An Introduction to J-SayAn Overview of the Bridge Program J-Say and its use with Jaws and Dragon Naturally Speaking for Computer Access

Abstract

These programs are vital for increasing independence and quality of life for individuals with a visual impairment and a physical impairment. Their use requires an understanding of how each program functions and a separate set of voice commands for control. Installation recommendations, demonstrations, and a phrase list will be provided.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will be able to determine if students or clients could benefit from the use of J-Say

• Participants will know how to obtain and install the needed software

• Participants will gain a general knowledge of how the programs interact and how they could be used

Audience Knowledge

• Clap once if you have heard of J-Say

• Clap once if you have taught someone how to use J-Say

• Clap once if you have used J-Say

What is J-Say?

• A bridge program between Jaws and Dragon Naturally Speaking

• These two programs do not function well together without J-Say

J-Say helps those who are unable to:

• Keyboard, whether for physical or cognitive reasons

And

• View a computer screen with enlarging software (Jaws users)

Successful J-Say users need to be able to:

• Provide clear verbal commands

• Hear and process information auditorially

• Remember a list of voice commands

Student Profile:

A young adult student working toward independence in daily living and pursuing a job

Student Characteristics:

• Has a significant visual impairment

• Has cerebral palsy resulting in very low dexterity in her right hand

• Has good expressive verbal skills

• Has the desire to learn and try something new

Prior to using J-Say she used: • Braille Note in one handed mode

or

• Keyboarded on a braille keyboard with one hand

Any amount of writing was fairly laborious and time consuming for her

• She preferred to audio record most school assignments

Now with J-Say:

• She creates Microsoft Word documents for school assignments

• She writes and responds to e-mails quickly and independently

• She even writes for fun!

Take a few moments and discuss with your table a student you may consider teaching J-Say

Let’s Get Down to the Details

Minimum Computer Requirements

• Intel i3, i5, or i7 processor (5 or 7 recommended)• 4GB of RAM• All releases of Microsoft Windows (Windows7

and Windows 8)• Microsoft Office 2007, 2010 AND 2013• JAWS for Windows version 14, 15 or 16 • Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional

version 13

Recommended Pairings (according to J-Say):

• At this time, they do not recommend JAWS version 16 for using J-Say and Windows8.

• JAWS version 15 with Windows8 can be used with excellent results

• JAWS version 16 and Windows7 delivers a high standard

Current Pricing

J-Say Pro 13 • New Single License (Digital): $627.50

• Upgrade from J-Say Pro 12 (Digital or Physical): $150.00

• Purchasing website: http://www.ngtvoice.com/products/software/astec/j-say/

• When purchased digitally, must provide Jaws serial number (J-Say authorization is tied to the serial number)

Jaws 16

• $1095.00 from Freedom Scientific

• Purchasing website: http://sales.freedomscientific.com

Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional 13

• $599.99 from Nuance

• Purchasing website: http://www.nuance.com/for-business/by-product/dragon/dragon-for-the-pc/dragon-professional/index.htm

Download Instructions• Must be done in the order listed on the next

slide

• J-Say should pair with Jaws and load when it does

• If it does not pair correctly, remove and start over

Download Instructions Cont.• 1. Install JAWS and Restart your PC. Do Not

Make Any Changes to Jaws!

• 2. Install Dragon and restart your PC.

• 3. Download J-Say Pro from the website or install with the disc and restart your PC

• 4. Run the J-Say Pro Configuration Wizard (J-Say Key + W) to activate J-Say online. (J-Say Key is the grave accent key just below the escape key on most keyboards)

Suggestions for Getting Set-Up

Setting: Extra noise is easily picked up by the microphone

• Work in a separate room with the door closed

• The instructor can whisper cues as needed, but keep to a minimum

• Turn off the microphone when not in use

• Hold comments or instruction until after the microphone is off

Microphones and Headphones

• For Dragon to work properly, it cannot hear Jaws

• The headset provided by Dragon is a microphone and headphone

• With this headset the instructor is unable to hear Jaws, which is difficult for teaching

• Modifications to the computer are needed

Microphones and Headphones Cont.• In the control panel of the computer, turn off the

headphone to the Dragon headset

• The Dragon headset will only be used as a microphone during instruction

• The Dragon headset must have USB connection

• Plug in a headphone splitter to the headphone jack to use 2 sets of headphones

• The student’s headphone must be an earbud to be able to comfortably wear the Dragon headset as well

Setting up the Dragon Voice Profile• Dragon requires that a paragraph be read by the

user to test the microphone and calibrate to the user’s voice

• It is difficult to listen to Jaws and repeat back the verbal prompts smoothly

• Read a brailled copy of the paragraph

• Dragon does gradually learn your speaking style, therefore try to have the student do the speaking for setting up the voice profile

Getting Starting • Over the next few slides, my student and I

will demonstrate some of the cues used by J-Say

• All of these and other general functions are listed on the J-Say & Jaws Quick Guide in your packet

• Note: We are using J-Say 11 and Jaws 14

Opening Dragon with Jaws and J-Say

• Dragon, J-Say, and Jaws can be set to open when the computer is started

• My student is able to use Jaws keystrokes and chooses to turn on Dragon when she wants to write

General Navigation Commands

• Adjusting the computer volume

• Asking the time

• Naming the programs currently running

• Switching between programs

• Turn off the computer

Reading a Document• Notes from the video:

• Commands next and previous moves the cursor to that location• Speak command says the requested section

without moving the cursor• Can ask for any element to be read:

character, word, line, sentence, paragraph, or whole document• These specific commands must be used as

written (read next word example)

Writing in Microsoft Word• Notes from the video:

• Speak a phrase at a time so that Jaws has a chance to read-back what has been written• All punctuation must be stated (see Quick

Guide for specific commands)• It is easiest to edit as you go• Turn the microphone off when not in use

Using the Internet• Notes from the video:

• Uses same terms as Jaws for hands-free navigation• My student loves using J-say with her Gmail

account

Additional Comments• This is a work in progress, we are learning as we

go

• The Quick Guide provided is a general list of commands I pulled out of the manual to get started

• The manual would provide specific help for applications not discussed today

• The manual also has several practice scripts

• J-Say has help functions built in with the command: Where am I? and What can I do?

Support• List-serve e-mail: j-say-request@freelists.org

• President and CEO, Edward S. Rosenthal, provides his information for support• Phone: 425-744-1100, extension 15• E-mail: edward@ngtvoice.com

• E-mail list, connecting Michigan teachers and users (Pass around sheet)