Updated as of June 11, 2024.
What is Voice Assistant?
Voice Assistant provides a way to interact with JAWS in Windows 10 using speech input. Supported languages include English, Dutch, German, Spanish, and French. Ask Voice Assistant to help you out with various JAWS features using natural speech. This means that the same JAWS action can be performed by more than one similar phrase instead of a single predefined voice command. For instance, to launch Settings Center, you could say “Settings Center” or “change settings.”
Unlike keyboard shortcuts, which can be hard to remember, natural voice commands are an easier way to interact with the JAWS software. Using voice input to control JAWS can also benefit users with certain conditions that prevent them from using a keyboard effectively.
Using Voice Assistant
Voice Assistant accepts voice commands to perform JAWS functions. To activate the feature and the listening process, you can use either a wake word, a key combination, or through the JAWS Utilities menu. You can speak voice commands using your computer’s internal microphone, an external microphone, or a wired headset’s microphone.
Note: Since all voice recognition processing is performed over the Internet using Microsoft Services in the cloud, there will be a slight delay depending on your connection.
To begin listening for a specific command, do one of the following:
Press the key combination, INSERT+ALT+SPACEBAR.
Speak a specific wake word that alerts the software to begin listening for a voice command, similar to using an Alexa or Google Home device. The wake word for JAWS is “Sharky.” Speak this word followed by a specific JAWS command, such as, “Sharky, list links.”
From the JAWS main window, press ALT+U to open the Utilities menu, expand the Voice Assistant submenu, and then select Talk to JAWS.
When Voice Assistant starts listening for a voice command:
A short audible notification plays, and a visual indicator is displayed. You can now speak the command. After hearing a voice command, a different audio and visual indicator plays and displays until the command is processed. Find below for a list of supported and suggested voice commands.
When complete, the visual indicator disappears, another audio indicator plays, and the requested action is performed.
If Voice Assistant does not hear anything, it says, “Sorry, I didn’t hear anything.”
If Voice Assistant does not understand or if the voice command is not supported, it says, “Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
Note: The wake word is not available if you are using a Bluetooth microphone. In this case, you must use the keystroke before speaking the voice command.
Changing Voice Assistant Settings
To change Voice Assistant options, open the JAWS Utilities menu, expand the Voice Assistant submenu, and then select Settings. This opens Settings Center and places focus on the Voice Assistant group in the tree view. Press the SPACEBAR on an option to change its setting and when finished, select OK to save and close Settings Center.
The following options are available:
Enable Voice Assistant: Clear this check box to turn off and disable Voice Assistant.
Wake Word: Use these radio buttons to choose what you say to alert JAWS you are ready to speak a voice command. You can choose to speak the single word “sharky” (selected by default), the phrase “hey sharky,” or do not listen for a wake word. If you choose the option to not listen for the wake word, you must always press INSERT+ALT+SPACEBAR first before saying a voice command.
Enable Voice Assistant sounds: Clear this check box to turn off Voice Assistant audio indicators.
Microphone input device: Displays a list of all available microphones on your computer (for example, an internal microphone and a connected headset) and lets you choose which microphone Voice Assistant uses when listening for voice commands. By designating a different microphone for this feature than what is being used for other applications such as Teams or Zoom, it allows you to mute those applications during meetings and still use Voice Assistant with JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion.
Note: You can also press INSERT+ALT+SPACEBAR twice quickly to immediately toggle the wake word on or off. When the wake word is off, you must always press INSERT+ALT+SPACEBAR first before saying a voice command.
Voice Commands for JAWS
JAWS Voice Assistant provides many options to control JAWS. For a full list of these commands, please check out the Bridges Resource Library “JAWS Voice Assistant Voice Commands” entry.
Voice Commands for Fusion
To perform this action… Say this command…
Increase magnification Bigger or Zoom in
Decrease magnification Smaller or Zoom out
Enable magnification Magnification on
Disable magnification Magnification off
Set magnification to a specific level Speak the number you want (example, 2)
Toggle Color Enhancements Color
Toggle Pointer/Mouse Enhancements Pointer or Mouse
Toggle Cursor Enhancements Cursor
Toggle Focus Enhancements Focus
Call the Quick Access Bar into view Quick access
Close and restart Fusion Restart Fusion
Contact the Bridges Helpdesk for More Information
- Our Accessible web form
- Email: Helpdesk@imagemd.org
- Text: Send to: (410) 357-1546
- Voice mail: Call (410) 357-1546, leave a voice mail message, and we will return your call
This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.