in on the pc, which removes obstacles as a result of that is a part of the pc setup and the consumer doesn’t need to obtain or buy any extra software program.
VoiceOver has outlined keyboard instructions to navigate the net. VoiceOver’s full keyboard instructions might be discovered on their web site.
Demonstration
Within the demo, I’m on a Wikipedia web page and I’m clicking on the VoiceOver Command (which is Management+Choice) together with Command+H to navigate via the headings. VoiceOver reads the headings so as, ranging from Heading Degree 1, “Display Reader”, to Heading Degree 2, “Contents”, to Heading Degree 3, and so forth.
After I attain the “Accessibility APIs” part, I click on on VoiceOver Command plus the RIGHT ARROW, to inform VoiceOver that I would like it to learn this part. Later I’m clicking on the VoiceOver Command plus the RIGHT ARROW on my keyboard, to navigate the part.
After I get on to the third merchandise on the unordered checklist, I press TAB on my keyboard to concentrate on the following focusable ingredient.
I press TAB a number of occasions, then I press VoiceOver Command plus U, to open the Type Management Menu. Within the menu, I press DOWN ARROW till I hear the “Search Wikipedia” choice. After I hear it, I click on ENTER and the display screen reader focuses on the shape subject. Within the kind subject, I press TAB to navigate to the navigation part.
Execs & Cons
Execs:
- VoiceOver is simple to make use of and study.
- VoiceOver’s instructions are intuitive.
- Free instrument that comes put in in each macOS gadget.
Cons:
- VoiceOver can be not out there on Home windows, which limits its customers.
- VoiceOver shouldn’t be an app and may solely be up to date when Apple releases macOS replace.
Key Takeaways
A display screen reader is a crucial accessibility instrument for folks with no or restricted imaginative and prescient. Display readers permit folks to make use of the pc for each day duties.
There are lots of display screen reader softwares out there. On this article I in contrast JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver.
Here’s a comparability chart overview of the three display screen readers:
| JAWS | NVDA | VoiceOver | |
| Working System | Home windows | Home windows | macOS |
| Worth | $90 – $1695 | Free | Free |
| # of customers | 30% | 50% | 6% |
| Ease of Use | Onerous | Straightforward | Straightforward |
I discovered that for primary display screen reader testing, most display screen readers comply with an analogous keystroke sample and data from one display screen reader can be utilized for others.
All display screen readers have their professionals and cons. Finally, it’s as much as consumer choice and in addition the working system they use to find out which display screen reader software program is finest for them.
Beforehand: “Small Tweaks That Can Make a Enormous Impression on Your Web site’s Accessibility” (2018), and “Why, How, and When to Use Semantic HTML and ARIA” (2019), “15 Issues to Enhance Your Web site Accessibility” (2020), “5 Accessibility Fast Wins You Can Implement At this time” (2022).
