Microsoft Narrator

Narrator is a screen reader software utility included with every version of Microsoft Windows since Windows 2000. Developed by professor Paul Blenkhorn in 2000, it is designed to make Windows more accessible for blind and visually impaired users.

Narrator uses a text-to-speech voice to read text and other elements on the screen out loud, allowing the user to interact with the system even if they cannot see the screen (or if there is no display), as long as speakers are connected to the computer.

Narrator is part of the Ease of Access category of programs, and is accessible via the folder for these programs in the Start menu. Narrator can also be turned on or off via Settings or Control Panel. Narrator is additionally accessible via the Windows logon screen, where it will read any selected interface elements aloud.

Settings

Along with interface elements the user interacts with, Narrator can be set to speak keys the user types on the keyboard, as well as system messages and scroll notifications.

Narrator can be set to open when a user logs on to Windows, and it can be set to automatically minimize when it is opened. In Windows 10 and Windows 11, Narrator can be set to open when any user logs onto the computer.

The speed, volume, and pitch for the voice of Narrator can be changed in the program's settings, as can the voice itself if more than one voice is installed on the computer. In Windows XP, Narrator uses the Microsoft Sam voice by default. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, Narrator uses the Microsoft Anna voice by default. In Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11, Narrator uses the Microsoft David voice by default; additional pre-installed options in these versions include Microsoft Zira and Microsoft Mark.

In Windows 10 and Windows 11, the level of detail at which Narrator describes interface and control elements can be adjusted to one of three levels, with 3 being the most verbose and 1 being the least.

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