Description of Windows 2000 Magnifier and Utility Manager Tools (231843)

SUMMARY

The Windows 2000 Magnifier tool makes the screen more readable for users who have diminished vision. The Magnifier tool creates a separate window that displays a magnified portion of the screen. The Magnifier tool is intended to provide a minimum level of functionality for users with slight visual impairments.

The Windows 2000 Utility Manager tool enables users with administrator-level access to check an accessibility program's status, start or stop an accessibility program, and designate whether to have a program start when Windows 2000 starts.

MORE INFORMATION

The accessibility tools included with Windows 2000 are intended to provide a minimum level of functionality for users with special needs. Most users with disabilities will need utility programs with greater functionality for daily use.

For a list of Windows-based accessibility tools, see the Microsoft Accessibility Web site at:

http://www.microsoft.com/enable

The Magnifier Tool

To start the Magnifier tool, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to Accessibility, and then click Magnifier. The Magnifier tool can also be started with Utility Manager (discussed later) and can be configured with the Accessibility Wizard.

When you are using Magnifier, you can:

Change the magnification level
Change the size of the magnification window
Change the position of the magnification window on your desktop
Invert the screen colors
Use a high-contrast setting

Magnifier also has a number of tracking options, including:

Following the mouse pointer as it moves on your screen
Following the keyboard focus that centers on the location of the insertion point
Following text editing

The Utility Manager Tool

To start Utility Manager, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to Accessibility, and then click Utility Manager. Or, you can press Windows Logo+U.

The built-in accessibility programs accessible in Utility Manager are Magnifier and Narrator. You can add the On-Screen Keyboard tool by clicking Add to Utility Manager on the File menu in On-Screen Keyboard. Narrator, a text-to-speech program, starts automatically when Utility Manager starts. This gives users who are blind or have low vision immediate access to Utility Manager.

You can use Utility Manager to save time by causing accessibility programs to start each time you start your computer. For example, you can use Utility Manager to cause Magnifier to start automatically when you start your computer. This eliminates the need to start Magnifier each time you start Windows 2000.