Turning on Windows Narrator for FamilySearch center patrons

Visually impaired patrons benefit from the ability to use the Windows Narrator on center computers. The narrator feature speaks the content of the computer screen for the patron. You must have speakers for the computer. 

Be sure to turn off narrator when the patron finishes using the computer. Use the following steps to activate narrator.

Windows 7

Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft or FamilySearch and should no longer be on FamilySearch Center computers.

Windows 10

1. In the lower left corner, click the Start icon.
2. Beginning typing Narrator.
3. To use it immediately, click Narrator.
4. If you feel that patrons will want it regularly, click Pin to taskbar.

Using Narrator

When you click Narrator, the app starts to read the information in the current window. To stop Narrator, press the Control key on your keyboard.

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to read the current item (or the item that has keyboard focus).
2. Press Ctrl Shift+Space to read the contents of the current window.
3. The Narrator window has several options that determine how Narrator behaves:

• Echo User’s Keystrokes: Reads back what you type.
• Announce System Messages: Reads back background events, such as system notifications.
• Announce Scroll Notifications: Lets you know when the screen scrolls.
• Start Narrator Minimized: Displays Narrator as an icon on the taskbar when it starts up, rather than as a window.

1. To listen to a tutorial about Narrator, click Quick Help on the Narrator window.
2. To change the voice settings for Narrator, click Voice Settings on the Narrator window. This opens a pop-up window with menus that let you adjust the speaking rate, pitch, and volume.
3. To exit Narrator, click Exit on the Narrator window. Narrator stops reading the information on the screen.

If the patron is not totally blind, another option in Display Settings is to click the box beside Turn on Magnifier. Magnifier zooms in anywhere on the screen and makes everything in the area larger. Patrons can move Magnifier around, lock it in one place, or resize it to view the screen.