What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software PDF

2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software (https://www.freedomscientific.com) Call Today! 1(800) 444-4443 (tel:+18004444443)...

2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software (https://www.freedomscientific.com) Call Today! 1(800) 444-4443 (tel:+18004444443) What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software This page describes the new features and improvements available in JAWS 2024. Download JAWS (/Downloads/JAWS) Latest JAWS Enhancements, for a complete list of enhancements made in this release, including the most recent update. Read previous JAWS release notes by selecting a version from the list JAWS 2024 JAWS 2024 Features Face in View Video calls have become a standard form of communication in the workplace, in schools, and in personal relationships. Before joining a video call, you want to make sure your setup is right and the camera is correctly focused on you. The new Face in View™ feature helps with this by alerting you to key visual details like: Is my face centered in the view? Am I looking directly at the camera? Is the lighting adequate? Are there additional items in the picture?? To activate Face in View, press the layered keystroke, INSERT+SPACEBAR, followed by F, and then O. Once enabled, Face in View continually monitors your face position and the lighting level. If anything changes, such as tilting your head left or right, or a decrease in brightness, you are automatically alerted. When focused in the Face in View application window, you can also use TAB or the ARROW keys to review information such as the position of your face in the picture, the current brightness level, and the camera in use. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 1/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Note: Face in View is not currently available during an active video call as it needs complete access to the camera. While Face in View is active, the following layered keystrokes are available: Select a different camera (if multiple cameras are available): INSERT+SPACEBAR, F, C. Once in the Camera layer, use UP or DOWN ARROW to cycle through your cameras and press ESC to exit the layer once you've selected the one you want to use. Say detailed description, including face position and brightness: INSERT+SPACEBAR, F, D. Say brightness level: INSERT+SPACEBAR, F, L. Say background description: INSERT+SPACEBAR, F, P. Adjust face detection confidence level: INSERT+SPACEBAR, F, U. This is useful when encountering sporadic "no face detected" messages, even without any movement. The default and recommended detection confidence level is 75 percent. However, raising the detection confidence level to 80 percent or lowering it to 70 percent can improve consistency and allows you to fine-tune face recognition in your specific environment. Note: The INSERT+SPACEBAR, F, P command is designed to identify potential items in your background using PictureSmart. However, it's important to understand that the accuracy of results may differ. While background descriptions might not always be completely precise, the intention is to offer hints about what's within your camera view. Once you have verified your face is correctly centered in the camera view and the brightness level is good, press INSERT+SPACEBAR, F, O to turn off Face in View prior to activating your video call. MathCAT MathCAT is an open-source library that translates math content from web pages and Word documents to speech and Braille and is included in JAWS 2024. At this time, this feature is currently only supported in English and not supported on ARM devices. Additionally, only Nemeth Code is supported for Braille, and MathCAT settings are not exposed in the JAWS user interface yet. However, some improvements over our existing math support include: Improved speech for various math symbols. Speech and Braille column and row math expression cell content in tables on web pages and Word documents. Math Viewer improvements for navigating math content with speech. Improved results when entering equations into Word through the Math Editor. By default, as we continue to refine our functionality with MathCAT, JAWS still uses our legacy support for reading math content that has been available for several versions. If you would like to experience how math is accessed using MathCAT, you can enable this feature through the Early Adopter Program, located in the JAWS Options menu. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 2/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Once enabled, you can access our MathML Examples (https://support.freedomscientific.com/content/html/jawshq/MathML-Samples.html) page to see how JAWS reads various math equations using MathCAT. Just like with our prior math support, once you navigate to an expression, press ENTER to display it in the Math Viewer, where you can use the ARROW keys to explore its elements. Note: You can disable using MathCAT and return to the legacy support for reading math expressions from the Early Adopter Program dialog. Early Adopter Program The Early Adopter Program lets you preview new and updated product features that are in development. As we gradually introduce features, you can evaluate them and provide feedback to help us improve before the final release. MathCAT is our first feature available for evaluation using the Early Adopter Program. MathCAT is a commonly used translator to convert MathML content into Speech and Braille output. Using the Early Adopter Program To turn on or off Early Adopter Program features, do the following: 1. In the JAWS Options menu, choose Early Adopter Program. The Early Adopter Program dialog appears and shows the features available to evaluate. The dialog is empty if no features are currently available. 2. Select one or more checkboxes to activate features. Clear one or more checkboxes to deactivate features. Note: If you are evaluating changes to an existing product feature, it will revert to its original operation when you clear the check box. 3. Select OK and restart the software. Features that were turned on are available for use. Submitting Feedback While evaluating a feature, you are encouraged to give feedback about your experience. Feedback can be given whether the feature is activated or not. To give feedback, do the following: 1. In the JAWS Options menu, choose Early Adopter Program. The Early Adopter Program dialog displays the features available to evaluate. 2. Select the Send Feedback button for the feature you are evaluating. The Early Adopter Program Feedback form appears. 3. Complete the Early Adopter Program Feedback form and select Send Feedback. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 3/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Split Braille The new Split Braille™ feature in JAWS 2024 gives Braille display users powerful new functionality, including the ability to view content from different locations on the same Braille line using one of several types of views. When a Split Braille view is active, your Braille display is split into two halves, or regions. Additionally, two vertical lines are displayed between the two regions to show the separation. The use of the Split Braille feature is not restricted to displays of a certain size. It will work with Braille displays of any length though using it with smaller displays may be less beneficial. To enable a Split Braille view, press ALT+INSERT+V (ALT+CAPS LOCK+V in Laptop layout) to open the new Select Braille View dialog box. Focus Braille display users can also press LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2-7. When this dialog box opens, you are placed in a list of available views. Select the one you want to use and select OK. The active view remains in effect for the current JAWS session. Restarting JAWS returns you to any defaults in effect before you enabled a specific view. By default, when a split view is active, your current location is displayed in the left region, while the results of the active view are displayed in the right region. If you want to change this, open the Select Braille View dialog box again and select the Swap split button. For most views, you can independently navigate and even select text in the split region. To navigate text in the split view, use the Right NAV rocker to pan and the Right Rocker bar to move by line. To select text in region 2 for copying and pasting into a document (this even includes buffered math expressions in Word documents), press a SHIFT button along with a Cursor Router at the beginning of the text you want, and then once more where you want to end the selection. Just like when selecting text in a regular document, dots 7 and 8 indicates the selection. Once text is selected, it is automatically copied to the clipboard. You can then switch to a document and perform the standard CTRL+V keystroke to paste. For HumanWare displays, the Brailliant BI 40 series and Mantis Q40 displays are supported. The following commands are available: Open the Select Braille View dialog: Fourth Thumb Key+C1+C2+C3+C6. On the Mantis Q40, use ALT+CAPS LOCK+V (requires Laptop Keyboard Layout). Toggle Buffered Text mode: C1+C2+C3 (not available on the Mantis Q40). Pan the split view region: Third and Fourth Thumb Keys. Navigate by line through the split view region: C6+Third and Fourth Thumb Keys (not available on the Mantis Q40). Select text in the split view region: press the First Thumb Key along with a Cursor Router at the beginning of the text you want, and then once more where you want to end the selection. For Papenmeier displays, the following commands are available: https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 4/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Open the Select Braille View dialog: simultaneously press K1 and pan the Easy Access Bar right. Swap the split view and active document regions: simultaneously press K1 and pan the Easy Access Bar left. Pan the split view region: simultaneously press K4 and pan the Easy Access Bar right or left. Navigate by line through the split view region: simultaneously press K4 and pan the Easy Access Bar up or down. The following sections describe each available view. No Split JAWS sends content to the Braille display as it always has, using the full length of the display for the current line. This is the default. Buffered Text This view captures the text at your current location and places it in a buffer which is displayed on the right half of the split line. Once the buffer is created, you can navigate to another location in the current document and even switch to a completely different document while your buffered text remains available. For example, you could buffer some text on a Web page, ALT+TAB to an open document in Word or Notepad, and your buffered text remains available in region two of your display. Other examples of when you might use the Buffered Text view include: Quickly comparing information between two sources. Keeping a block of text or string of numbers available for easy reference so you don't have to remember it. Keeping an exam question or math equation in view while composing an answer if the response needs to be placed in a different location than the question. Keeping text available while researching a topic. By default, this view buffers the current paragraph. To change what text is buffered, open the Select Split View dialog, make sure Buffered Text is selected in the list of views, select Options, and change the Buffer Unit setting. Available choices are: Paragraph: Buffers the current paragraph. Document: Buffers text from the current document (up to 64KB). Selected Text: Buffers any currently selected text. Note that the selected text in region 2 does not automatically update if the selection changes. If you select different text, you will need to choose Buffered Text again from the Select Braille View dialog and then choose Selected Text from the Options dialog to refresh the buffer. Clipboard Text: Buffers the contents of the Windows Clipboard, enabling you to effectively use region 2 as a notes area where you can bring in content from a variety of https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 5/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software locations and easily reference it. For example, you could copy some text using CTRL+C , select additional blocks of text from other sources and append them to the Clipboard using INSERT+WINDOWS+C , and then activate Buffered Text view and choose Clipboard Text to display all of your gathered information in region 2 to use as needed. Note that buffered Clipboard text is always displayed in Computer Braille regardless of your Braille output setting and you may also see control characters such as hard returns as part of the text. If you want to buffer new text, move to the specific content you want to buffer, open the Select Braille View dialog, and choose the Buffered Text option again to capture the text at your current location. Focus display users can also press LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 2-3 to toggle this view on or off. Annotations This view is primarily useful in Word for reviewing comments, revisions, footnotes, or endnotes. If the cursor is positioned on text that includes an annotation, the document text is shown in the first display region while the text of the annotation is shown in the second region. If the current line or text at the cursor location does not include any annotations, the entire display is used for the line and is not split. With this view, the text of a comment, revision, footnote, or endnote can be shown simultaneously with the main text they refer to. You can edit and read the document text while keeping the annotation text in view. Note: For best results when reviewing revised text with Annotations view, make sure to enable All-Markup view in Word. Attribute indicators In this view, text from the current line is displayed in the first display region, while any text attributes such as bold, italics, or underline corresponding to the current line are shown in the second region. Pressing a Cursor Router on an attribute automatically moves the cursor to the character matching that attribute. Panning through the document also causes the attributes to update. This view improves the experience when proofreading and editing as Braille can now show specifically whether text is underlined, bolded, italicized, and more, all while the main document text is still displayed. If the text at the cursor location in region 1 has more than one attribute, such as bold and italics, the attributes in region 2 for that word or phrase will rotate with the letters "b" and "i." The remaining words without a particular attribute will show the letter "n" in region 2. Speech History When this view is active, the first display region shows the currently focused text, while the other region shows text from the JAWS Speech History. Examples of when you might use this view include: https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 6/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software In Teams, verify the spelling of a participant’s name who just joined a meeting. When a person joins a meeting, this information is currently only provided using speech. In some situations, speech may provide additional information that is not always available in Braille. Setting the Split Braille view to Speech History enables deaf-blind users to access speech content without the need to switch the entire Braille output mode to Speech Output. This may also be beneficial for those who prefer Braille-only usage. Use it to keep track of important JAWS messages or text while Speech On Demand is enabled. Translation Split This view is beneficial for teachers, students, and other users who are learning Braille, as it displays two different translation outputs of the current text. For example, if JAWS is configured to display Unified English Braille Grade 2, this will be displayed in the first display region, while the Computer Braille representation of the same text is displayed in the second region. To customize the translation output displayed in the second region, open the Select Split View dialog, make sure Translation Split is selected in the list of views, select Options, and choose a translation mode from the Split Translation Region 2 list. By default, Computer Braille is selected. The remaining selections depend on your currently configured translation output mode and your currently active Braille language profile. For example, if JAWS is configured to display text in Unified English Braille Grade 2, you can choose to display Computer Braille, U.S. English Grade 1, U.S. English Grade 2, or Unified English Braille Grade 1 in region 2. If your Braille language is set to Spanish with the translation output set to Grade 1, you can choose to display Computer Braille or Spanish Grade 2 in region 2. In addition, if your Braille Output mode is set to Computer Braille or Uncontracted Braille, enabling Translation Split causes JAWS to show you the Contracted Braille representation for your current language in region 1 while continuing to use your currently selected output mode in region 2. For example, if your default Output mode is Unified English Braille Grade 1, JAWS will show contracted Unified English Braille in region 1, while uncontracted Braille is shown in region 2. Translation Split is application-specific. So, you can enable this view, for instance, in Notepad, and use a different view in Word or Outlook. JAWS Cursor In this view, one display region shows the location of the PC Cursor while the other region shows the line of text at the JAWS Cursor location. If you are in an application or window where the JAWS Cursor is not supported, this display region will be blank. This view is helpful https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 7/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software in situations where you may want to actively monitor a progress bar or application status bar while working on a document. It can also be used to read the title bar as you switch between multiple open documents. Window Text This view enables you to actively monitor the text in a specific dialog or application screen while you are focused in a different location. When active, text from the currently active window is shown in the second display region. If the text in the window changes, it will immediately update on the display. If the window closes, the region displaying the window text will become blank. The region will also be blank if you activate this view in an application that does not support obtaining window text. Application-Specific Views There are additional application-specific views available for Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams to help improve productivity when accessing information in these apps using Braille. If you open the Select Braille View dialog box from one of these apps, the following additional views are available. Excel Views Excel: JAWS behaves as it always has, displaying only the active cell as you navigate. This is the default. Active view on 1, Monitor Cells on 2: The currently active cell is displayed in region 1 while any assigned monitor cells are displayed in region 2. Monitor cells are assigned through JAWS Quick Settings and let you specify cells containing data that you need to keep track of as you work in your spreadsheet. Active view on 1, Row and Column totals on 2: The currently active cell is displayed in region 1 while row and column totals are displayed in region 2. The Quick Settings options for row and column totals must be set to Auto (or configured manually) to be displayed. Titles and Formulas on 1, Active view on 2: Row and column titles along with the active cell’s formula (if available) are displayed in region 1 while the active cell is displayed in region 2. Outlook Views Message List plus Preview Pane: If Message Preview is enabled in Outlook (default setting), the message list is displayed in region 1 while the contents of the current message are displayed in region 2. With both the Outlook Preview Pane and Message List plus Preview Pane view active, you can read your messages and pan through them without leaving your inbox. PowerPoint Views Show Speakers Notes during Presentation: Your main slide presentation is displayed in region 1 while speakers' notes are displayed in region 2. During a PowerPoint https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 8/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software presentation, the ability to simultaneously review notes along with the current slide helps maintain the flow of the presentation. Teams Views Show History during Chat: When editing a Teams message, the chat history is displayed in region 2. This lets you independently review the history and not lose your place in the message you are editing or composing. Seamless Updates for Scripts JAWS scripts have enabled us to improve the usability of entire apps, and in some instances, add unique functionality to help improve productivity. Traditionally, scripts tend to be updated with the main product roughly every eight weeks. If a change in a particular app caused a particular script to no longer work properly, users would be stuck until the fix was rolled out in the next software update. The seamless updates for scripts feature allows us to provide updates to scripts outside of the normal JAWS update cycle. For example, if an update to Microsoft Office causes certain status messages in Outlook to no longer be spoken, we can quickly respond with a fix to the Outlook scripts in a matter of days instead of users needing to potentially wait weeks or even months for a fix. When new scripts are available, JAWS automatically applies the updates without the need for any user intervention. To confirm if a script update was applied, open the JAWS Help menu, select the About dialog, and check the Scripts Revision number. Seamless scripts updates are enabled by default. To turn this feature off, open the JAWS Options menu, select Basics to open the Basics Settings dialog, and clear the Seamless Updates for Scripts check box. Note: Admin privileges are required to change this option. Frequently Asked Questions Q: Are my custom scripts affected? A: No. The Updater will only update scripts stored in the \ProgramData\Freedom Scientific folder structure, which is a shared folder. Any user scripts or settings will continue to override shared scripts and settings. Q: How can I restore the original scripts? A: Do the following: 1. Locate and run the installer executable for your current version. 2. Choose Repair. The original scripts will be restored. Q: Am I told when scripts are installed? https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 9/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software A: Not at this time. This feature is primarily meant to resolve small problems due to an app change. Significant features will not be introduced using this method. We will add information on any fixes to our What's New pages. Q: How often will updates come? A: We do not anticipate updates to come often. It depends on how often supported applications change in ways that can be addressed through scripting. New Command for Managing Calls Pressing ALT+WINDOWS+C now opens a dialog where you can quickly respond to an incoming call from Teams, Phone Link, or Skype. This enables you to respond to a call without having to move focus to the app and then locate the correct option or perform the correct keystroke. Once the dialog opens and you've selected an app from the list, you can then TAB to the specific control in the dialog, depending on what you would like to do. Actions include accepting with audio or video, declining the call, hanging up the call (if one is active), or setting the currently selected app as primary so it always appears at the top of the list. New Scripts for Discord Discord is a free chat application designed for communities to stay connected. JAWS now includes preliminary support for the Discord app, including: Support for native Discord commands for navigating between servers, and navigating between Unread Channels with Mentions. Pressing INSERT+W while the Discord app is in focus shows available Discord keyboard shortcuts. New Keystroke to Announce the Time with Seconds Pressing INSERT+F12 announces the current time using hours and minutes. However, there are situations, such as a job that has strict clock-in and clock-out requirements, where more accurate detail is needed. In JAWS and Fusion 2024, you can now press CTRL+INSERT+F12 to have the time announced using hours, minutes, and seconds. ARIA and Web JAWS now indicates if a check box is read-only in both speech and Braille. Addressed issues in some web apps where JAWS was not indicating submenus. This includes menu navigation bars as well as items that use the aria-haspopup attribute. Resolved issues using the ALT+INSERT+D command to jump to elements that include the aria-details attribute. Resolved an issue where headings containing expanded buttons were not being announced by JAWS when navigating with H or SHIFT+H. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 10/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software When moving into a group of tabs on a web page, resolved an issue where JAWS was too verbose when the first tab gained focus. If multiple elements include an aria-describedby attribute, addressed an issue where the items were not read in the expected order by JAWS. When navigating a toolbar in a web app and focus moves to a check box, resolved an issue where JAWS would unexpectedly exit Forms Mode. If you tab from an edit field to a group of radio buttons with Forms Mode active, addressed an issue where the label for the radio button group was not automatically announced. JAWS now properly indicates in Braille when focused on a heading that also includes a button. If JAWS is configured to show the control type in status cells, you will see “bh#” (where # is the heading level). Otherwise, you will see “btn h#.” Addressed issues with form fields not being read correctly on certain websites. When alt tabbing from the web browser to another application, resolved an issue where JAWS was saying “running applications group.” Resolved an issue where JAWS was not reading all of the info for slider controls when using INSERT+UP ARROW. JAWS now provides additional info about menu items when using INSERT+TAB. In Chromium-based browsers, addressed an issue where JAWS table navigation was not working as expected if aria-colindex values in a row were not contiguous. When pressing the AT key in a Google Docs file to display the @mentions menu, resolved an issue where JAWS was not indicating the menu had opened. Resolved an issue where the Virtual Cursor was not automatically activating when moving to a document inside of an application region. By default, the Virtual Cursor should also now be restricted to the document area once it gains focus. If the Virtual Cursor is currently in a web dialog, you can now use INSERT+R to turn off restriction so you can move to other areas on the page. Addressed an issue where JAWS was not announcing the start or end of tab panels. Improvements in Office Apps Resolved an issue in Excel where JAWS and Fusion mouse echo was not reading column and row headers or sheet names. Resolved an issue where the content of certain Outlook dialogs was not automatically being read. For instance, the dialog that displays when Outlook launches and you had windows opened when you previously closed it. Addressed an issue where JAWS was not consistently reading the status bar in Outlook when pressing INSERT+PAGE DOWN. Resolved an issue where JAWS was not always indicating the replied status of an Outlook message, even with the Indicate Replied option enabled in Quick Settings. When pressing the APPLICATIONS key or SHIFT+F10 to open a context menu in Outlook, resolved an issue where JAWS was not indicating the menu had opened until UP or DOWN ARROW was pressed. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 11/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software When creating a new contact in Outlook and an Autocomplete menu appears, addressed an issue where JAWS was not automatically reading the first item in the list. Resolved an issue where JAWS would not say anything when using TAB to move through links in certain Outlook messages. Resolved an issue in Word where JAWS was double speaking “undo” when pressing CTRL+Z. If a Braille display is connected and you are viewing a PowerPoint presentation containing a video, resolved an issue where JAWS would continuously repeat the word “video.” JAWS Application Improvements The Liblouis Braille translator used by JAWS and Fusion has been updated to version 3.27.0. You can now use Voice Assistant to turn Keyboard Help on or off. For instance, “hey Sharkey, toggle Keyboard Help.” This is the same as pressing INSERT+1. You can now use the ESC key to exit Keyboard Help if you inadvertently turned it on with INSERT+1 without realizing it. Resolved an issue where custom scripts could not be assigned to the APPLICATIONS key with unified keyboard processing enabled. Addressed instances where using SPACEBAR to select or clear certain checkboxes was not working as expected with unified keyboard processing enabled. Addressed an issue in the Spanish version of JAWS where pressing ALT was not activating ribbons with Unified Keyboard Processing enabled. For German users, JAWS 2024 includes the latest RTFC German Braille translator update. Other Improvements Pressing INSERT+W while focused in the Slack app now lists keystrokes specific to Slack. In Teams, when focus moves to the edit field for typing a new chat message, addressed an issue where JAWS was indicating the message contained text even if it was blank. In WhatsApp, resolved an issue where JAWS was not correctly reading the time at the end of messages. Also, removed extra characters that were appearing in speech and Braille when using ALT+1 through 9 to review the most recent messages. When moving focus to the Search edit field in the Windows 11 File Explorer, JAWS now automatically announces the placeholder text indicating the location that will be searched. Resolved an issue where random characters were being displayed in the status cells of a Braille display when viewing a table. Addressed an issue reported by some users where JAWS would crash the first time Microsoft Edge was launched after a system boot and JAWS was configured to start automatically. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 12/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Addressed an issue where pressing ENTER on a link in the JAWS Clipboard Viewer (INSERT+SPACEBAR, C) was not opening the specific page in the default web browser as expected. Back to top from Features Enhancements in JAWS 2024.2411.16 (December 2024) The following is a list of improvements made between the September 2024 release and the December 2024 update. To download the latest release, visit the Downloads web page (/Downloads/JAWS). You must be logged on as an administrator to install this software. Picture Smart AI results are now displayed in the correct language when using JAWS in a language other than English. The Liblouis Braille translator used by JAWS and Fusion has been updated to version 3.31.0. The Virtual Cursor no longer unexpectedly activates when attempting to navigate items in ARIA lists. In recent updates to the Apple Music app, resolved an issue where JAWS was not announcing the current control when navigating with TAB or SHIFT+TAB. JAWS no longer speaks incorrect text when navigating tables in Outlook messages. In French Outlook, JAWS no longer says “unknown” when navigating message lists. Updated to the latest drivers and key maps for Help Tech Braille displays. If you use the layered keystroke, INSERT+SPACEBAR, F4, to restart JAWS after selecting MathCAT in the Early Adopter Program dialog, MathCAT functionality now works as expected. When attempting to use the Braille Math Editor and MathCAT is enabled in the Early Adopter Program dialog, addressed an issue where the Math Editor would unexpectedly stop working after a few minutes of use. Updated JAWS to run on the latest features and improvements from Microsoft.Net 8 Core. Enhancements in JAWS 2024.2409.2 (September 2024) The following is a list of improvements made between the July 2024 release and the September 2024 update. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 13/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Picture Smart AI The INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, ENTER command, which describes an image based on the current application and context, has been expanded to now do the following: If playing a video from a source like YouTube, it describes a screenshot from the current position in the video. If a PowerPoint slideshow is running, it describes the current slide. If you are in PowerPoint with a slide selected but not in an active slideshow, it describes the currently visible slide. New Quick Navigation Option for Sliders JAWS now offers the option to navigate directly to slider controls on web pages, such as the Seek slider on YouTube for rewinding or fast-forwarding a video. By default, there is no keystroke assigned. To assign a keystroke to navigate to the next or previous slider, do the following: 1. From an open browser window, Press INSERT+F2, N, then ENTER. The Navigation Quick Key Manager opens. 2. From the list of available actions, select Slider. 3. Press TAB to move to the Edit Key Assignment button and press SPACEBAR. The Edit Quick Navigation Key Assignment dialog box opens. 4. In the Key Assignment combo box, press UP or DOWN ARROW to scroll through the list of available letters and numbers that can be assigned to the action. Press ENTER after choosing an item from the list. The new key assignment now appears in the Assignment column of the Navigation Quick Key Manager dialog box. 5. Select OK to save your change and close the dialog box and you should now be able to move to slider controls using the key you assigned. Enhanced Java Support - Early Adopter Program Some Java applications built with Java Swing might feel slow and unresponsive. Our Early Adopter Program now offers an enhancement that can greatly improve both performance and navigation for these applications. Currently, this updated support is available by doing the following: 1. In the JAWS Options menu, choose Early Adopter Program. 2. Select Improve Java swing support. Note: If you clear the check box, you return to the legacy Java support. 3. Select OK and restart the software. Once enabled, JAWS allows smoother navigation and responsiveness in Java Swing applications using the JAWS Touch Cursor (SHIFT+NUM PAD PLUS, or CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+SEMICOLON for Laptop Layout). Especially in complex Java applications, you will notice significant improvements. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 14/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software How does it work? With the new support enabled, JAWS exposes Java Swing controls through User Interface Automation (UIA), similar to other Windows applications. This means that the JAWS Touch cursor can now be used to navigate through the Swing app controls. The Java Access Bridge, an interface used for many years to relay information from Java applications to JAWS, is no longer needed. Be aware that any custom JAWS scripts relying on the Java Access Bridge may no longer function correctly. We greatly value your feedback on improvements or issues you experience with this new Java support. Please share your experiences via the Early Adopter Program so we can continue refining our services. Google Sheets Addressed an issue where JAWS was not speaking deleted characters when using BACKSPACE. If the Speak row and Speak column options are enabled in the Accessibility menu, the ALT+CTRL+SHIFT+R and ALT+CTRL+SHIFT+C now work as expected to read the current row or column. JAWS Application As applications and websites can adjust their structure based on the size of the window, the INSERT+T command has been enhanced to provide the current visual state of the active window in addition to the title by pressing this keystroke twice quickly. For example, if JAWS appears not to be reading as expected or you are not able to locate certain controls, you can press INSERT+T twice quickly to confirm if the current window is restored or maximized so you can make adjustments to the window as needed. Additionally, JAWS now provides feedback in speech and Braille when using WINDOWS+ARROW keys to adjust the window size, such as using WINDOWS+UP ARROW to maximize if JAWS reports it as restored. The JAWS keystroke for speaking all PlaceMarkers on web pages or moving to a marked place in Word has been changed to ALT+SHIFT+WINDOWS+K. This resolves a conflict with the Teams command, ALT+WINDOWS+K, to globally toggle mute on or off. If CTRL+WINDOWS+L is used to switch to a specific language, JAWS will no longer switch languages automatically until focus is moved away from the current application. The JAWS Keyboard Manager now allows you to assign scripts to extended function keys (F13 through F24), which are available on certain types of keyboards. The Liblouis Braille translator used by JAWS and Fusion has been updated to version 3.30.0. Other JAWS no longer speaks content multiple times in Zoom edit fields. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 15/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software When navigating through radio buttons on a web page, JAWS now correctly announces the position of the selected radio button in the group. Resolved a keyboard conflict when using the Text Expander application. Enhancements in JAWS 2024.2406.121 (July 2024) The following is a list of improvements made between the May 2024 release and the July 2024 update. Picture Smart AI Updates This update offers even more improvements to Picture Smart AI thanks to the great feedback we continue to receive from users. These include a new method for describing an image based on the current context as well as the ability to begin asking for specific details the first time an image is submitted. All-in-one Keystroke The new keystroke reduces the effort of using Picture Smart AI by using only, INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, ENTER, to get a description based on your current application and context. This eliminates the need to remember multiple keystrokes constantly. For instance: If someone is presenting in Teams, it describes the current slide. If you are on a web page, it describes the current image or control. If you are in File Explorer, it describes the currently selected file. If you are in PowerPoint, it describes the entire screen. Ask a Question Before Submitting a Picture In situations where you already have some basic knowledge about an image, you can now include ALT with any Picture Smart command to immediately ask a question about specific details. For example, suppose you were shopping on Amazon for a product like an Multicooker or Air Fryer. You already have a basic idea of what the product is, but you may want to know upfront if the product contains physical buttons or a touch activated display. You could press INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, ALT+C, type your question followed by ENTER, and Picture Smart AI attempts to answer the question about the selected image instead of just providing a general description. Once the results containing the response are displayed, you can still use the Ask questions about this image link to ask follow-up questions if needed. Feedback for Cropped Images https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 16/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software After running Picture Smart AI, you will now be alerted to any potential problems with an image that may result in poor descriptions. For example, if your browser window is not maximized, images may be clipped, leading to inaccurate descriptions. In this case, an expandable alert is displayed at the top of the Results Viewer prior to the description. Press ENTER on this alert to view the full details. You can then close the Results Viewer, expand your browser window, and try running Picture Smart AI on the image again. New Outlook JAWS now offers initial support for the New Outlook app from Microsoft, which is intended to replace the Windows Mail and Calendar apps later this year. While support will continue to improve in the coming months, the following keystrokes are now available when reading a message: Announce the From field: ALT+1 Announce the Sent field: ALT+2 Announce the To field: ALT+3 Announce the CC field: ALT+4 Announce the Subject field: ALT+5 Additionally, you can press CTRL+INSERT+M to quickly return to the list of messages in the current folder. UEB Math Support - Early Adopter Program When MathCAT is enabled through the Early Adopter Program, you can now choose between Nemeth or Unified English Braille (UEB) Math for displaying math content as well as when entering equations in the Braille Math Editor. Nemeth is used by default. To change this: 1. Press INSERT+6 on the number row to open Settings Center. 2. Press CTRL+SHIFT+D to load the default settings file, as this setting can not be changed for specific applications. 3. Type “profiles” without the quotes into the search edit field. 4. Press DOWN ARROW to move to Language Profiles in the search results in the tree view, and press SPACEBAR to open the dialog box. You are placed in a list of profiles that correspond to all braille languages installed with JAWS. 5. Select the English profile for which you want to configure translation options and then choose the Details button to open the Profile Details dialog box. 6. Navigate to the For math combo box and select the Braille math code to use to display math content. 7. After making your changes, select OK to close the Profile Details dialog box and continue selecting OK to close the Language Profiles dialog box and Settings Center. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 17/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Note: Since both Nemeth and UEB Math are English Braille codes, if you switch to a language other than English, Braille will show nothing when accessing math. Additionally, spoken math content will continue to be in English. We are still working on JAWS MathCat support for other languages. Aria and Web JAWS now supports the aria-brailleroledescription and aria-braillelabel attributes, which enables web authors to offer an improved experience for Braille users. When focused in an edit field with Forms Mode active, you can now move out of the field with UP or DOWN ARROW. Resolved reports of the Virtual Cursor not being available on web pages as expected for some users. Corrected the “contains controls” announcement when navigating an ARIA grid containing interactive elements. In large combo boxes containing many items, JAWS responsiveness improved when continuously holding the DOWN ARROW key to move through the list quickly. JAWS now reads as expected when navigating by word over a list box item using the Virtual Cursor. It is no longer necessary to press ENTER twice to activate certain buttons on web pages. Using CTRL+INSERT+L to display a list of all the lists on a web page now works as expected. For edit fields that limit the number of characters that can be entered, JAWS now alerts you when this limit has been exceeded. Enhanced reading of anchor and button elements within labels. Improved detection of menu links with the Virtual Cursor active. If you locked and unlocked the computer with Chrome running, JAWS Navigation Quick Keys should now continue working without the need to first move focus away then back. JAWS now properly honors Google Docs settings for comment announcements. For Contracted Braille Input users, JAWS now correctly handles initial character inputs in Google Docs. When navigating a list of checkable items in Google Docs, the checked state is now correctly indicated in Braille. If the Virtual Cursor is off, JAWS no longer says “edit” at the end of the heading text for an opened Gmail conversation. For tab panels in Gmail containing lists, JAWS now reads the panel title when switching to it even if any lists are empty. Microsoft Office and Teams In Teams, you can now press CTRL+SHIFT+1 through 9 on the number row to have JAWS announce the most recent messages in the current chat. Pressing these https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 18/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software commands twice quickly displays the corresponding message in the Virtual viewer. In Teams, pressing INSERT+F8 now moves to the toolbar and places focus on the button that was last selected. You can also press CTRL+INSERT+SHIFT+B from any Teams window to open the Select a Button dialog box. While in a Teams meeting, pressing ALT+WINDOWS+S now indicates the current status of the microphone, camera, and screen share. In Outlook, JAWS no longer says "N/D" and "Attachment" when navigating message lists such as the Inbox. This only occurred when the JAWS language was set to Russian and with Russian Outlook. Enhanced reading of Date/Time and Location fields in Outlook meeting invites. Improved Braille display Cursor Router interaction to prevent double activation of links in Outlook messages. The Virtual Cursor no longer unexpectedly activates when opening a PowerPoint presentation. JAWS Application Fixes Improved general responsiveness for navigation and editing in various applications, including Excel and Visual Studio. Faster JAWS shutdown process, enhancing overall performance. Improved JAWS startup on the Windows Logon and User Account Control (UAC) screens. Added the latest drivers and configurations for HelpTech Braille displays. For Japanese users, you can now select the Muhenkan key as the JAWS Key through Settings Center. Other Fixes Enhanced the Braille Math Editor for accurate translation of limits and summation signs into Word as LaTeX, and ensured proper insertion when using MathML. JAWS now reads correctly in Scintilla-based editors such as Notepad++ after moving focus away and then back to the application without the need to first refresh the screen with INSERT+ESC. Improved reading the Windows 11 File Explorer address bar using INSERT+A. Enhancements in JAWS 2024.2405.83 (May 2024) The following is a list of improvements made between the March 2024 release and the May 2024 update. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 19/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Picture Smart AI We're excited to announce that our enhanced Picture Smart AI™ is now the default option for generating image descriptions. With the latest update, you can also ask follow-up questions to gain deeper insights about an image. Picture Smart AI commands include: A – Describes a picture taken from a flatbed scanner or the Freedom Scientific PEARL camera. F – Describes the currently selected image in File Explorer. C – Describes any currently selected control. B – Describes the contents of the Windows Clipboard if it contains an image. S – Describes the entire screen. W – Describes the current application window. QUESTION MARK – Displays help for the Picture Smart layer. Visit the New Features in JAWS (https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/jaws/new-and- improved-features/) page for more details. Thank you for the support! In March 2024, we introduced Picture Smart AI through the Early Adopter Program and received amazing feedback from the community. A huge thank you to everyone who has submitted feedback on your experiences with Picture Smart AI through the Early Adopter Program as well as the comments that have been sent over email. We are excited about the response this feature has received and love hearing about the positive impact it has already had on the lives of so many users. As Picture Smart AI transitions out of the Early Adopter Program, it becomes our new standard for Picture Smart. Users no longer need to activate it separately; it’s ready to assist all users by default. To continue providing feedback, you can now use the new Give feedback about this feature link at the bottom of the Picture Smart Results Viewer window. Ask Questions about the Picture By popular request, this update now offers the ability to send follow-up prompts or questions in order to obtain additional details about a picture that may not have been covered in the initial description. Once you have performed a Picture Smart AI command such as INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, F, and the description is displayed in the Results Viewer, press ENTER on the Ask questions about this image link near the bottom of the window. You are immediately placed in an edit box. Type a prompt and press ENTER. For instance, for a picture of a beach at sunset, you might say, “can you describe the sunset and how it looks going down over the ocean.” After a https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 20/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software few seconds, during which JAWS will play a sound to indicate progress, the Results Viewer window updates with the response, and JAWS automatically reads it. Your focus remains in the edit box, so you can type another prompt. Your questions and responses are maintained for the current Results Viewer session until you close the window. To review and copy specific responses for pasting in another application, press ESC to exit Forms Mode, and then use H or SHIFT+H to navigate to the heading that corresponds to the question and response you want to copy. Following is an example picture to demonstrate a question and response. Initial description: The image displays an organizational chart with various positions and names. The chart is headed by a President, followed by an Executive Assistant and several Vice Presidents (VPs) overseeing departments such as Finance, Technology, Operations, Marketing, and Production. Under the VPs are different managerial and specialist roles like Accounting, Help Desk, Facilities, Project Manager, Production Manager, and Dispatch. The chart uses color- coding to differentiate between national, domestic, and international roles. User Question: Who is marked as international? Response: In the organizational chart, the “Transportation VP” role, held by “Ian Hansson,” is color- coded as international. This is indicated by the blue color of the box associated with that position. New Voice Assistant Commands for Picture Smart https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 21/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software You can now say “Hey Sharky” along with one of the following suggested voice commands to activate Picture Smart AI. “Describe the screen” “Describe the current window” “Describe the current control” “Describe the current file” “Describe the picture under the camera” “Describe the picture on the clipboard” Accessing Legacy Picture Smart In situations where you may need to access legacy Picture Smart functionality, add CTRL to a Picture Smart command. Some users have reported that accessing text in images sometimes works better with the older Picture Smart. We are working on further improving the text recognition of Picture Smart AI. AI services We are continually refining the offerings of Picture Smart AI. We have made significant advancements thanks to the insights gathered during the Early Adopter program, which included assessments of Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT. Following further evaluations, we've decided to replace Google's Gemini with Anthropic's Claude. Claude demonstrated more accurate and reliable image descriptions, with significantly fewer hallucinations. This enhancement will be available in both the May and March releases. Relevance of two services We received great user feedback on the importance of utilizing two services for the image descriptions, mainly because they allow you to spot hallucinations. You can use the alternative service via the Get more details link at the bottom of the results viewer. In addition, both service descriptions can be displayed directly by pressing the SHIFT key along with a Picture Smart command. For instance, the command INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, SHIFT+W will provide you with two descriptions of the current window. Read more on our Picture Smart Challenges (https://www.freedomscientific.com/picturesmartchallenges) page. Picture Smart Privacy All services we use for Picture Smart follow our AI Privacy guidelines. Freedom Scientific, as well as our AI Service partners, do not store or train on the submitted images, prompts, or associated answers. Read more on our AI Privacy Statement (https://www.freedomscientific.com/aiprivacystatement) page. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 22/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Accessing Emoji Descriptions in Braille When encountering emoji symbols, such as “smiling face with smiling eyes” or “face with tears of joy,” JAWS automatically speaks the emoji description as soon as focus moves to it. Now, you can also see emojis in Braille. If one is used, a full 8-dot cell is displayed where the emoji appears in the text. For those users who primarily rely on Braille, you can now press a Cursor Router on the full cell indicating the emoji to display a flash message containing the description of the emoji, similar to what you would hear with speech. Try it out: The 😂 emoji is the most used emoji worldwide. Split Braille Support for ALVA Braille Displays This update adds Split Braille support for the ALVA BC series Braille displays. The following commands are available: Open Select Braille View dialog box: F2+F5 Toggle Buffered Text mode: F2+F6 Toggle Refresh buffered document on ENTER: F2+F4 Prior line in the text region: F10 Next line in the text region: F11 Pan left in the text region: Braille Left Pan right in the text region: Braille Up Pan left in the split region: Braille Down Pan right in the split region: Braille Right Prior line in the split region: F12 Next line in the split region: F13 Thunderbird Supernova Improved alert handling to prevent repetitive announcements, especially for content blocked notifications. After entering an address into a header field for a new message, addressed an issue where JAWS was not automatically reading the address after pressing TAB followed by LEFT ARROW to review it. Resolved repeated announcements of new mail alerts on the desktop, ensuring alerts are announced once as intended. Aria and Web Resolved an issue where JAWS was not reading list boxes correctly using the Virtual Cursor if they were followed by dashes. Addressed an issue where items in aria-readonly list boxes were not read by JAWS. Resolved an issue with JAWS Navigation Quick Keys no longer working in Chrome after locking and unlocking the computer. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 23/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Addressed an issue where JAWS split items in an unordered list into multiple lines if paragraph tags were used. Resolved an issue where JAWS would become unresponsive when interacting with certain combo boxes. When navigating a grid that supports selecting rows using check boxes and the Virtual Cursor is off, an issue was resolved where JAWS did not indicate if the current row was selected. Braille Fixes Resolved an issue where Split Braille was randomly activating after using Excel. The Liblouis Braille translator used by JAWS and Fusion has been updated to version 3.29.0. JAWS now automatically detects HIMS Braille displays. In Word, resolved an issue where pressing a Cursor Router was not positioning the cursor as expected in documents with complex formatting. JAWS Application Fixes Boosted performance for text editing and navigation across various applications, particularly with increased responsiveness in Outlook. Made performance improvements to JAWS startup, enhancing speed and responsiveness. In response to customer feedback, the FSReader icon was removed from the Windows desktop for new installations of JAWS and Fusion. FSReader can still be launched by pressing INSERT+J for the JAWS window, and then navigating to Help and Training. The FSReader icon will continue to remain on the desktop following an update to an existing installation. Addressed an issue where JAWS automatic language switching continued to occur even if the feature was turned off. This was observed primarily with non-English versions. Fixed Voice Assistant commands for activating Keyboard Help not working correctly in French and Dutch. Resolved an issue with JAWS sometimes not starting as expected on the Windows Logon screen. Other Fixes Added JAWS scripts for the BARD Express application used for downloading and reading material from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) in the United States. Fixed the ALT+X keystroke functionality for attaching files in WhatsApp. Improved navigation to fields in certain PDF forms in Adobe Reader DC. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 24/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Enhancements in JAWS 2024.2403.3 (March 2024) The following is a list of improvements made between the February 2024 release and the March 2024 update. Picture Smart AI While navigating the digital landscape, you might encounter photos, charts, and other visual elements without an alternative description. This can make it challenging to understand the information provided by the visual content. The JAWS Picture Smart feature, introduced in 2019, allows you to submit a photo to be analyzed using a layered keystroke. A description of the image is then displayed in the JAWS Results Viewer window. For example, after pressing INSERT+SPACEBAR, P to activate the Picture Smart layer, you could press F to describe the currently selected image in File Explorer, or C to describe a photo from a social media website like Facebook. For a complete list of commands, press INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, QUESTION MARK. Picture Smart AI is a revolutionary update to the traditional Picture Smart feature. By integrating with the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology from services like Chat GPT from Open AI and Claude from Anthropic, you will now experience a whole new level of accessibility to graphical information. While you will still access Picture Smart in the familiar way, you will be amazed by the depth and richness of the visual descriptions Picture Smart AI now offers. To demonstrate the difference in the level of detail, here are a few example photos along with resulting descriptions generated using both the current Picture Smart and Picture Smart AI. You can also try this feature out yourself by pressing INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, C while focused on each photo. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 25/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Example descriptions from both the current Picture Smart and new Picture Smart AI. Picture Smart AI Current Picture Smart Picture Smart AI Sample Long Sample Short Sample Description Description Description https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 26/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Caption is a group of The image shows a The image depicts a group of people sitting on a beach. group of six friends friends enjoying themselves on a These tags describe the sitting on the beach. beach at what appears to be photo: beach, clothing, They are all smiling and sunset due to the warm, golden girl, group, human face, laughing, and some of lighting. There are five outdoor, people, person, them are singing. One of individuals in the foreground, sky, woman. These tags them is playing the with one more partially seen in probably describe the guitar. The sun is setting the background. The group is photo: fun, sitting, in the background, and casually dressed in summer summer, vacation, water. the waves are crashing attire and seems to be engaged This tag possibly on the shore. in a lively and joyful describes the photo: conversation. ground. In the left part of the image, there's a man sitting on the sand, wearing a light blue button-up shirt and smiling broadly, evidently amused by the conversation. To his right, a woman is laughing heartily, her head tossed back and her hands raised—she's wearing a yellow top. Centered in the image, another woman is smiling and appears to be sharing a moment of enjoyment with the man on her left; she has her arm extended as if she is pointing at something or someone outside the frame. Turning clockwise, the next woman is in profile and not fully visible, she's wearing a red and blue checked shirt, and seems engaged with the person beside her. On the right side, another person is mostly turned away from the camera, wearing a white garment that could be a sweater https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 27/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software or jacket; this individual appears to be looking back towards the others with a smile. The beach setting provides a tranquil background with the ocean meeting the horizon. The mood is upbeat and the image exudes a sense of friendship, relaxation, and the simple joys of life. There's a harmonious mix of motion and stillness, with some individuals in mid-gesture, which adds to the dynamic of a candid and spontaneous moment. Example descriptions from both the current Picture Smart and new Picture Smart AI. Current Picture Picture Smart AI Picture Smart AI Sample Long Smart Sample Sample Short Description Description Description https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 28/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Caption is timeline. The image is a timeline The image you provided is of a slide with These tags that spans from a title "TIMELINE" at the top center. Below describe the September 2024 to the title is a horizontal timeline graphic photo: display, May 2025. It is divided that spans from September 2024 to May font, screenshot, into 5 sections, each 2025. The timeline is divided into five text. These tags with a different task sections, each with a designated month probably describe and deadline. The and year, and an associated objective: the photo: tasks are as follows: diagram, number. 1. "SEP 2024" with the objective - September 2024: "Synergize scalable e-commerce" Synergize scalable e- commerce 2. "NOV 2024" with the objective "Disseminate standardized metrics" - November 2024: Disseminate 3. "JAN 2025" with the objective standardized metrics "Coordinate e-business applications" - January 2025: 4. "MAR 2025" with the objective "Foster Coordinate e-business holistically superior methodologies" applications 5. "MAY 2025" with the objective "Deploy - March 2025: Foster strategic networks with compelling e- holistically superior business needs" methodologies Each section is represented by an arrow - May 2025: Deploy pointing to the right that starts from the strategic networks month and extends to the right with the with compelling e- objective contained in the body of the business needs arrow. The colors of the image are mostly shades of blue and grey, with the timeline graphic against a lighter background. At the bottom right corner, there's a page number or slide number indicated by "11," and just above it, the year "2024" is written as a note. The overall aesthetic is professional and likely part of a business presentation. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 29/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Example descriptions from both the current Picture Smart and new Picture Smart AI. Current Picture Picture Smart AI Sample Short Picture Smart AI Sample Smart Sample Description Long Description Description https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 30/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Caption is chart, pie The image is a pie chart that The image is a pie chart on a chart. These tags shows the favorite fruits of a white background with a title describe the photo: group of people. There are four at the top that reads circle, diagram, categories: melon, apple, "Favorite Fruit." The chart is screenshot, text. This mango, and orange. The melon divided into four segments, tag probably category is blue and takes up each representing a different describes the photo: 19% of the pie. The apple fruit with a corresponding font. This tag vaguely category is green and takes up percentage, indicating the describes the photo: 19% of the pie. The mango preference of a group of design. category is yellow and takes up people. 25% of the pie. The orange category is orange and takes up The largest segment is 37% of the pie. orange, representing oranges, and takes up 37% of the chart. The second largest is yellow, indicating mangoes, accounting for 25%. Two other fruits, melon and apple, each take up 19% of the chart; melon is depicted in blue, and apple in green. Overall, the chart provides a visual representation of the preferred fruits with oranges being the most popular, followed by mangoes, and then melon and apple with equal preference. When submitting an image, Picture Smart AI displays a short description by default. To display both a short and longer description, select the More Results link at the bottom of the results window. You can also add the SHIFT key to a Picture Smart command to immediately display both short and long descriptions. For example, INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, SHIFT+F. Note: AI technology can sometimes make mistakes. Known as AI Hallucinations, these can include describing visual elements that do not exist or making assumptions about what may be happening that are not accurate. Do not rely solely on AI generated descriptions and consider double checking information especially if used for professional purposes. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 31/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Note: From March 2024 until our May update, we have used Google’s Gemini as one of our services. On May 13th, we updated to Claude due to its higher reliability. Additional Picture Smart Improvements The following enhancements are available with both Picture Smart AI and the current Picture Smart. Added the INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, S command to describe the entire screen. Added the INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, W command to describe the current application window. Improved the INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, C command to now work with any control. In addition, this command now works more reliably with images in Word documents and Outlook messages. For best results submitting images in Outlook read-only messages, it is recommended to enable Use UIA for Read-Only Message support in Quick Settings. Split Braille Enhancements for Buffered Text Mode New Option for Refreshing the Buffer When Split Braille is Set to Buffered Text, there is now an option to automatically refresh the buffer in region two of your Braille display with the latest content whenever you press ENTER in a document. To enable this feature, open the Select Split View dialog (ALT+INSERT+V), make sure Buffered Text is selected in the list of views, select Options, and then select Refresh buffered document on ENTER. Focus display users can also press LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 2-3-7 to toggle this option. This is useful in situations where you want the buffer to continuously update as you type. For example, you are using a Word document to work out a complex math problem step-by- step, with each step being placed on a separate line. In this case, after entering the math expression for a step and pressing ENTER, the most recent math content is added to your buffer in region two. As you continue solving the problem, you can independently scroll through the buffer to review your work while continuing to remain at the current location in the active document. Bookmarks You now have the ability to set up to eight bookmarks in the buffered region so you can quickly move to specific content. You can even move directly to the top or bottom of the buffer. Note that this feature is currently only available to Focus display users. To set a bookmark, pan the buffer so the text you want to bookmark is displayed in the second region. Next, press LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2 and then simultaneously press LEFT SHIFT and DOT 1 through DOT 8, which corresponds to the bookmark number you want to set. To move to a specific bookmark, press LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2 followed by DOT 1 through DOT 8. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 32/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software To move directly to the top or bottom (last non-blank line) of the buffered text, press LEFT SHIFT+DOTS 1-2 followed by DOTS 1-2-3 or DOTS 4-5-6. Note: Bookmarks remain available until you enable Buffered Text view in another window. For example, if you enable Buffered Text view in Word, switch to Chrome, turn off Buffered Text, then switch back to Word and re-enable it, your bookmarks will still be set. However, if you enable Buffered Text from Chrome, the bookmarks you defined while buffering text in Word would be cleared. Bookmarks are also cleared if JAWS is closed and restarted. MathCAT Improvements This update offers significant improvements to MathCAT support. Currently available as part of the Early Adopter Program, you can enable this feature by doing the following: 1. In the JAWS Options menu, choose Early Adopter Program. 2. Select MathCAT. Note: If you clear the check box, you return to the legacy math support. 3. Select OK and restart the software. Once enabled, MathCAT settings are now used exclusively instead of JAWS defaults. Additionally, a new Math page is available in Settings Center where you can customize various MathCAT options for speech, Braille, and navigation. To access these settings, press INSERT+6 on the number row, press CTRL+SHIFT+D to load the default settings file, and search for “Math” in the edit field to move directly to the Math group in the tree view. From this Math page, for example, the default for MathCAT Navigation verbosity is set to Medium in JAWS. This allows speech users reviewing a math expression in the Math Viewer to hear information about the current element within a math expression like (superscript”, “root” etc. For math expressions within the table cells such as those of a matrix, this setting also allows for column and row coordinates to be spoken while navigating. Additionally, when in a table cell that contains a math expression such as an equation or inequality, you can now navigate by element easily without having to change from equation mode to table mode and back. Changing any of the options in the Math group in Settings Center will impact how JAWS reads math content. But these defaults out of the box are a very good starting point. You don’t have to do a thing after bringing up the Math Viewer unless you really want to experiment with the default settings Center Math options mentioned above. Note: Column and row information for tables in the Math Viewer are currently not displayed in Braille, but they are spoken. We understand the Braille component is important and are working on adding this functionality. Since JAWS now uses pure MathCat for navigation and speech, there are also additional keystrokes available for use explicitly in the Math Viewer. The following are some of the commands you can try. https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWSWhatsNew 33/40 2/7/25, 8:13 AM What's New in JAWS 2024 Screen Reading Software Table of supported MathCAT keystrokes. Description Command Move to next element RIGHT ARROW Move to previous element LEFT ARROW Zoom in on the current element DOWN ARROW Zoom out of the current element UP ARROW Move between table cells CTRL+ARROW keys or ALT+CTRL+ARROW keys Move back an element BACKSPACE Announce current location in element SPACEBAR Set Place Marker at current location in Math Viewer CTRL+1 through 0 on the (not the same as JAWS PlaceMarkers feature on web number row pages. Move to Place Marker 1 through 10