How closely does Windows narrator simulate JAWS

Hi All,

I understand that JAWS is the most commonly used screen reader at the
moment. I don't have figures for this, so you can call it an assumption
based on the fact that JAWS is the name that I encounter most frequently
when people discuss screen readers.

It occurs to me that the Narrator facility which is included in Windows 2000
could be a particularly useful tool for web designers who might want to very
quickly test a HTML layout, or even just to gain some insight into the user
experience of someone who might be using a screen reader.

Does anyone know how closely the Windows 2000 Narrator resembles JAWS in
terms of it's capabilities, etc? Ideally, you want to test in as many
different platforms, browsers and access devices as possible but for those
who don't have access to a JAWS screen reader, could narrator be a useful
alternative, given that some testing is better than none at all?

thanks

Anthony

_______________________________________________________

 Anthony Quinn                     UI Design Manager

   Frontend ~ Usability Engineering & Interface Design
   40 Westland Row, Dublin 2, Republic of Ireland

          Visit our Usability InfoCentre at:
      http://www.frontend.com/usability_infocentre/

 anthony.quinn@frontend.com       tel: +353 1 241 1600
 http://www.frontend.com          fax: +353 1 241 1601
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Received on Friday, 5 January 2001 05:04:55 UTC