Speech Central on Windows

By Enes Deniz, 23 November, 2024

Forum
Windows

Assuming this has not been addressed elsewhere, I will paste the below message in the hopes of reaching out to the developer of Speech Central.
Hi,
I have been a long-time user of Speech Central on my iPhone, and just decided to purchase it from the Microsoft Store, only to find out in disappointment that the Windows version is not accessible, unless there is something I fail to do or need to know. If the Windows version is not accessible due to the number of other alternatives we can use on Windows, I would still like to be able to use Speech Central on my computer just like I do on my iPhone.
Note that I could not even use the contact form on your website to submit this message so I just decided to create a thread here.
Thanks and regards,
Enes

Options

Comments

By Labsii on Friday, November 29, 2024 - 07:21

It would be of help that you specify what problem do you encounter.

As far as I remember, several years ago I have received some complaints on this issue which were correct. I did spend several days or even weeks testing everything with Narrator and keyboard and I did find multiple problems and they were all fixed.

Several people have confirmed that it works well now, including here, you can find one recent confirmation exactly in this forum.

I would suggest to use 1-pane mode. 2-pane mode that is the default will be deprecated in the future (2025) and the app will work similar to how it works on the Mac. However 2-pane mode is still fully accessible just it isn't a design of great usability, especially when used with Narrator.

Speaking of that, there has been no development for almost 2 years (as the app needs to be rewritten similarly how it was done on iOS and macOS and how it will be on Android soon) and I haven't checked if Windows 11 may have broke something regarding accessibility, but as there are 0 problems in all other functions, I would find it as very surprising.

By Enes Deniz on Saturday, November 30, 2024 - 07:21

When I launch the app and tab around, all I can access is a bunch of switch buttons and two links, one being CereProc and the other Nuance. So this could be some kind of TTS engine selection window, but I'm not sure. Note that I am using NVDA on a Windows 11 computer, and your response is greatly appreciated. Hope I will be able to use Speech Central on my computer as well.

By Labsii on Saturday, November 30, 2024 - 07:21

I'll take that into account in the next development cycle.

My initial plan was to stop development of Windows app, but after some recent changes the current plan is to buy a Windows 11 device next year and start the new app as the foundations of the previous app has pretty much hit the wall and the development appears to be impractical at the best and impossible at the worst.

Your description sounds like that there is some deep incompatibility between your screen reader technology and Universal Windows Platform graphical interface, my estimate based on your description would be that it doesn't support that technology at all.

I can't influence the capabilities of any screen reader, but the app will work in WinUI technology in the future which should be better supported.

It is hard to pinpoint finger to any side as Microsoft is very inconsistent in its user interface technology and in the last 10 years deprecates one technology after another, while most apps are built in legacy interface technologies...

By Enes Deniz on Saturday, November 30, 2024 - 07:21

You mean this is used throughout the operating system and in other apps? Note that I am using the latest version of NVDA, and while even some built-in apps appear less accessible on Windows 11 than on Windows 10, I can use the computer without any major issues that make the whole OS inaccessible.