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What software do blind people use to browse the internet? (self.Blind)
submitted by tornado_is_best
My auntie recently became blind and says that the software she is using to browse the internet is crap because it won't give you feedback when entering passwords or usernames in forms (I think with anything not a username or password it reads back the letters).
What is the best software for surfing the internet blind?
Thanks guys.
What is the best software for surfing the internet blind?
Thanks guys.
petCrumble 4 points 2y ago
I personally use NVDA with google chrome.
bradley22 3 points 2y ago
Her best bet is NVDA. Did she pay for dolfin or however you spell it? If so, perhaps you can ask for a refund?
If she presses NVDA, the capslock or incert key, which can also be the number 0 on a numbpad, so either one of those, and 2, she'll hear speek typed characters on, this will say star for passwords, as it's meant to, but will speak out anything else she types.
Does she have a place she can go to to learn all about how to use screen readers once the virus has settled down?
If she presses NVDA, the capslock or incert key, which can also be the number 0 on a numbpad, so either one of those, and 2, she'll hear speek typed characters on, this will say star for passwords, as it's meant to, but will speak out anything else she types.
Does she have a place she can go to to learn all about how to use screen readers once the virus has settled down?
tornado_is_best [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Paid £400 for it!!! The main issue really is passwords right now so I think I can crack that with the NVDA password addon.
bradley22 2 points 2y ago
It’s so important that you check for demos before paying for things.
There’s a 30 day demo on the site.
That addon should help but if she has anymore questions, feel free to post on here or you can pm me.
I live in the uk and am willing to walk you or your grandma through things over the phone.
There’s a 30 day demo on the site.
That addon should help but if she has anymore questions, feel free to post on here or you can pm me.
I live in the uk and am willing to walk you or your grandma through things over the phone.
tornado_is_best [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thanks, I appreciate it. I'll let you know how she goes with the NVDA thing and speak password addon.
bradley22 1 points 2y ago
Ok.
zersiax 3 points 2y ago
At the risk of sounding snarky, a web browser.
That's not what you're looking for, though. So, this is a two-part situation.The web browser is one like any other that you yourself would use, Google Chrome, Firefox etc.
The other part is the screen reader, which is dependent on the platform she uses. Windows, it might be Narrator (built-in, somewhat lacking), NVDA (open-source and freely downloadable) and JAWS (very expensive, usually offered as living aid if a person qualifies for that). If your aunt is not receiving the feedback she needs, it'll be the screenreader she needs to look at configuring better, not the web browser :)
That's not what you're looking for, though. So, this is a two-part situation.The web browser is one like any other that you yourself would use, Google Chrome, Firefox etc.
The other part is the screen reader, which is dependent on the platform she uses. Windows, it might be Narrator (built-in, somewhat lacking), NVDA (open-source and freely downloadable) and JAWS (very expensive, usually offered as living aid if a person qualifies for that). If your aunt is not receiving the feedback she needs, it'll be the screenreader she needs to look at configuring better, not the web browser :)
tornado_is_best [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I think it is a product by Dolphin software... sorry forget the name but it is very expensive and they can't change the username/password issue in the software apparently.
I'll recommend NVDA... is JAWS better?
I'll recommend NVDA... is JAWS better?
retrolental_morose 4 points 2y ago
No, NVDA is perfectly suitable for the vast majority of people, with the only caveat being that she may wish to pay for some more natural-sounding voices (still cheaper than JAWS).
Speaking of passwords is a Windows thing as well - the fields themselves don't show entered text after all.
I believe NVDA has a speak passwords addon. I personally use a password manager, which covers me for about 9/10 of my password intry needs online.
Speaking of passwords is a Windows thing as well - the fields themselves don't show entered text after all.
I believe NVDA has a speak passwords addon. I personally use a password manager, which covers me for about 9/10 of my password intry needs online.
tornado_is_best [OP] 1 points 2y ago
So NVDA + Firefox password manager + the NVDA speak passwords addon? Thanks!
vwlsmssng 2 points 2y ago
> a product by Dolphin software.
That will be Dolphin SuperNova $1 or one of their related products. I know someone who uses this. I know that different web browsers work differently with it. You could try the main three (Edge, Chrome, Firefox) and see if one works better,
They have support where you can ask them questions like this. They can also use TeamViewer to provide remote support. They may be able to explain why the screenreader is not speaking the username field.
(EDIT: it looks like you have already contacted them)
Screenreaders may not read back passwords for the same reasons browsers replace passwords with * * * * etc. so that someone nearby can't eavesdrop.
SuperNova has a lot of functionality that may not be supported by alternatives that are just screenreaders. E.g. it offers screen magnification and colour changing that works for some visual impairments, and it supports conversion of PDF and other formats to Word including OCR. Yes it is very expensive but this is what complicated software costs when you are not selling millions of copies.
That will be Dolphin SuperNova $1 or one of their related products. I know someone who uses this. I know that different web browsers work differently with it. You could try the main three (Edge, Chrome, Firefox) and see if one works better,
They have support where you can ask them questions like this. They can also use TeamViewer to provide remote support. They may be able to explain why the screenreader is not speaking the username field.
(EDIT: it looks like you have already contacted them)
Screenreaders may not read back passwords for the same reasons browsers replace passwords with * * * * etc. so that someone nearby can't eavesdrop.
SuperNova has a lot of functionality that may not be supported by alternatives that are just screenreaders. E.g. it offers screen magnification and colour changing that works for some visual impairments, and it supports conversion of PDF and other formats to Word including OCR. Yes it is very expensive but this is what complicated software costs when you are not selling millions of copies.
tornado_is_best [OP] 4 points 2y ago
That's the one.
Yes, we have contacted customer support and they were useless. :-(
She is totally blind. It's weird searching for blind stuff because you get a lot of partially sighted links. Last time I checked, blind means blind.
Yes, we have contacted customer support and they were useless. :-(
She is totally blind. It's weird searching for blind stuff because you get a lot of partially sighted links. Last time I checked, blind means blind.
[deleted] 3 points 2y ago
[deleted]
zersiax 1 points 2y ago
Hmm ...no, I wouldn't say so especially for day-to-day tasks. NVdA should serve in those cases quite well.
I don't know what significance usernames and passwords in particular have that this other software won't let her change them, other than the fact that password fields would mask the characters inside. But it does that visually as well, no screenreader will bypass that as it would be a security and privacy concern.
I don't know what significance usernames and passwords in particular have that this other software won't let her change them, other than the fact that password fields would mask the characters inside. But it does that visually as well, no screenreader will bypass that as it would be a security and privacy concern.
tornado_is_best [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Please explain how reading out the password is a privacy concern in your own home?
zersiax 2 points 2y ago
Shrug. When you have people over you might not want that to happen, when you are on the phone you might not, either. Sighted people don't see their password either when they enter it, do they? You just see asterisks or bullet characters. Thats just how password fields work, unless there's a Show Password button/checkbox on the form itself.
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
Programing and hacking if a screen reader can broadcast that software and it can pass through there’s a way to probably code something to steal that data. Better be a hassle then security risks. It’s a high security priority.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[deleted]
Blindgamerpl 2 points 2y ago
Use NVDA
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
Its not crap it’s cyber and user security not to read out passwords while you type. Imagine hearing.
P a s d e I a w e r 4 t 2. And in public you just heard their password. Hearing star star star is to protect security. I rather hear click then give away my sensitive info. That’s why a forum would not show a social security code and or bank card number.
Social security ending in 8527 for instance
Or xxxxx8527 so not to give your real social security code away. Basic safety.
Or card ending in.
Xxxxxxxx6194
Pretty standard.
Most screen readers you’ll get will say star or click for passwords. Just memorize the keyboard so you know you’re typing correctly.
And no none of that info is real.
P a s d e I a w e r 4 t 2. And in public you just heard their password. Hearing star star star is to protect security. I rather hear click then give away my sensitive info. That’s why a forum would not show a social security code and or bank card number.
Social security ending in 8527 for instance
Or xxxxx8527 so not to give your real social security code away. Basic safety.
Or card ending in.
Xxxxxxxx6194
Pretty standard.
Most screen readers you’ll get will say star or click for passwords. Just memorize the keyboard so you know you’re typing correctly.
And no none of that info is real.
bradley22 1 points 2y ago
How's things going? I just thought of your post after going through NVDA addons on a website.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[deleted]
tornado_is_best [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Hi there, last time I checked she was "looking into it". No further news yet....
ScarReincarnated 1 points 2y ago
NVDA :)
JAWS at work
JAWS at work
4humans 1 points 2y ago
I don’t know if she has an Apple device with VoiceOver. It’s built in to iOS and is my preferred method for general use.
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
It doesn’t read passwords either and that’s just security but yes.
tornado_is_best [OP] 1 points 2y ago
So you use your phone for all web browsing?
4humans 2 points 2y ago
I use my MacBook, iPad and phone
siwy4don 2 points 2y ago
All apple devices has built-in voiceover. Iphones, watches, macs etc. NVDA is free of charge. I use both jaws and nvda on windows 10 with Google Chrome.
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