Computers are at the center of so many parts of modern life. They are how we work, learn, and connect. However, they are a fundamentally visual medium. This can present a significant barrier for blind/low vision people. Screen readers are an assistive technology that speaks aloud the text on a computer screen.
Microsoft Narrator
Microsoft Narrator is the built-in screen reader application for Windows. In addition to reading aloud text, it also allows users to navigate the device by using voice-commands and keyboard shortcuts. This technology is primarily for blind/low vision people, but could also be used by people with learning disabilities
There are a number of additional screen readers available to download, with the two most popular being JAWS and NVDA. As a built-in application, however, Narrator provides screen-reader access to more people, including those who do not have their own personal computers. For example, public PCs at Brooklyn Public Library branches all have Microsoft Narrator, as well as other built-in accessibility features.
Narrator supports male and female text-to-speech voices in nearly 50 languages and accents, as well as male and female natural voices in 11 languages and accents. Users can also customize the speed of the voice. Narrator is also compatible with braille displays and for supported devices, it can also be navigated by touchscreen. All of these features increase the accessibility of the design by allowing users who speak different languages or use different writing systems to use the computer.
Models of Disability
Microsoft Narrator is an assistive technology that fits into the functional solutions model of disability. The functional solutions model focuses on practical barriers to use. For blind/low vision people, the barrier is that the computer is designed for sighted people and relies on users ability to process visual information in order to use the device. Narrator attempts to bypass this barrier by translating visual information into auditory information. However, this does not change the fact that the original design was created with sighted people as the end user. In order for this technology to fit within the social model, Microsoft could produce multiple versions of their computers, including ones which are specifically designed for use by blind/low vision people.
Two aspects of Narrator that align with the social model of disability are that it is free and built into Windows. Many assistive technologies that come from the functional solutions model can be costly and/or require the individual to actively search for them. These barriers can prevent individuals from accessing necessary accommodations and put a larger onus on the individual, rather than on society. However, by making Narrator a built-in and free feature of Windows, Microsoft is pre-supposing use by blind/low-vision people. This aligns with the social model of disability because it shows that the problem is not with the user but with the service.
Conclusion
Microsoft Narrator has never been the most popular screen reader. Most individuals primarily use either JAWS or NVDA. However, Narrator continues to evolve and recent upgrades have made it a more competitive option. Although Narrator does not offer significant features beyond what these other screen readers provide, it allows blind/low vision users immediate access to a Windows computer. It provides essential access to blind/low vision people who rely on public computers and those who may not want or be able to seek out and learn additional technologies.