1. Introduction and important settings
The Standard keyboard provides all the functionality for operating SpeakOn and is recommended for new users. Other methods of interacting with SpeakOn such as the Numerical keypad, TouchScreen and TouchPad have their advantages but the Standard keyboard is the most comprehensive form of interaction providing access to some less common operations not available with the other types of interactions. Users are therefore highly recommended to make themselves familiar with operating SpeakOn with the Standard keyboard regardless of whether they are going to use the Standard keyboard as their main method of interaction with SpeakOn.
SpeakOn is self-voicing. To prevent SpeakOn and your screen reader from talking at the same time, depending on the screen reader you are using and its settings, you may need to either mute your screen reader when the focus is on SpeakOn or shut down your screen reader altogether. Some screen readers can be configured so that they mute automatically when the focus is on self-voicing applications such as SpeakOn.
There is more information about how to do this with popular screen readers in the Tutorial section of this manual:
here
There are two groups of keys used by SpeakOn: Main keys which include the function keys, [Alt] and [Tab] keys, and Context keys which include the four arrow keys, the [Enter], [Home], [End] keys and a few other less commonly used keys. Main keys perform the same actions anywhere in SpeakOn and the Context keys are used to navigate and operate individual controls and menus.
Every key is given a name which is easy to remember and relates to its functionality. This key name is translated to physical keys on the Standard keyboard.
In the Standard keyboard key notation, a key is specified by its name. any modifier and physical key indicator are enclosed in square brackets [].
Keys may have additional functionalities which are represented by the symbols '#' and / or '*' before the key name; these relate to their use in combination with a modifier.
With the Standard keyboard, referring to the symbols above, three modifiers are supported:
'#' - Shift
'*' - Ctrl
'#*' - Shift + Ctrl
The use of these with the Standard keyboard is as usual; press down the modifier together with the required key. So for example the notation:
# Select [Shift + Enter]
means that you need to hold down the Shift key together with the Enter key.
Note that modifiers are used frequently in SpeakOn with the Standard keyboard especially together with the function keys. The use of the function keys with the Standard keyboard is as in any standard Windows program; function keys are either pressed on their own or together with a modifier as with any other key.
The following are the keys available:
'Help' [F1] - toggles the Help context menu
# 'Help' [Shift + F1] - 'Where am I?' - speaks the current task and control
* 'Help' [Ctrl + F1] - speaks the current control
*# 'Help' [Ctrl + Shift + F1] - speaks the current control's item where applicable
'Info' [F2] - media context related information available in the Player
# 'Info' [Shift + F2] - media context related information available in the Player
* 'Info' [Ctrl + F2] - media timing or length context information available in the Player
*# 'Info' [Ctrl + Shift + F2] - media format context information available in the Player
*# 'Battery' [Ctrl + Shift + b] - AC Power and battery charge information
* 'Find' [Ctrl + F3] or [Ctrl + f] - search available only in some tasks.
# 'Find' [Shift + F3] - search again available only in some tasks.
'Nav' [F4] - go to my media of the same type in the Library
* 'Nav' [Ctrl + F4] - end media task
'Menu' [Alt] - toggles the Main menu
'Focus' [Tab] - moves the focus to the next available control in the current task
'Context' [Application] or [Shift + F10] or [Shift + F4] - toggles the Context menu
'Cancel' [Ctrl] - stops speaking or cancels the internet connection
'Escape' [Esc] - aborts or closes tasks
'Speech Minus' [F5] - reduces the speech volume
'Speech Plus' [F6] - increases the speech volume
* 'Speech Minus' [Ctrl + F5] - reduces the speech rate
* 'Speech Plus' [Ctrl + F6] - increases the speech rate
*# 'Speech Plus' [Ctrl + Shift + F6] - toggles speech echo On or Off for the duration of the current session - this feature works only when the focus is on an Edit control
'Audio Minus' [F7] - reduces the audio volume
'Audio Plus' [F8] - increases the audio volume
* 'Audio Minus' [Ctrl + F7] - reduces the audio speed
* 'Audio Plus' [Ctrl + F8] - increases the audio speed
*# 'Audio Plus' [Ctrl + Shift + F8] - brings the audio speed back to normal
# 'Audio Minus' [Shift + F7] - shifts the audio balance to the left, this operation is not available in all Operating systems
# 'Audio Plus' [Shift + F8] - shifts the audio balance to the right, this operation is not available in all Operating systems
'Custom' [F9] - optional custom operation in a media task
* 'Custom' [Ctrl + F9] - optional custom operation in a media task
# 'Custom' [Ctrl + F9] - optional custom operation in a media task
*# 'Custom' [Ctrl + F9] - optional custom operation in a media task
'Clock' [F12] - announces the time
* 'Clock' [Ctrl + F12] - announces the date
*# 'Clock' [Shift + F12] - Sleep timer setting and information
'Up' [up arrow] - for navigation in a control if applicable
Alternative 'Audio Plus' [Ctrl + up arrow] - increases the audio volume
Alternative 'Audio Plus' [Ctrl + Shift + up arrow] - increases the audio speed
'Down' [down arrow] - for navigation in a control if applicable
Alternative 'Audio Minus' [Ctrl + down arrow] - reduces the audio volume
Alternative 'Audio Minus' [Ctrl + Shift + down arrow] - reduces the audio speed
'Right' [right arrow] - for navigation in a control if applicable
* 'Right' [Ctrl + right arrow] - for navigation in a control if applicable
'Left' [left arrow] - for navigation in a control if applicable
* 'Left' [Ctrl+ left arrow] - for navigation in a control if applicable
'Select' [Enter] - for specific operations in a control if applicable
# 'Select' [Shift + Enter] - for specific operations in a control if applicable
* 'Select' [Ctrl + Enter] - for specific operations in a control if applicable
'Home' [Home] - for navigation to the first item in a control if applicable
'End' [End] - for navigation to the last item in a control if applicable
Alternative 'Speech Plus' [Ctrl + page up] [F6] - increases the speech volume
Alternative 'Speech Plus' [Ctrl + Shift + page up] - increases the speech rate
Alternative 'Speech Minus' [Ctrl + page down] - reduces the speech volume
Alternative 'Speech Minus' [Ctrl + Shift + page down] - reduces the speech rate
'Insert' [Ins] - toggles insert mode On or Off in an Edit control
'Delete' [Del] - deletes data in an Edit control and some Check List controls
'Copy' [Ctrl + c] - copies the selected text to the computer's clipboard - applies to an Edit and some Check List controls
'Cut' [Ctrl + x] - cuts the selected text to the computer's clipboard - applies to an Edit and some Check List controls
'Paste' [Ctrl + v] - pastes the text content of the computer's clipboard to the control - applies to an Edit and some Check List controls
'Copy message' [Ctrl + Shift + c] - copies the last spoken message content to the clipboard. This content usually includes a Control or media information.
Content [Ctrl + Shift + n] - Repeat last message content and spell it if no longer than 20 characters. This content usually includes a Control or media information.
Please note that in addition to the keys specified above, pressing any text key enables quick navigation by finding items starting with the character pressed; this applies to List, Check List, Option, Tree and Player controls.
[ Next - Numerical keypad interaction - features and use ]
[ Previous - Controls' operations key action list ]
[ Up - Reference - Operating SpeakOn - Section ]
[ Up 2 - SpeakOn MediaSuite Manual and Tutorial - Main Index ]