Exploring ZoomText's Windows
ZoomText users are diverse in many ways, from their type of vision impairment, to the computer applications they use, to their preferences on how the screen is magnified. One of the ways in which ZoomText accommodates this diversity is through its eight zoom window types: Full, Overlay, Lens, Line and four Docked positions. Each of these zoom windows provide a unique way of viewing the screen.
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The most popular zoom window is Full zoom. In Full zoom, the entire screen is magnified, thus allowing you to see the maximum area possible. Many users don't venture beyond this choice because it's both functional and comfortable.
All of ZoomText's remaining zoom window types occupy only a portion of the screen. With these zoom windows you can see both magnified and unmagnified views at that same time.
The Overlay zoom window displays a magnified view that can be sized and positioned to occupy any area of the screen. This zoom window is convenient when you need to park the zoom window in a specific location.
Using Lens zoom is like moving a hand-held magnifying glass in front of the screen, where only the material directly beneath the lens is magnified. As you move the mouse, type in text, and navigate menus and dialogs, the Lens automatically moves across the screen to keep the focus in view.
The Line zoom window displays a band of magnification across the screen. Similar to the Lens zoom window, the Line zoom automatically moves up and down keeping the focus in view. When a blinking text cursor is present, the height of the Line zoom window automatically resizes to the size of the current line of text.
Finally, ZoomText offers four Docked zoom windows. These split screen zoom windows allow you to view magnified and unmagnified views of the screen in a side-by-side or over-and-under layout. The magnified view can be at the top, bottom, left or right portion of the screen , and in each case the unmagnified view is opposite. Both magnified and unmagnified views scroll, allowing you to view any area of the desktop.
Choosing a zoom window
Switching between zoom window types is quick and easy. On the Magnifier toolbar, select Type button, then select the desired zoom window type. You can also cycle through all of the zoom window types by pressing the Zoom Windows hotkey: CTRL + SHIFT + Z.
Adjusting a zoom window's size or position
With the exception of Full zoom, all of ZoomText's windows can be sized and moved to show more or less of the magnified view.
- On the Magnifier toolbar, click the Adjust button, or press the Adjust tool hotkey: CTRL + SHIFT+ A.
Sizing handles will appear on the zoom window frame. - To size the window, drag any handle.
- To move the window, drag inside the frame.
- To exit the Adjust tool, right-click or press the ESC key.
ZoomText's eight zoom window types are sure to accommodate every situation. Why not experiment today to see which zoom window types work best for you.
Maurie's Corner: The Right Reading Tool
For a ZoomText user who normally relies on magnification, I find myself using and enjoying ZoomText's reading tools more and more. With these tools, I can speed through reading tasks almost effortlessly, allowing more time for other tasks. In this article I'll describe ZoomText's four reading tools: AppReader and DocReader, which are best for reading documents (including web pages and email); and the SpeakIt Tool and Mouse Echo, which are useful for spot reading in any application.
I confess I've become an AppReader-addict. I have a friend who writes funny, interesting and long emails. However, there's no way my daughter, Arden, will let me sit and stare at the screen long enough to read through one of those emails. With AppReader, I can sit back and hear what my friends are up to while my daughter's in my lap. Even if Arden decides to poke her toddler-size fingers in my eyes, I can still hear what ZoomText is saying. It's easy to reach for the Enter key when I need to pause AppReader to pay specific attention to my wiggle-worm child. Then, once her fingers are out of my ears, I can hit Enter again so that ZoomText resumes reading right where it left off. Can you see why I'm addicted?
If you've never tried AppReader, I suggest you do so next time someone emails you a joke that goes on for several paragraphs. With the following simple steps, you too can be an AppReader addict!
- Open an email or document that you would like to read.
- Position the text cursor where you want to start reading (if a cursor exists).
- Press ALT + SHIFT + A to start AppReader.
- Press the ENTER key to start, pause and resume reading.
- Press the ESC key to exit AppReader.
Next on the list of ZoomText reading tools is DocReader, which is a fantastic choice for reading messy documents. DocReader strips away all of the cluttered formatting, and presents only the text of the document in your choice of font style, size and color. Using DocReader is just as easy as using AppReader. In fact, the steps are the same, except that you press ALT + SHIFT + D to start DocReader. Oh yes, I should mention that both AppReader and DocReader highlight each word that's spoken, so it's really easy to see where you're at in your document.
In some ways, I think the SpeakIt Tool is the most versatile, because it allows you to read a selected block of text anywhere on the screen. Using the SpeakIt tool is easy. Just press ALT + SHIFT + I, which will turn your mouse pointer into a SpeakIt pointer. Then click and drag to highlight the text you want to read. When you release the mouse button, ZoomText immediately reads the selected text. When you are finished using the SpeakIt tool, press the Esc key or right click to restore your normal mouse pointer. I find the SpeakIt tool is great for reading information in tables, as it allows me to read one particular row or column at a time.
Finally, there's ZoomText's Mouse Echo feature, which automatically reads the word or line of text beneath the mouse pointer. You can turn this feature on and off by pressing ALT + SHIFT + M. I like to use Mouse Echo when I'm in ‘unfamiliar territory', for instance, when using a program I have not used before. I can just move the pointer over any text and ZoomText reads it automatically.
I hope I've captured your interest in using these terrific reading tools. You can learn more about them in the ZoomText Help system or your ZoomText User's Guide. Just remember, AppReader and DocReader are good for the long run, while the SpeakIt Tool and Mouse Echo are better for short jogs. I'm going home now to see if there's an email from my long-winded friend. I'll sit at my desk with Arden and she'll wiggle and giggle and give me hugs; life is good.
User Spotlight: Mark "Musicman" Taylor
Our featured ZoomText user this month is used to being in the spotlight. Mark Taylor is a talented musician who performs at a variety of southern California clubs, has recently released his first CD, and is hoping for a record deal. Mark is also legally blind.
A longtime ZoomText user, Mark started out using ZoomText for DOS back in the 80s. These days, Mark uses ZoomText 8.1 and relies on its screen reading capabilities to work on his computer. We reached Mark at his Redondo Beach, California home to talk about his music, his blindness and ZoomText.
Mark's talent is showcased on his website, which includes lyrics to his songs, downloadable music, and a moving story entitled Cameo that's based on Mark's early childhood. He credits the patient folks at the Kentucky School for the Blind, where he was a student between age 11 and 17, with teaching him to play guitar, saxophone, clarinet, and his personal favorite, piano.
According to Mark, the theme of his music is "that redemption and the chance to try again is the only true reward we can ever hope to obtain." His message to others is simple – don't give up or give in to life's challenges.
Over the years one of Mark's personal challenges has been finding gainful employment in the computer field. Because of his visual impairment, he had to prove to each employer that he had the skills and tools to do the job. Before each interview, Mark would consult with Ai Squared to confirm ZoomText's compatibility with the potential employer's computing environment. When Mark was feeling uneasy, Ben Weiss, president and founder of Ai Squared, would tell him "Don't worry Mark, we'll take care of it." In his relatively short working career, he's been employed by Epson, the City of Torrance and UCLA.
Mark, an alpha tester for ZoomText 9.0, remarks that the forthcoming release is faster and more responsive. As he relies heavily on speech these days, he's happy to see improved proofreading tools along with a more human-sounding synthesizer. In Mark's opinion, ZoomText 9.0 is "obviously targeting low vision people, but has many of the reading features blind people need."
Praising Ai Squared's efforts in the accessibility industry, Mark states, "If not for Ben Weiss, I could not have worked independently in the IT business." What does Mark have to say to a low-vision person just beginning the journey? "Focus on the end game. Get the job you want." Speaking from the heart Mark advises never to go in asking for an employer to provide a solution. Instead, go in saying, this is my limitation and here is my solution. For Mark Taylor, that solution has come from his friend, the man he calls a hero, Ben Weiss.
Mark has a generous spirit and an easy laugh. We wish him well in his music career and thank him for his friendship and loyalty to Ai Squared. We believe Mark is a role model for other low-vision individuals. For more information on Mark and his music, visit www.candleshore.com .
QuickTips: Work Faster With Hotkeys
In today's fast-paced world where many of us strive to work smarter, time-saving techniques are one way to achieve that goal. ZoomText hotkeys allow you to work faster and more efficiently by controlling ZoomText's features without having to bring up the user interface, thus allowing you to maintain focus on your work.
If you're just learning ZoomText, or just beginning to use hotkeys, we recommend you start by memorizing the hotkeys for some of ZoomText's most frequently used features. Here's a few to get you started.
To enable and disable ZoomText:
Disable ZoomText: ALT + DELETE
Enable ZoomText: ALT + INSERT
To increase and decrease magnification:
Increase magnification: ALT + Numpad Plus
Decrease magnification: ALT + Numpad Minus
To start AppReader:
AppReader: ALT + SHIFT + A
To toggle screen reading on and off:
Screen Reading On/Off: ALT + SHIFT + S
A full list of ZoomText hotkeys can be found in the ZoomText User's Guide and the Quick Reference Guide. Hotkeys are also listed in ZoomText's online help system, which can be accessed by selecting Help > ZoomText Help from the ZoomText menubar.
Memorizing a few ZoomText hotkeys will enable you to work faster when time is of the essence.
