Windows 10 Settings (Ease of Access)

Usually computer basics is very easy to learn, if you carefully follow and read everything in details. In this setting section, the ease of access settings contains numerous settings which are group into vision, hearing and interaction.

VISION

This section here contains settings that you can adjust, switch ON/OFF and enable or disable for you to be able to view what you are doing very well.

(i) Display

In this display settings page, the first option is to make your text bigger or smaller (increasing or decreasing the font size of everything on your computer screen)
To do this, under the heading (Make text bigger), there is the sample input of how the text size looks like, and under this you can use the range slider to adjust the size of the text.
As you are moving the range slider to either left or right, the text in the sample input increases or decrease according.
When you have adjusted it to your preferred size, you can click on the Apply button for it to take effect in your computer system.

The next heading is (Make everything bigger). Under this you can change both the size of your applications and the text. There are two selection options which you can select from: 100% (which is the recommended setting) and 125%.

The next thing here are two links which will take you to settings sections you have already done before.
Change the size of apps and texts in other displays - when you click this link, it takes you to the dispay settings in the system settings section.
Change the size and color of your cursor and mouse pointer - this link will take you to the next settings page which is the Mouse Pointer. (Everything about it will be explained in its own section)

The next heading is (Make everything brighter). Under this, you can use the range slider to increase the brightness by moving it to the right. The brightness percentage is also shown at the right-hand side.
Below this range slider, you will also find a link Change brightness automatically or use night light - when you click this link, it will take you to the display settings page, inside the system settings section for you to perform this action. You already know how to go about the system settings in this windows 10 settings tutorial, so I guess it would be easy for you. But if you have forgotten somethings there, it is advisable that you go back to the system settings tutorial and go through it again.

The last heading here is the (Simplify and Personalize Windows). Under this you can switch ON/OFF different options such as: Animations, Transparency and Automatically hide scroll bars. You can also set the length of time for notification to be displayed. You can also switch ON/OFF show desktop background image.
Lastly here, there is a link Personalize your background and other colors - when you click on this link, it will take you to the personalization settings section. (This page has already been explained in the previous tutorials)

(ii) Mouse Pointer

On this page, under the heading (Change mouse pointer size and color) you can adjust how big or small you want your mouse pointer to be, by moving the range slider to either left or right.

You can also select the type of color you want for the mouse pointer. There are four options to select from by clicking on it. When you click on the last option, you can use it to select different suggested colors for your mouse pointer or click on the custom color option to explore other colors.

Under the heading (Change touch feedback), you can switch ON/OFF show visual feedback around the touch point when I touch the screen. When this is active (ON), you will be able to see small details around when your pointer is touching.
You can also enable: Make visual feedback for touch points darker and larger.

Lastly at the right side of this page, under the related settings, you will see the Additional mouse settings and Touchpad settings When you click on these links it will take you to the Device settings section. (This section has already be explained before, but if you missed it, you can go back to the Windows 10 Settings (Device) tutorial to learn everything about what is there and how to go about it)

(iii) Text Cursor

This settings page has to do with setting up your text indicator. The little shape the appears anytime you move your mouse over a text in your system.
On this page, under the heading (Text cursor indicator), you can switch the text cursor indicator ON/OFF by clicking on the switch button. After this, you can see the sample of the text cursor indicator will look like when you are setting it.
Below the sample, you can adjust the size of the text cursor indicator by moving the range slider to either left or right.

The next thing is changing the color of the text cursor indicator, you can click on any color from the suggested colors display here, or click on Pick a custom color option which will open a dialog page where you can select your custom color from. (By now, you should be able to know how to go about choosing custom colors from any custom color dialog box, as this has already been explained in the personalization settings section tutorial and a few others).

Lastly under the (Change the text cursor appearance), you can adjust the thickness of your cursor pointer by moving the ranger slider left or right.

(iv) Magnifier

This settings page has to do with zooming your computer system contents (that is magnifying your screen contents).

On this page, under the first heading (Use Magnifier), you can switch ON/OFF the magnifier by clicking on the switch button.
Also under this button, there is a brief shortcut guide that tells you how to turn ON/OFF the magnifier. (Shortcut for turning ON the magnifier - Win + Plus(+) sign : Shortcut for turning OFF the magnifier - Win + Esc)

After this, there is a link Make everything on my computer bigger. When you click on this link, it will take you back to the Display settings in this Ease of Access settings section on your computer system.

After the link above, next is where you can manually change the zoom level by clicking on the plus and minus button below the Change zoon level sub-heading. The percentage usually increases by 100% (which is the default increment). This default increment can also be changed by clicking on the select option below the Change zoom increment sub-heading. Zoom increments option are (5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 150%, 200% and 400%)

Under this, there is a brief shortcut guide for zooming in and out. (Zooming in - Win + and Zooming out - Win - ). If you are using mouse, you can also hold Ctrl + Alt and use your mouse scroll at the middle rolling it up (zooming in) and down (zooming out).

The remaining options under this heading, are options that you can choose to enable or disable if you wish. By clicking on the checkbox beside them, it means you have turn ON that particular function. These remaing options includes:

• (a) Start magnifier after sign-in - This means after you sign into your account in the your computer system, the magnifier should come up.
• (b) Start magnifier before sign-in for everyone - This means before everyone sign into their account, magnifier should already be ON or active for them.
• (c) Smooth edges of images and text
• (d) Invert colors

Under the (Change Magnifier View) heading the first option there is to Choose a view, here you can select from the default options by clicking on the selection menu button.

When you click on the Docked (Ctrl + Alt + D) option, you will see a little detail guide below this option. It reads: Press Ctrl + Alt + M to cycle through view. Press Ctrl + Alt + arrow key to move the magnifier windows around the screen.

Next option is where you want your magnifier to follow. You can click on the checkbox to enable one or more options as you like. The options as follows: Mouse pointer, Keyboard focus, Text cursor and Narrator cursor.

When you click on the Full Screen (Ctrl + Alt + F) option, you will also see a little detail guide below this option. It reads: Press Ctrl + Alt + M to cycle through view. Press Ctrl + Alt + space bar to temporarily show the entire screen when zoomed in

The next options is Keep the mouse pointer and Keep the text cursor. You can click on the selection menu button to select where you want to keep the mouse pointer and also where you want to keep the text cursor. The two available options are: Within the edges of the screen and centered on the screen.

When you click on the Lens Screen (Ctrl + Alt + L) option, you will also see a little detail guide below this option. It reads: Press Ctrl + Alt + M to cycle through view.

There is a figure below this which you can use to adjust the screen lens by moving the range slider at the bottom and right side to your desired position.

The last heading on this page is the (Reading), below this heading you have option to choose a modifier key from the selection button options. Also, below this, there is a brief details which will be very helpful to you. (Read these commands to have magnifier read from your screen)

(v) Color Filter

The filter settings page here contains various options for changing the color background of everything on your windows 10 PC.

In this setting page, under the first heading (Use Color filter) you can switch ON/OFF the color filters be clicking on the switch button. After this, there is also an option for you to allow shortcut key to turn ON/OFF your filter. Click on the checkbox beside it to enable this option if you want.

When the color filter is switched ON, you can go down and select from the two group options below.
The first option contains three sub options which are: Inverted, Grayscale and Grayscale inverted. You can click any of these options to try them out on your windows.

The next group is the Red-green, Red-green and Blue-yellow. You can also try these out, and anyone you find comfortable with, you can stick to it. Note as rightly stated in the brief details on this section, these are color blindness filters to make the nine colors on the wheel below more distinct.

Lastly on this very page, at the right side, under the related settings heading there are two links. These links are Color settings and Theme settings which when clicked on takes you back to the personalization setting section on your windows settings. I believe this has already been explained before, but if you have forgotten it, feel free to go back to the Personalization settings tutorial to read it up again.

(vi) High Contrast

This settings page is used to turn ON/OFF and set colors for high contrast for the windows PC.

On this settings page, under the first heading (Use high contrast) you can switch ON/OFF the contrast mode by clicking on the switch button. There is also a brief detail guide for how to use keyboard shortcut to switch ON/OFF the high contrast. Alt + left Shift + Print Screen

When you have switched ON the high contrast, you can now select the theme you want to use from the sub-heading: Choose theme option. There are four options to select from, you can choose anyone you like by clicking on them.

The last option here is to customize the theme you have chosen to how you want it to be. You can set different colors for the text, hyperlinks, disabled text, selected text, button text and background
Note that after setting all these, you will have to click on the Apply button for it to take effect. If you do not click on the apply button, when you exit this page, your settings won't be applied.

(vii) Narrator

Windows 10 comes with a narrator which you can set to how you want it to be. A narrator is a screen reader that reads or describes what is on the screen.

In this settings page, under the first heading (Use Narrator) you can switch ON/OFF the narrator by clicking on the switch button. As soon you turn ON the narrator you will hear the narrator voice over.

The next option is a link Open Narrator Home. When you click on this link, it opens a dialog box where you can see the home view of the narrator.

In the narrator home, there you will find different options to select and go through which are the: QuickStart, Narrator guide, What's New, Settings and Feedback.

You can also enable the option to show narrator home when narrator is switched ON. This is done by clicking the checkbox beside it. At the right bottom corner of this narrator home view there is an Exit Narrator and Minimize button which is used to close the narrator and minimize the narrator respectively.

On going back to the main page, the second link is the View complete guide to narrator online - When you click on this link, it opens your default browser to show you complete guidance of how to use narrator. (This will require internet connection in order for the webpage to show up)

The next heading here is the (Start-up options) Under this heading here you can see various options to enable and disable depending on your choice. The available start options include:

• (a) Allow the shortcut key to start Narrator - This means you can use narrator shortcut key to start narrator.
• (b) Start Narrator after sign-in for me - After you sign into your computer narrator will start up.
• (c) Start Narrator before sign-in for everyone - This means narrator should start before anyone signs in
• (d) Show Narrator home after narrator starts - This means as soon as the narrator is turned ON, the narrator home will be shown.
• (e) Minimize Narrator home to system tray - When this option is checked, narrator can be minimized to the system tray.

The next heading section is the (Personalize Narrator's Voice). Under this heading are various options that you can use to customize your narrator's voice or set it the way you want.

Here on this setting page, you can choose the voice you want for your narrator by clicking on the selection menu button under the sub-heading Choose a voice. After this, there is also a link Add more voices - when you click on this link, it takes you to the speech settings page, inside the time and language setting section. Here you can scroll down to where you will find the option to add a voice that you want to use.

Next under this same heading, you have options to adjust the following: Voice speech, Voice pitch (that is the highness or lowness of the voice) and Voice volume (how loud and soft the voice level is).

There is also a brief detail showing the shortcut to perform these options above.

• (a) Voice speech - Narrator + Plus (+) for increasing the voice speech and Narrator + Minus (-) for decreasing the voice speech
• (b) Voice Volume - Narrator + Ctrl + Plus (+) for increasing the voice volume and Narrator + Ctrl + Minus (-) for decreasing the voice volume

The last two options here are to enable/disable: Lower the volume of other apps while narrator is ON and select where you hear narrator's voice from: (Default Audio Device or Speakers)

The next heading on this Narrator page is the (Change what you hear when reading and interacting). Under this heading you can change the level of detail the narrator provides about text and controls by clicking on the selection options or using the shortcut method: Narrator + V

To change how capitalize text will be read, you can click on it selection option below to set it or use the shortcut method Narrator + 4

Next are various options to enable and disable depending on your choice. They include:

• (a) Hear Narrator's voice emphasize formatted text
• (b) Hear phonetics as you read by character
• (c) Have Narrator use punctuation to determine pauses when reading
• (d) Hear advanced details, like help text, on buttons and other controls

After this above, you have another option for you change the level of context Narrator provides for buttons and other controls. You can click on the selection button to select from the options there.

Next is: Adjust when Narrator provides details about buttons and other controls. This can either be set to show before the controls or after the controls.

Next are various options to enable and disable depending on your choice. They include:

• (a) Hear hints on how to interact with button and other controls
• (b) Hear narrator announce why an action can't be performed
• (c) Hear only sounds for common actions
• (d) Have narrator be more efficient in outlook

Another heading here is (Change what you hear when typing). Under this heading are various options to enable and disable depending on your choice. They include:

• (a) Hear letters, numbers, punctuation as you type
• (b) Hear words as you type
• (c) Hear function keys as you type
• (d) Hear arrow, tab and other navigation key as you type
• (e) Hear when toggle keys like caps locks and num locks are turned on or off
• (f) Hear Shift, Alt and other modifier as you type

Next heading is the (Choose Keyboard settings). Under this heading you can set how you want your keyboard to be when the narrator is ON.
The first option here is to select your keyboard layout (Standard or Legacy) by clicking on the selection option. Below this, there is also a link Learn about different narrator keyboard layouts - When you click on this link, it opens your default browser showing you the webpage where you can study more on different narrator keyboard layouts.

After this you can move on to the next setting options which is selecting keyboard narrator key. You can select Insert, Caps lock, Caps lock or Insert.
Below this are options which you can also enable, they are:

• (a) Lock the narrator key, so I don't have to press it for each command
• (b) On touch keyboards, activate keys when I lift my finger

You can enable or disable these options by clicking on the checkbox beside them.

Below this is another link Create your own keyboard commands - When you click on this link, it takes you to the narrator home setting windows where you can create your own keyboard commands.

Following the next heading which is (Use Narrator Cursor) you will find the following options which you can also enable and disable by clicking on the checkboxes beside them.

• (a) Show narrator cursor
• (b) Move my cursor with the Narrator cursor as narrator reads text
• (c) Sync Narrator cursor and system focus
• (e) Read and interact with the screen using the mouse

You can also change the navigation cursor mode by clicking on the selection option below it and selecting either Normal or Advance

The next heading is (Use Braille). Braille is a form of written language for blind people in which language are represented in patterns and dots.
You can follow the detail description here for understand what to do. Remember that for you to be also to use braille with narrator you will have to download the software. This can be done by clicking on the Download and install braille button.

Finally, the last heading here which is the (Manage your Data and Services). Under this heading you can click the Use current settings before sign-in to update your settings to the current settings before you signed in and you can turn ON/OFF Get image descriptions, page titles and popular links. You can also turn ON/OFF Help make narrator better.
And lastly is the Privacy statement link, which when you click on will open your default browser and display a webpage for the privacy statement.

HEARING

In this second section, I will be explaining the settings that are associated with hearing. There are only two which is the audio and closed captions

(i) Audio

This settings page is very easy to understand. Under the first heading (Make your device easier to hear), you will find the option you can use to increase and decrease device volume. You can do this by moving the range slider to either left or right.
At the right side you will see the current percentage of the volume and even as you are moving it, you will see that the percentage changing accordingly.

The next two links which are the Change the device or app volume and Change other sound settings. When you click on the first link, it will take you to Sound settings under System settings section.
Also when you click on the second link it will open a dialog box see other sound settings to set.
You can also switch ON/OFF mono audio by clicking on the switch button.

The second heading here is (Show audio alerts visually). Under this heading you can set how visual alerts for notifications are displayed. There are four options here which you can select from: No visual alert, Flash the title bar of the active window, Flash active window and Flash the entire screen.

(ii) Closed Captions

Closed captions help to make your windows environment easier to use without sound. It displays your audios as text so you can read and understand it well and simple.

The first heading here is the (Preview) Under this heading shows the preview of what you will be setting as you go on.

Under the next heading here (Change caption fonts), you have different caption options you can change. You can change the caption color, caption transparency, caption style, caption size and caption effects by clicking on the selection button and choosing the one you want.

The next heading is the (Change caption background). Under this heading there are two selection option which is used to change the background color and the background transparency.

The last heading here is the (Dim windows content). When you dim a window, it means you are reducing the brightness or contrast. Here you have two options two to select and change: The Windows color and Windows transparency.

INTERACTION

This is the last section of this setting page which contains settings that has to do with interacting with your computer system by various means.

(i) Speech

In the speech settings page, you can set up your speech recognition, use speech to make dictations as text and lots more.
You can read up the details in the description that is in this page for proper directions. In the description there is a shortcut for to start dictation which is Win + H and also a shortcut for switching ON speech recognition which is the Win + Ctrl + S

At the left side of this settings page, under the related settings heading there is a link additional speech setting. When you click on this settings it takes you to the Speech setting page inside the Time and language settings section.

(ii) Keyboard

In this settings page, under the first heading (Use your device without physical keyboard) you can switch ON/OFF the screen keyboard by clicking on the switch button there or using the shortcut Win + Ctrl + O

The second heading here is (Use Sticky Keys). Sticky keys are features in windows that allows modifier (such as Shift and Ctrl) to remain active after when they are not being pressed.
Under this heading you can switch ON/OFF the for Sticky Keys by clicking on the switch button.

Next are various options to enable and disable depending on your choice. They include:

• (a) Allow shortcut key to start Sticky Keys (This option has to be ON for other options to display)
• (b) Show the sticky keys icon on the taskbar
• (c) Lock modifier key when pressed down twice in a row
• (d) Turn off Sticky key when two keys are pressed at the same time
• (e) Play a sound when a modifier key is pressed and released.

The third heading is the (Toggle Keys). Under this heading you can switch ON the sounds for toggle keys such as Caps Lock, Num Lock or Scroll Lock. Below this also, you can choose to enable: Allow shortcut to start toggle keys by clicking on the checkbox beside it.

The fourth heading here is (Use Filter Keys). Under this heading you can switch ON/OFF this option and also enable: Allow the shortcut key to start filter by clicking on the checkbox.
Other options which you can enable and disable are:

• (a) Show the filter key on taskbar
• (b) Beep when keys are pressed or accepted
You can also choose to try other options below this by switching them ON. These options are:
• (a) Turn on Bounce
• (b) Turn on Slow Key
• (c) Turn on Repeat Key

The last three heading in this settings page are: (Change how keyboard shortcut work, PrintScreen shortcut and Make it easier to type).

Under each headings respectively you can switch ON underline access key when available, switch ON print screen shortcut which opens screen snipping for capturing screenshots.

Lastly here, you can choose to enable or disable other options by clicking on the checkbox. These options are:

• (a) To show warning messages when turning on sticky keys, toggle keys, or filter keys from the keyboard.
• (b) Make a sound when turning sticky keys, toggle keys or filter keys on or off from the keyboard

The last link is Change other typing settings - when you click on this link it takes you to the Typing settings page under the device settings section.

(iiI) Mouse

In this mouse settings page, you can turn ON the option of controlling your mouse by using a keypad. You can do this by clicking on the switch button.
Other options to enable and disable by clicking on their checkboxes besides them are:

• (a) Only use mouse keys when Num lock is on.
• (b) Show the mouse keys icon on taskbar
• (c) Hold the Ctrl to speed up and the Shift key to slow down

You can also adjust the pointer speed and acceleration by moving the range slider to either left or right.
The link Change other mouse options when clicked on will take you to the mouse setting page inside devices settings section.

(iv) Eye Control

From the brief description on this settings page, eye control lets you use eye tracking technology to control mouse, for typing and communicating with people using text-to-speech

You can get more information on this setting by clicking on the link Get more info about eye control which opens your default browser and takes you to the webpage online where you can see this information.