To use VoiceOver, first turn it on (Command F5). Then use the keyboard to navigate, open applications, choose menu items, and do stuff. In general:
Go to the Dock, choose an application to use, and start working.
The VoiceOver menu shows you all of the commands that can be used with the item that is currently highlighted on the screen. This is useful when you're not sure which keys to press to make something happen.
The Caption Panel is a rectangular box that appears on your screen. It contains the text of the spoken words. If you're blind, this is useless. But if you just need help, it can be nice to have a visual reinforcement. Or it might be useful if you're helping someone who is blind.
You can control the size of the Caption Panel, how many rows of text it displays, and how transparent the box is. Use the VoiceOver Utility; see page 395.
When a Safari web page is active (open and in front), you can create a Link List that displays a menu listing every link on the page.
1. | Open a Safari web page. |
2. | To open the Link List menu, first use the keyboard shortcuts to select the page (Control Option RightArrow until you hear " content"). Then press U (that is, Control Option U). |
3. | To highlight links in the menu, use the up and down arrows (Control Option UpArrow or DownArrow). You can type the first letter or two of a link name, if you know it, to highlight a particular link. |
4. | To select that highlighted link on the web page, press Return (without the Control Option keys). |
5. | To go to that linked page now that the link is selected on the web page, press Spacebar (Control Option Spacebar). |
To close the menu without selecting anything, hit the Escape key.
The Item Chooser menu lists everything that is in the open, active window on the screen (not everything that is open on your Desktop, but just what is in front). If the active window is, say, a web page, the Item Chooser will list every button, field, control, link, graphic, and the
page itself.
Slide up and down the Item Chooser menu with the arrow keys (that is,
Control Option UpArrow or Down Arrow) to highlight items. They will be read aloud to you as you highlight them. Press Spacebar (Control Option Spacebar) to choose the highlighted item to appear in front of you.
You can use the regular Mac keyboard shortcuts in addition to the VoiceOver shortcuts. For instance, in the Finder it is faster to open the Applications window using Command Shift A than it is to cycle through the VoiceOver commands. It's faster to press Command S to save a document than it is to find the menu and choose the option to "Save." Use the shortcuts explained on pages 118119 to switch applications.
To make sure VoiceOver is on at the login window, go to the Accounts system preferences. Unlock the locked icon, click the "Login Options" button, and put a checkmark in "Use VoiceOver at login window." This does
not automatically turn on VoiceOver.