The announcementstates that Window-Eyes will be available globally to anyone using Microsoft Office 2010 or later, saving users from paying $1,022. GW Micro states that the decision was a result of an increasingly critical need for people who are blind or vision impaired to have reduced barriers to technology access.
This move by Microsoft and GW Micro marks a major shake-up of the screen reader industry. Window-Eyes is a popular commercial product and a major competitor to JAWS that has been priced as a premium assistive technology product. Now users have the choice to either use the screen reader for free if they already have Office, or purchase an Office license for a fraction of the cost of a commercial Window-Eyes license.
While free screen readers are already available, such as the popular NVDA, the promise of a well-established commercial product for free will appeal to many blind and vision impaired Windows users. Microsoft has been criticised for the poor quality of its built-in Windows screen reader Narrator. The agreement with GW Micro indicates that Microsoft is taking its blind and vision impaired users more seriously.
Window-Eyes is compatible with Windows 8, 7, XP and Vista. Like NVDA, Window-Eyes Mobile can be put on a USB drive and used on multiple computers.
People using Microsoft Office 2010 or higher are be able to download a full version of Window-Eyes. The website provides download instructions and additional details about this offer.
Top of page