Window-Eyes Screen Reader

This is another experiment in pileup query.
I used only the simple search to collect the initial information and the pileups.

Original Query was: Window-Eyes

I slightly edited the results and erased duplicates.

Conclusions: Pileups were valuable although original results page gave comprehensive picture of the product.

There is a very informative list of Screen Readers on the site of Alternative Web Browsing where I found Window-Eyes Screen Reader


This is the results page:

http://www.gwmicro.com/
Since 1990, GW Micro has listened to screen-reader users and incorporated many of their suggestions into one powerful product: Window-Eyes.
After all, the purpose for having a screen reader in the first place is to gain access to computers, not to use computers to operate the screen reader.
(FORT WAYNE, IN, November 3, 2005) - GW Micro, a leader in blindness-related Assistive Technology announced the final release of the anxiously awaited Window-Eyes 5.5, the screen reading software that provides computer access to those who are blind or visually impaired. If you own an SMA or already purchased an upgrade, your CD is being processed and you will be receiving it soon.
If you are currently using Window-Eyes 5.0, you may also download the upgrade using either the Window-Eyes Update option from the Window-Eyes Help menu, or by visiting the Window-Eyes upgrade web site, http://www.gwmicro.com/upgrade. "The reaction to our unparalleled Excel support, full support for Mozilla Firefox, and the host of other features in this version has been terrific," said Doug Geoffray, VP of Product Development and Support.
"There is no doubt that we have raised the bar, once again, with our support for Microsoft Office applications," says Dan Weirich, VP Sales and Engineering. "100% accurate 100% of the time is our goal and we couldn't be more pleased with our Excel and Word support. In addition to those features, Window-Eyes 5.5 used with Firefox gives a dynamite web browsing experience. Window-Eyes 5.5 is powerful enough for advanced users, simple enough for beginners, and ensures a reliable computing environment for everyone."
Window-Eyes 5.5 Beta 2 boasts several enhancements, along with a few new features, including: Support for Outlook 2003 Auto Complete Multiple Soundcards Supported with DECtalk Access 32 Support for Windows XP Media Edition Media Center Application Updated Manual (Located under the Window-Eyes Help menu) Thanks to the Window-Eyes error reporting feature, we've made Window-Eyes even more stable than before.
We've also resolved a number of issues with Microsoft Excel, Firefox, Outlook, and Outlook Express, and have included several new set files. Download your copy of Window-Eyes 5.5 Beta 2, and read all about the new changes at http://www.gwmicro.com/beta. Note that Window-Eyes 5.5 Beta 2 can be installed over Window-Eyes 5.5 Beta 1, or Window-Eyes 5.0 (either retail, or demo).
http://www.gwmicro.com/products
Rather, it's a hard working, no nonsense word that separates the "here to stay" from the "here today." It's "stability" and it's what Window-Eyes is all about. Window-Eyes Professional is nothing less than the most stable screen reader available on the market today. Featuring Windows 9X, Me, 2000, XP, and 2003 compatibility, Window-Eyes puts you in the hands of the most powerful screen reading software ever created. Window-Eyes gives total control over what you hear and how you hear it.
Plus, with its enhanced Braille support that control is extended to what you feel as well. On top of all that, the power and stability of Window-Eyes means that most applications work right out of the box with no need for endless tinkering in order to get them to function properly. Performance Stability Reliability Rock Solid Window-Eyes is your key to opening the doors of a world with unlimited information.
A world where work takes precedence over technical hassles. Window-Eyes is a leading software application for the blind and visually impaired, which converts components of the Windows operating system into synthesized speech allowing for complete and total access to Windows based computer systems. Window-Eyes integration into Windows is seamless, providing you with instant access to the operating system without having to learn a complicated set of keystrokes.
Applications that utilize standard Microsoft controls will be spoken automatically with little to no configuration necessary. Other applications may require simple modifications to Window-Eyes whose options are easily accessible via a well organized, speech control panel. The Window-Eyes User's Guide provides detailed instructions and examples for beginning configuration options such as voice parameters and verbosity, as well as advanced instruction for tasks such as setting up user and hyperactive windows, and creating customized settings for individual applications.
Recommendations: For software speech, a multi-channel sound card, such as the Sound Blaster Audigy or Sound Blaster Live, is strongly recommended (Note that increased RAM will assist in the performance of software speech).
http://www.nanopac.com/WindowEyes.htm
All applications, word processors, Internet, email are available to the blind user. Window-Eyes gives you TOTAL control over what you hear, when you hear it, and how you hear it. Download a trial version click here FEATURES Compatibility with Windows 95, 98, 98, Me, 2000, 2003 and XP.
Once triggered, you can execute any three of seven options: speak any window, speak specified message, speak light bar, activate any window, load a new voice environment, execute any hot key, or beep. Voice Configuration Set up the speech rate, pitch, tone, volume and punctuation independently for screen, keyboard, and mouse Has capitalization alert and Format alert Keyboard can voice characters or words Numbers can be spoken as digits or full numbers Includes a word exception dictionary for mispronounced words Features a character dictionary to define exactly how to pronounce a character A key label dictionary can be used to define any key press Includes a graphic dictionary Allows speech to be interrupted or silenced with the press of a key Hot keys These are Window-Eyes commands only. The underlying applications program will not be disturbed with these keystrokes.
Over 150 assignable hot key speech features Hot keys to read previous, current and next for character, word, line, sentence, and paragraph Extensive mouse manipulation Hot key to read to end of document Hot key to read the date and time Bypass hot key which allows the next Window-Eyes command to be ignored so the underling application can receive the keystroke Each hot key can easily be assigned the keystroke of your choice Hot keys which are of no interest can be undefined Cursoring keys These are applications keys. You simply tell Window-Eyes what you want voiced after the application acts on the command.

And here are the pileups:

http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbcs/2003-July/001546.html
Which version of Window-Eyes are you running? If you are in a hurry, you can download public beta 3 of Window-Eyes 4.5 from the GW Micro web site.
I think you should be all right with those settings, but I would go get the latest public beta of Window-Eyes 4.5 if you encounter any trouble. Many small problems have been fixed.
http://blog.gmane.org/gmane.comp.mozilla.accessibility
If you're amazed by that, then you will really be amazed when the Window-Eyes 5.5 beta comes out with Firefox 1.5.
If you try the current stuff (Firefox 1.0 / Window-Eyes 5.0, JAWS 6.1) you will also be amazed at how much is broken :)
All in all, IBM had to focus in on a set of doable problems for this release. We focused on getting Firefox fully accessible on Windows first for a couple of reasons. First, Firefox needed to prove that it could be accessible at all, and Windows still has more mature assistive technologies. Second, Windows is where the majority of users with disabilities currently are, and our goal is to get as many people with disabilities to use Firefox. I apologize for those who are still waiting for quality Linux screen reader support in Firefox. In the long term IBM is interested in Firefox accessibility under Linux, and we are still planning how to get there. - Aaron Luke Yelavich wrote: On Wed, Aug 17, 2005 at 10:56:10AM EST, Aaron Leventhal wrote: Of particular interest: JAWS & Window-Eyes support, and support for accessibility in rich internet applications (DHTML).
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/191703/EN-US
Window-Eyes version 2.1 does not support Windows 98. If you are currently using Window-Eyes 2.1, upgrading from Microsoft Windows 95 to Windows 98 prevents Window-Eyes from speaking. CAUSE Window-Eyes is a screen reader program that verbally describes the current state of a Windows-based program. http://www.gwmicro.com/demo
Welcome to GW Micro - Window-Eyes Professional Demo
Current Version: Window-Eyes Professional 5.5 for Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP/2003
This is your opportunity to take Window-Eyes Professional for a test drive.
The Window-Eyes Professional demo is fully functional except for one item (which is excluded in the full version of Window-Eyes Professional): the demo will time out after 30 minutes. You will need to reboot for an additional 30 minutes.
http://cpcug.org/user/houser/section508/window-eyes.htm
Window-Eyes Window-Eyes screen reading program allows access to Microsoft Windows and compatible applications through synthesized speech output... Window-Eyes monitors the activities of other application programs and reports textual information to speech synthesizers designed to receive text from screen readers. Window-Eyes monitors keyboard, screen, and Windows activities and acts on information it needs, such as screen text changes, opening and closing windows, the appearance of dialog boxes, changes in focus, the pressing of its own hot keys, etc - all the while allowing other applications to run normally. Your application program - spreadsheet, word processor, whatever - does not even know Window-Eyes is running. What does Window-Eyes look for as it does this monitoring? That depends on what you, the computer user, ask it to look for - characters or words, whole numbers or individual numerals as you type them, cursor keys and function keys as you press them, information on the screen, changes in color attributes as they occur, pop-up boxes - and much more. Window-Eyes processes this information and sends it as electronic text to your speech synthesizer software for conversion into audible speech. Dozens of Window-Eyes settings and functions, which can be saved and recalled automatically, allow you to operate application programs interactively and without pause. For example, while creating a document in your word processor, Window-Eyes announces the letters you type, reads the dialog boxes that appear, and reads menu items as you move from one to another, all without your needing to press extra keys or enter any special mode. Window-Eyes lets you correct words your speech synthesizer mispronounces, and even lets you decide through character dictionaries how to pronounce individual characters such as punctuation marks and ASCII graphic characters.