Last Updated on
May 2, 2023
Written by
Tech Assistant for blind Team
JAWS, or Job Access With Speech, is a screen reader software designed for individuals who are blind or have low vision. While JAWS is known for its excellent accessibility features, it also has some hidden features that many users may not be aware of. In this article, we’ll explore some of the secret hidden features of JAWS that can enhance the user’s experience.
- The JAWS Tandem Feature
The JAWS Tandem feature allows a remote user to connect to your computer and control JAWS. This feature is especially useful for tech support or for receiving assistance from a sighted person. To use the Tandem feature, both users must have JAWS installed, and the remote user will need to enter a code to connect to your computer.
- JAWS Virtual Viewer
The JAWS Virtual Viewer is a virtual magnifying glass that allows you to magnify any part of the screen. This feature is especially helpful for users who have low vision or for when you need to zoom in on a particular part of a document or website. You can access the Virtual Viewer by pressing Insert+Spacebar+Z.
- JAWS Convenient OCR
JAWS Convenient OCR is a feature that allows you to recognize text in an image or PDF document. This feature is especially useful for individuals who are blind or have low vision and need to access text that is not in an accessible format. To use Convenient OCR, press Insert+Spacebar+O.
- JAWS Quick Settings
JAWS Quick Settings is a feature that allows you to quickly change JAWS settings without having to navigate through the menus. To access Quick Settings, press Insert+V.
- JAWS Picture Smart
JAWS Picture Smart is a feature that allows you to identify and describe images on a webpage or document. This feature is especially useful for individuals who are blind and cannot see the images on a page. To use Picture Smart, press Insert+Spacebar+P.
- JAWS Custom Labels
JAWS Custom Labels allows you to assign your own labels to buttons or fields on a webpage or in a program. This can be helpful if JAWS is not reading the labels correctly or if there are unlabeled buttons or fields. To access Custom Labels, press Insert+F2.
- JAWS Text Analyzer
The Text Analyzer feature of JAWS allows you to analyze the readability of a document or webpage. It can provide information on the reading level, sentence length, and other factors that can affect the readability of the text. To access Text Analyzer, press Insert+F7.
In conclusion, JAWS is an incredibly powerful and versatile screen reader software that offers much more than just basic accessibility features. The hidden features discussed in this article, such as the Tandem feature, Virtual Viewer, Convenient OCR, Quick Settings, Picture Smart, Custom Labels, and Text Analyzer, can greatly enhance the user’s experience and improve their ability to access information. By exploring these features and learning how to use them effectively, JAWS users can unlock a whole new level of functionality and accessibility.
We will be sharing some more very useful hidden features of Jaws in our future blog posts. So, Stay Updated with our blog!
