Hi all,
Over the last few years, I've heard vague mentions of a Windows screen reader called ZDSR. However, when I try and google it, nothing really comes up. I've found mentions of it on various lists, and when I did eventually find a website, it was all in Chinese. Even when I translated the page, there was a table with a load of download links, but no other links giving information about the screen reader, features and so on. I wasn't even sure if it was the ZDSR I wanted or something totally different in that case. Are lots of blind people actually using this? If so, how has it managed to get any sort of international recognition if their literature is all in Chinese? What are the benefits of this screen reader? How is it better than NVDA or JAWS? Why is there no concrete info about this screen reader in English? I saw there are several different teers, a free one, and a couple of paid options. Just wondering how it compares to JAWS and NVDA, and why on earth there's no decent info about this online.
Thanks.
By Tara, 29 January, 2025
Forum
Windows
Comments
The Zhengdu screenreader,…
The Zhengdu screenreader, ZDSR, is a Chinese-based screenreader, which is likely why you have not found a whole lot of info on it. I found a little something on it, but this webpage is a mix of Chinese and English, so bear with it. However, it does give a little bit of info on the Application.
My humble advice to you would be, stick with NVDA.
https://www.qcsalon.net/ru/forum6/topic99466
Here's More Information
I found this link to an earlier versino of the ZDRS manual. I think it is from 2021, but it should still give the basics. However, based on their payment model and terminology, I think I'd do as Brian suggests and stick with NVDA. After all, it is not until the commercial version that you get access to, as the manual says, "navigation keys". Also, for the higher paying plans, you have to have a dongle plugged into your computer at all times while using it. Maybe that has changed since this version came out, but that's what it says. Anyway, without further ado:
https://github.com/ZDSRInternational/zdsr-docs/blob/master/Documentation/zd.md
re: sockhopsinger
Thanks. I've just started reading the manual. It looks interesting. I found a post on groups.io from the end of 2023, and it said the dongle won't be required soon, it'll just be the online activation. So that's probably the case now. Not a bad translation either. And a thing that peaked my interest: JAVA programs are mentioned as one of the features. Does this mean that JAVA programs, which are usually inaccessible out of the box would be accessible with this screen reader? The manual doesn't explain everything. According to the contents, that feature isn't covered. Will read more of the manual soon, but it only seems to cover the basics. It's a start though.
Downloading the screen reader is tricky but i have a link.
I have a cold so can't say much, I've tried it, it's very fast, it works on chrome browsers, but I still prefer NVDA.
Here's the link to download it: https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/025XMlx0nsQfTN0QmEOBsuGJw#zdsr_setup_1.7.0
thanks Brad
Will give it a try tomorrow. Although, I read on the forum that Brian posted above is that it installs other stuff on your computer, and not just the ZDSR screen reader. Is that true? I'm guessing that forum was probably from a while back. Because if it installs dodgy stuff I won't be trying it.
Isn't this sr that is only…
Isn't this sr that is only downloadable from weird cloud provider like this very icloud link? Not because it's chinese but I can't really trust this sort of thing...
re: TheBllindGuy07
I understand your concerns. The only reason I'm pretty sure it's legit is that my boyfriend who is blind knows people who've tried it. Mind you, I don't know what those people's findings were. I do remember them saying it was good at command-line stuff, better than NVDA apparently. But I'm wondering if it installed dodgy stuff on their computer or something, like the forum post suggested above. But I know what you mean, the fact they don't have a propper website with stuff in English makes me a bit suspicious. But according to the forum above it's because of China's censorship. But who knows?
additional components
OK so, according to the manual, you can choose to install Skyvoice, a Chinese and English synth, and mini dog driver, a software for the dongle, but maybe the dongle isn't applicable now. So maybe those components are what people were suspicious of.
@Tara
Let us know how it goes, should you decide to test drive this beast. :)
Test Drive
The safest would be to install it on a virtual machine (VM) if you have one.
I'd advise closing, and not visiting any critical sites like your bank, while you test drive. Until you are certain it is legitimate.
Java programs?
That one is interesting. Does anyone have any idea in what all areas it's better than or out-performs NVDA/JAWS? I understand it's very! responsive from my quite limited research...
It's completely safe.
I've tried it and there are no viruses at all.
If you want to uninstall it; it's as simple as going to remove programs, pressing z, going to your applocations menu, pressing enter on uninstall, pressing y twice, and you're done.
There is one more thing that is installed, it has no name for us English users but again, just go to remove programs, go to the bottom of the folder, applocations, uninstall, yes, and you're good to go.
I just won't use it because I'm not a fan of the voice but the speed is awesome!
replies and thoughts
Hi,
Yes Gokul, that's exactly what I want to know too. But sadly, I haven't got any accessible apps on my computer to try it with. And Travis, I haven't got a VM and don't want to install one just for this. I wouldn't test this while accessing any bank or critical sites anyway. And Brad thanks for the info. I might try it at some point. My boyfriend was telling me that apparently the English manual still hasn't been finished. It only goes up to using the screen reader with MS Word, but there are so many more features than that. The manual I've seen is from 2021, so it quite possibly hasn't been updated since then. I might try it later.
Official ZDSR Resources (as of 2025)
Telegram Group:
https://t.me/zdsrgroup/
web sites (translation required):
https://www.zdsr.com/
https://www.zd.hk/
If there is an official English web site these days, I ain't finding one.
Agree with Travis
A screen reader needs to access all of the same accessibility API's that, say, a banking trojan does, in order to give the right information to the user, so hiding a peace of spyware in a screen reader would be a pretty neat idea.
I would never install a screen reader from an unknown or untrusted source, especially something that could potentially have ties to the CCP. Just because it's not flagged by anti-virus doesn't mean it can't be leveraged for bad, and just because you officially uninstall it doesn't mean it doesn't leave something behind. Be careful, and if you must, test in a VM.
Okay okayy we're getting in…
Okay okayy we're getting in danger zone here :) :) , I'd just say that I never said can't trust this because is Chinese or whatever, just that if they don't have an official way to download it properly seems odd to me. I don't care who made it. Commentary is something I'm very curious to test one day for example and it's from the same region.
think I'll leave it for now
I've had another think and I'll leave it for now. Thanks Trenton for the resources. If I get curious again I might ask on the Telegram group. I was just hoping someone here might know more about its features and so on.