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| Narrator | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Initial release | February 17, 2000; 25 years ago (2000-02-17) |
| Operating system | Windows 2000 and later |
| Platform | IA-32,x86-64,ARM64 |
| Type | Screen reader |
| License | Proprietarycommercial software |
Narrator is ascreen reader inMicrosoft Windows. Developed by Professor Paul Blenkhorn in 2000,[1] the utility made the Windows operating system more accessible for blind andvisually impaired users.
Narrator is included with every copy ofMicrosoft Windows, providing a measure of access to Windows without the need to install additional software as long as the computer in use includes a sound card and speakers or headphones.Windows 2000 was the first Microsoftoperating system released with some degree of accessibility for the blind built in, permitting a blind person to walk up to any such computer and make some use of it immediately.
TheWindows 2000 version of Narrator usesSAPI 4 and allows the use of other SAPI 4 voices. TheWindows XP version uses the newer SAPI 5. However, it only allows the use of the default voice, Microsoft Sam, even if other voices have been installed.
InWindows Vista andWindows 7, Narrator has been updated to use SAPI 5.3 and the Microsoft Anna voice for English. In Windows Ultimate and Windows editions for China, the Microsoft Lili voice forMandarin Chinese is included.
InWindows 10, Narrator is available in English (United States, United Kingdom, and India), French, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Chinese Simplified andChinese Traditional), Cantonese (Chinese Traditional), Spanish (Spain andMexico), Polish, Russian, and Portuguese (Brazil).[2]
A version of Narrator is also included in allWindows Phones, though with far fewer settings than the Narrator for the desktop. Narrator for Windows Phones previously only worked if the phone's language is set to "English (United States)".
There are numerous voices included in the narrator pack, such as Microsoft David, Microsoft Zira, Microsoft Mark, and in earlier editions, Microsoft Hazel.[2][3]
InWindows 11, the Narrator app was redesigned and new natural voices were added.[4] The app is available in both Dark and Contrast Themes.[4]
