ZoomText Fusion Screen Reader – Professional Edition

What’s New in ZoomText 2023 Magnifier/Reader and Fusion

Smart Glance

Often, web page developers will use text or background colors, different fonts, or certain text attributes to draw attention to text on a page. For instance, different fonts or colors might be applied to specific text that is part of a chart or dashboard to indicate the status of an option. The new Smart Glance feature analyzes the page and ranks textual content in reverse order based upon the infrequency of its color, text attribute or font usage on the page. Colors, fonts, or attributes used least will rank highest as potential points of interest, referred to as glance highlights.

When a web page first loads, JAWS now announces the number of glance highlights along with the number of links, headings, regions, and form fields. In addition, you can configure JAWS to play a sound to indicate a glance highlight as you navigate by character, word, line, sentence, paragraph, or when reading with Say All. If a page contains glance highlights, the following new Navigation Quick keys are available:

• Move to next glance highlight: Y
• Move to prior glance highlight: SHIFT+Y
• Display a list of all glance highlights on the page: INSERT+CTRL+Y

Examples of glance highlights can be found on the Amazon website. For instance, if you go to Amazon.com and search for a product, the product search results page contains several glance highlights for certain areas of the page including “Results,” “More results,” or “Need Help.” This text visually stands out, but since it is not an actual heading, it would not be found when using H or SHIFT+H to move by heading. You can use Y to move through the smart glance highlights, or you can display a list by pressing INSERT+CTRL+Y where you can select one to move to.

Another example of a glance highlight can be found on the Freedom Scientific home page. If you press Y, you move directly to the text, “Call Today,” where you will find the main Freedom Scientific phone number.

To configure Smart Glance settings, open Settings Center (INSERT+6), expand the Web/HTML/PDFs group, and then expand the Smart Glance group. You can then configure the following:

• Indicate Smart Glance highlights: Lets you determine how Fusion indicates glance highlights. You can choose to have Fusion announce the number of glance highlights when the page loads (selected by default), alert you to glance highlights as you navigate by playing a sound, indicate glance highlights both when the page loads and as you navigate, or turn off all glance highlight indication.
• Sensitivity: Set this option to High to increase the sensitivity for determining a glance highlight. With a higher sensitivity, more results are displayed by also analyzing smaller text segments for special text attributes.
• Include elements: Lets you choose whether or not links, headings, or form fields are included when analyzing pages for glance highlights. Even though there are navigation quick keys for moving to these specific elements, you may want to include these so you can use a single keystroke to quickly move to all useful elements on the page. By default, only fields marked as invalid or required are included.

You can also press INSERT+V while on a web page to open Quick Settings and change the Smart Glance highlight indication option.

Notification History Improvements

The Notification History feature was introduced in the Fusion and JAWS 2022 June update, and helps you manage the large amount of notifications that can be received from Windows and applications on a daily basis. When you press INSERT+SPACEBAR, followed by N, a dialog box opens and displays a history of all notifications received in the last 24 hours while Fusion or JAWS was running. From this dialog box, you can choose to exclude selected notifications from appearing in the history in the future, as well as create rules specifying how future notifications should be spoken or shown in braille. For example, you may want Fusion to announce notifications from an application only if they include specific text, or play a sound instead of interrupting you with a spoken message.

Fusion and JAWS 2023 offer several improvements to managing notifications based on feedback from customers. Some key enhancements include:

• Toggle toast notification announcements: Using the new layered keystroke, INSERT+SPACEBAR, followed by CTRL+N, you can toggle the automatic announcement of incoming toast notifications, which is a type of notification used by some applications including Microsoft Outlook. For instance, if you receive a lot of emails and you do not want Fusion automatically speaking the notification each time you receive a message, instead of creating a rule, you can use this keystroke to quickly silence all of these announcements. Notifications will still be added to the history, so you can still review them if necessary. Toast notification announcements remain off until you perform this keystroke again, or restart Fusion.

• Clear notification history: After pressing INSERT+SPACEBAR, N to open the Notification History dialog box, select the new Clear history button to delete all notifications from the Recent notifications list.
• Review notification details: Pressing ENTER while focused on a notification in the Recent Notifications list now displays details for the selected notification. These include the notification text, the application where it came from, and the time it was received.
• Specify a rule type: When you choose to create a new rule for a selected notification in the Recent Notifications list, you now start in the Rule Type combo box. This new option lets you determine how the original notification text in the edit box directly after this combo box is treated. The following choices are available:
  • Contains – Creates a rule that acts on a notification that contains specific text. For example, if you want to create a rule for a notification from Outlook that contains the word “Suggestion:” at any point in the notification, you could delete everything except “suggestion:” from the notification text in the following edit box.
  • Begins with – Creates a rule that acts on a notification that begins with specific text. For example, if you want to create a rule for a notification from Outlook that begins with the word “Suggestion:” followed by some specific text, you could delete everything except “suggestion:” from the notification text in the following edit box.
  • Ends with – Creates a rule that acts on a notification that ends with specific text. For example, if you want to create a rule for a notification from Teams that ends with the words “Press CTRL+SHIFT+J to join” preceded by some specific text, you could delete everything except “Press CTRL+SHIFT+J to join” from the notification text in the following edit box.
  • Matches pattern – Lets you create a regular expression that any incoming notification will be matched against. While the following edit box contains the text for the selected notification, it is recommended you change it to a regular expression using elements from the notification. If you want to use the notification text as is, or parts of it, consider using one of the other Rule Types. As an example of a regular expression, take a look at the regular expression to capture the name of the sender from an Outlook notification: “^New Notification from Outlook, (.*?),” without the quotes.
• Naming rules: When creating a rule for a selected notification, you can now enter a name for the rule. In addition, the Manage Notification Rules dialog box now includes an option to rename an existing rule.

Refer to the Notification History topic in the JAWS Help for more information.

Tethered View in ZoomText and Fusion

Tethered View is a new feature available in ZoomText and Fusion. When using higher zoom levels (magnification), there is often an activity that occurs on the screen that is outside of the magnified viewing area. This is where Tethered View is helpful. It opens a new window inside the magnified area that brings the activity into view. Tethered View currently supports the Windows Start menu search, Excel formula bar, Word Comments pane, and links list on a web page (Fusion only). It is enabled by default for these items.

To toggle Tethered View on and off, or change settings, do the following:

1. In the ZoomText or Fusion Magnifier toolbar tab, select the Window button.
2. Choose Tethered View.
3. Choose Enable or Disable to toggle Tethered View on and off.
   Choose Settings to customize Tethered View settings as desired.

Windows Start Menu Search and Tethered View

When you use the search box in the Windows Start menu, you may notice that you cannot see the top search result in the magnified view. With Tethered View enabled, the best match appears in a window next to the search box. You can click the result or move through the list to see other items.

The following keystrokes are available when using Tethered View with the Windows Start menu:

• Expand or collapse Tethered View window: CAPS LOCK+T
• View the result at the top of the search list: CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+T

Microsoft Excel Formula Bar and Tethered View

In Excel, a similar scenario occurs when working with formulas. Excel displays the formula related to a cell in the formula bar located at the top of the worksheet. This position is far away from the actual cell. The Tethered View brings the formula to you and displays it next to the cell that has focus. If you want to switch to the formula field, you can click it or use the CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+T keystroke.

Other times you may want to read the Excel spreadsheet without the formula displayed. In this case, you can toggle the Tethered View with CAPS LOCK+T.

The following keystrokes are available when using Tethered View with Excel:

• Expand or collapse Tethered View window: CAPS LOCK+T
• View the Formula bar: CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+T

Microsoft Word Comments and Tethered View

If you distribute a Word document for review, others may add comments to the document. The Comments pane or list is positioned to the far right side of the screen. In Tethered View, each comment is placed next to the text where it is inserted. This eliminates the need to move across the screen, find and read the comment, and then return to the text.

The following keystrokes are available when using Tethered View with Word:

• Expand or collapse Tethered View window: CAPS LOCK+T
• View the comment: CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+T
• Return to the text at the insertion point: ESC

Fusion Links List and Tethered View

When reading a web page while running Fusion, you can press INSERT+F7 to display a list of links that are on the page. With Tethered View, as you move through the list, the current link’s URL appears next to the item in the list. You can click or press ENTER to select the link.

The following keystrokes are available when using Tethered View with the Fusion links list:

• Expand or collapse Tethered View window: CAPS LOCK+T
• View the URL for the link: CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+T
• Open the links list: INSERT+F7

Solution for Dell Waves MaxxAudio Issues

Changes were made in the Eloquence, Vocalizer Expressive, and Microsoft Mobile speech synthesizer drivers to fix increased memory usage issues caused by Waves MaxxAudio. This application is often used on Dell computers. If you previously disabled the Waves MaxxAudio application to resolve these performance issues, you can now reenable it. This is only necessary if you want your computer to automatically begin using a specific audio output device as soon as you connect it, such as headphones.

Improved ILM Authorization Access

The file location for the ZoomText, JAWS, and Fusion ILM authorization files have been moved to a location where users no longer need administrative permission to authorize on their own system.

Enhancements in ZoomText 2023.2212.21 and Fusion 2023.2012.5 (December 2022)

The following describes new features and improvements made in the December 2022 update.

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 that will help us make improvements before the final release. The Freeze View Update is our first feature available for evaluation using the Early Adopter Program. It’s an update to the existing Freeze View in ZoomText and Fusion, that provides you with additional functionality.

Using the Early Adopter Program

To turn on or off Early Adopter Program features, do the following:

1. In the ZoomText or Fusion 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 check boxes to activate features. Clear one or more check boxes 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. Click 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 ZoomText 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 click Send Feedback.

Freeze View Update

Freeze View, currently in ZoomText and Fusion, is our first feature available for evaluation using the Early Adopter Program. The following describes how to use Freeze View when it is activated using the Early Adopter Program.

Freeze View Overview

In a magnified view, it is impossible to see the entire screen at once. As a result, items of interest, such as the clock and Start menu, cannot be seen at the same time since they are on opposite sides of the screen. Freeze View solves this problem by letting you draw a window around an area of the screen that you want to monitor. When you’ve completed your selection, the Freeze View automatically appears on top of the Full zoom window displaying the selected area. The Full zoom window continues to operate normally, tracking all on-screen activity and allowing you to navigate and work in all areas of the screen.

When Freeze View is activated using the Early Adopter Program, you can create and display up to four Freeze Views simultaneously. Freeze Views can be placed anywhere on the screen. For example, you can create a view of the ZoomText app icon located in the system tray and drag it to an area on the screen that is convenient for you to access. This lets you quickly bring the ZoomText toolbar into view instead of scrolling with the mouse pointer to the system tray and then clicking the app icon. Another example is to create a view of the clock, which is located in the notification area. Again, you can position it on the screen so that it is always in view.

Note: Freeze View is only available when the Zoom Window Type is set to Full and you are using one monitor or a single display duplicated across multiple monitors.

Early Adopter Freeze View and Current Freeze View Operation

The table below describes the differences between the Early Adopter Freeze View and the current Freeze View operation.

Create a Freeze View

Note: Freeze View is only available when the Zoom Window Type is set to Full and you are using one monitor or a single display duplicated across multiple monitors.

To create a Freeze View, do the following:

1. Make sure the Zoom Window Type is set to Full.
2. On the Magnifier toolbar tab, click the arrow next to Window or navigate to Window and press the down arrow key.
   Note: You can also press CAPS LOCK+N to create a new Freeze View. When you do this, the Freeze tool becomes active as mentioned in step 3.
3. In the Window menu, choose Freeze View > New Freeze View.
   The Freeze tool becomes active.Note: You can have up to four Freeze Views. If you try to create a fifth Freeze View, you must first delete an existing Freeze View.
4. Move the mouse pointer until the area you want to freeze is scrolled into view.
5. Hold down the left button and drag a selection rectangle around the desired freeze area and release the button.When you complete the drag, the Freeze View will appear with sizing handles on the frame.
6. To size the window, drag any handle. To move the window, drag inside the window frame. To scroll the contents of the window, hold down CTRL and drag inside the window frame.
7. To exit the Freeze tool, right click or press ESC.
8. To create additional Freeze Views, repeat steps 1-7. You can have a total of four Freeze Views.
   Note: If you try to add a fifth Freeze View, the Freeze View Settings dialog opens. You must delete at least one Freeze View from the Views list before adding another.
9. To save Freeze View changes, in the ZoomText menu, choose Configurations > Save As Default.

Enable and Disable Freeze View

To enable or disable a Freeze View, do one of the following:

• • Press the Freeze View On/Off hotkey:
    • CAPS LOCK+CTRL+1 for Freeze View 1
    • CAPS LOCK+CTRL+2 for Freeze View 2
    • CAPS LOCK+CTRL+3 for Freeze View 3
    • CAPS LOCK+CTRL+4 for Freeze View 4

• On the Magnifier toolbar tab, choose Window > Freeze View > Enable (or Disable).

Note: This only enables and disables the first Freeze View that is in the Views list in the Freeze settings tab.

Delete a Freeze View

To delete a Freeze View using hotkeys, do the following:

1. Press CAPS LOCK+A until the Freeze View you want to delete is selected.
2. Press DELETE.
   The Freeze tool appears.
3. Press ESC to restore the mouse pointer
4. Repeat steps 1-3 to delete other Freeze Views.

To delete a Freeze View using Freeze View settings, do the following:

1. On the Magnifier toolbar tab, select the Zoom Window Settings button, which appears in the lower-right corner of the Zoom Window group.
   The Zoom Window Settings dialog appears.
2. Select the Freeze tab.
3. Choose a Freeze View from the Views list and click the Delete button.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 to delete other Freeze Views.

Customize a Freeze View

To customize a Freeze View, do the following:

1. On the Magnifier toolbar tab, select the Zoom Windows Settings button, which appears in the lower-right corner of the Zoom Windows group.
   The Zoom Windows Settings dialog appears.
2. Select the Freeze tab.
3. Choose a Freeze View from the Views list and do any of the following:
   • Assign a name
   • Choose a zoom level
   • Decide if you want the mouse pointer to appear in front of or behind the Freeze View. When in front, you can click and use the items in the Freeze View. When behind, you can only view what is in the Freeze View.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 to customize other Freeze Views
5. Click OK.
6. To save Freeze View changes, in the ZoomText menu, choose Configurations > Save As Default.

Other Changes

• ZoomText now supports Estonian.
• Improved performance when running ZoomText on laptops with a dedicated video card. By default, ZoomText will now use the dedicated video card if it exists.
• Resolved an issue in Outlook where focus tracking was constantly jumping between the To or Cc fields and the list of suggested contacts.
• Resolved an issue in Word where cursor enhancement tracking would stop working when toggling between the Navigation task pane and the document.
• Resolved an issue where tracker alignment would jump between edge alignment and center alignment when moving up and down the contents of a list box.
• Resolved an issue where the Layered Keys Banner did not display correctly when using multiple monitors.
• Resolved an issue with Tethered View where the Excel formula bar and the Word Comments pane were not displaying on the correct monitor. This occurred when the zoom window type was set to Span.
• Resolved an issue where the Tethered View window would not display properly after expanding it with CAPS LOCK+T.

Software Updates

• <Click Here to access updates for August 2023>
• <Click Here to access updates for June 2023>
• <Click Here to access updates for April 2023>
• <Click Here to access July 2022 Release>
• <Click Here to access June 2022 Release>
• <Click Here to access February 2022 Release>
• <Ckick Here to access December 2021 Release>
• <Click Here to access November 2021 Release>
• <Click Here to access July 2021 Release>
• <Click Here to access May 2021 Release>
• <Click Here to access April 2021 Release>
• <Click Here to access February 2021 Release>
• <Click Here to access January 2021 Release>
• <Click Here> to access 2021 Pre-Release>
• <Click Here> to access August 2020 Update>
• <Click Here> to access the April 2020 Update>
• <Click Here> to access the March 2020 Update>
• <Click Here> to access the February 2020 Update>
• <Click Here> to access the August 2019 Update>
• <Click Here> to access the June 2019 Update>
• <Click Here> to access the August 2018 Update>
• <Click Here> to access the May 2018 Update

Downloads for the January 2022 Updates

• JAWS 2022 What’s New in 2022: https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/JAWS/JAWSWhatsNew
• JAWS 2022 Connected:https://jaws2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.24.400/80824FB8-21F9-4D84-85EB-4008CD002070/J2022.2112.24.400.exe
• JAWS 2022 Offline 64 Bit:https://jaws2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.24.400/80824FB8-21F9-4D84-85EB-4008CD002070/J2022.2112.24.400-Offline-x64.exe
• JAWS 2022 Offline 32 64 Bit:https://jaws2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.24.400/80824FB8-21F9-4D84-85EB-4008CD002070/J2022.2112.24.400-Offline-x86.exe
• ZoomText 2022 Connected:https://zoomtext2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.10.400/983A3F44-83C0-4017-A6D5-2CB9A9710F72/ZT2022.2112.10.400.exe
• ZoomText 2022 Offline:https://zoomtext2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.10.400/983A3F44-83C0-4017-A6D5-2CB9A9710F72/ZT2022.2112.10.400-Offline.exe
• Fusion 2022 Connected:https://fusion2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.5.400/3065094C-E40A-4D29-9875-467B73F9724B/F2022.2112.5.400.exe
• Fusion 2022 Offline:https://fusion2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.5.400/3065094C-E40A-4D29-9875-467B73F9724B/F2022.2112.5.400-Offline.exe