Certain applications, especially many of the modern-style apps found in Windows 8, do not always work as expected with JAWS when navigating with the standard cursors such as the PC and Virtual PC cursors. Activating the new Touch Cursor enables you to use the ARROW keys on your computer's keyboard, or the controls on your braille display, to navigate through the actual objects in an application similar to using gestures on the touch screen of a tablet. Application objects include everything from menu bars, toolbars, and progress bars, to form controls, regions, links, etc.
Press SHIFT+NUM PAD PLUS, or SHIFT+CAPS LOCK+SEMICOLON if using the laptop keyboard layout, to activate the Touch Cursor. To turn it off, activate one of the other cursors, like the PC Cursor (NUM PAD PLUS).
The Touch Cursor is enabled by default in certain Windows 8 applications to improve navigation. These apps include News, Weather, and Store. Whenever you move focus to one of these apps, the Touch Cursor is automatically activated. To automatically enable the Touch Cursor in another application, press INSERT+V to open Quick Settings while focused in the application where you want to use the Touch Cursor, expand the Touch Cursor Options group, and then select Automatic Activation. You must do this for every application where you want to have JAWS automatically turn on the Touch Cursor.
Once the Touch Cursor is active, pressing RIGHT or LEFT ARROW moves to the next or previous object on the screen. This is the same as doing a left or right flick on a touch screen. Pressing UP or DOWN ARROW moves to the previous or next object by type. By default, these commands move by region. This is the same as doing an up or down flick on a touch screen. To change what object type these commands move by, press PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN to cycle through the available types. For example, if you want the UP or DOWN ARROW keys to move by headings, press PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN until you hear "headings". Now, pressing UP or DOWN ARROW moves to the next or previous heading.
Press CTRL+HOME to move to the first object and press CTRL+END to move to the last object. To announce the current object, press INSERT+UP ARROW. To perform a Say All, which causes the Touch Cursor to move through the application and speak each object, press INSERT+DOWN ARROW.
As you navigate using the ARROW keys, the system focus does not follow the Touch Cursor. This allows you to freely navigate objects without changing the position of the PC Cursor or mouse pointer. Pressing SPACEBAR or ENTER on the current element moves focus to that element and performs the appropriate action similar to double tapping on a touch screen. For instance, opening a menu, selecting a check box, or activating a button or link. In addition, a rectangle is displayed around the currently selected object to visually indicate the location of the Touch cursor for sighted users.
If the Touch Cursor is on an object containing text, such as the body of a news article, you can press INSERT+ENTER or NUM PAD SLASH to enable Text Review. In this mode, you can use the ARROW keys as well as all other standard reading commands to read the text as if you were reading a regular document. Pressing the ESC key exits Text Review and returns to Touch Cursor navigation.
The standard news app that comes with Windows 8 is designed to provide a quick and easy way to read current news articles from a variety of sources. Articles are divided into various categories and can be accessed and read using the Touch Cursor with a keyboard or by using gestures on a touch screen.
Follow along with the instructor for a demonstration of reading articles in the news app.
Also built-in to Windows 8 are apps for sports and weather. The sports app is similar to News but provides information only related to sports. The weather app displays current weather information and forecasts for your location of choice. Both apps can easily be navigated using the Touch Cursor.
The Windows Store is the central repository for downloading the wide array of Windows 8 apps. At the time of this writing there are over one hundred thousand apps available. Some are free and some cost money. The average price for most apps is only a few dollars (similar to Apple's App Store). You must have a Windows ID in order to download apps from the store.
One feature of the Windows App Store is its accessibility rating for apps. Along with the price and user rating for each app is an accessibility rating of either yes, or no. This rating was designed to help users have an idea as to whether or not the app is accessible before purchasing it. The important thing to remember is that the rating is chosen by the app developer and there is no testing by Microsoft to determine the accessibility of each app.