September Solutions
School has begun throughout the state of Maryland, and we at the Bridges Technical Assistance Center and Helpdesk explore solutions to help prepare for two environments we cannot control: Medical care and Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows 11.
- September 3: Accessibility for Medical Check-in and Information
- September 10: Advocating for Medical Accessibility
- September 17: Comparing and Contrasting Windows 10 and Windows 11 (Celebrating National IT Professionals Day with our special guest contributor, accessible technology expert Curtis Chong)
- September 24: Tips For Using Windows 11 with JAWS (from our special guest contributor, accessible technology expert Curtis Chong)
This week, we celebrate National IT Professionals Day with our special guest contributor, Curtis Chong. Curtis helps us understand why we’ll have to move to Windows 11 and what changes we can expect from this new operating system.
Meet Our Guest Contributor, Curtis Chong
Curtis Chong is a nationally renown accessible technology expert. He is also a great blind mentor, and he selflessly shares his expertise – today with our Bridges stakeholders. Check out this Curtis Chong biography to find out more about this talented gentleman.
Why Do I Need to Care about Windows 11?
Any new computer running Windows that is purchased today is going to be using the Microsoft Windows 11 operating system. Microsoft’s support of Windows 10 (the precursor to Windows 11) is slated to stop sometime next year.
A few years ago, a lot of people were very concerned about moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10, and now that the support for Windows 10 is scheduled to end sometime next year, they are rightfully wondering how difficult it will be to move up to Windows 11 since any new computer purchased today will be running this operating system.
What Can I Expect from the change from Windows 10 to 11?
Keyboard commands and functions
From the perspective of a screen reader user, Windows 10 and Windows 11 are remarkably similar in terms of keyboard commands and functions.
The Windows Desktop is very much the same in Windows 11 as it is in Windows 10.
The Taskbar might look differently in Windows 11 as compared to Windows 10, but from the screen reader user’s perspective, it acts in the same way.
The keyboard commands to move focus to the Desktop, the Taskbar, and the System Tray (WINDOWS+M, WINDOWS+T, AND WINDOWS+B, respectively) have not changed between Windows 10 and 11.
File Explorer
Changes in File Explorer in Windows 11
First-time users of Windows 11 will probably notice a change in File Explorer on Windows 11. File Explorer in Windows 11 no longer uses a ribbon, but its basic function and keyboard commands are remarkably similar to what screen reader users experience in Windows 10.
The familiar keyboard commands for copying, cutting, and pasting still work, and in File Explorer for Windows 11, a new command (CTRL+SHIFT+C) has been added to perform what is called the “Copy as Path” function. In File Explorer, the ribbon which we see in Windows 10 has been removed in favor of a popup menu that is triggered by tapping the Alt key.
Windows 11 changes Shift + F10 command
As of this writing there appears to be a small but persistent issue with File Explorer in Windows 11.
Those of us who have been using Windows for decades were always told that the keyboard alternative for right-clicking with the mouse to bring up a context menu was either the Applications key or SHIFT+F10; we were told that either key would bring up the same context menu no matter where they were used.
While this is true in other applications, it is certainly not the case in the version of File Explorer I have been running on my Windows 11 system. In my system, Pressing SHIFT+F10 brings up an abbreviated context menu which needs to be expanded by arrowing to and activating the More Options menu item.
System Tray Now Called “Notification Area”
Some of the programs we use in Windows like to run in what is called the System Tray. In Windows 10, there is a System Tray setting which, when activated, displays all of these programs in the System Tray. In Windows 11, this setting has been taken away and replaced with settings that control whether or not specific apps will be displayed in the System Tray, now called the Notification Area.
Must I Sign Into My Microsoft Account?
In Windows 11 Microsoft continues to encourage (if not require) users to log into individual Microsoft accounts. This is actually no different than what Apple requires on iPads and iPhones and, in fact, is something that people should adhere to so as to maximize the ability of their systems to take advantage of recent updates and fixes.
Windows 11 and Screen Readers
In terms of configuring the system for screen reader users, there is a bit more to do with Windows 11 when it is used for the first time as compared to Windows 10. In Windows 11, there are widgets to turn off, and the System Tray is not quite as simple to properly configure as it is in Windows 10. In Windows 11, the choice to show all items in the System Tray has been taken away.
Conclusion
Overall, I have to say that once it is properly set up, Windows 11 is as useful to me today as Windows 10 was last year before I acquired my most recent Windows system.
Next Week
Next week, Curtis will be sharing his expertise by highlighting tips for Windows 11 using the JAWS screen reader.
Reach Out to Us at the Free Bridges Helpdesk anytime!
Please check out the Bridges Technical Assistance Center Resource Library today!
Contact us
Follow the Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page for more transition tips, and please contact the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Free Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Transition Students, Families, and Educators anytime using:
- Our Accessible web form
- Email: Helpdesk@IMAGEmd.org
- Text or Leave a Voice mail message: (410) 357-1546
- Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page or Facebook Messenger
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.