JAWS provides many ways to access information and navigate within Windows. The cursor you use to access an app determines what information JAWS reads. Manipulating cursors to read information is not necessarily the most efficient method of accessing that information. However, knowing when and how to use different cursors can be quite useful on occasion, especially when an app or web page is not designed with accessibility in mind. In this topic we look at the JAWS cursor.
The JAWS cursor is the mouse pointer. The JAWS cursor is used to move the mouse pointer, perform left or right mouse clicks, read static text to which the PC cursor does not have access, and to access other parts of Windows to which the PC cursor cannot be moved. The JAWS cursor is also used to provide a quick overview of the information currently available on the screen. Press NUM PAD MINUS to make the JAWS cursor active.
Sometimes informative text appears on the screen, often in the status bar or in pop up tool tips when the mouse pointer hovers over certain objects on the screen. If you try to use the JAWS cursor to read this text, the mouse pointer moves away from what it was hovering over, and the text or information disappears. Also, you may find that you are using the JAWS cursor to activate a specific button on the screen, and you may not want to move the JAWS cursor from that location to read another area of the screen.
Additionally, you may also find that other types of pop up information appear as the JAWS cursor is moved. The Windows operating system automatically performs these actions or events. You have no control over when these actions or events occur. For example, hovering the JAWS cursor over a submenu opens the submenu. You may have heard the term "mouse over," which refers to moving the mouse cursor over an object to get information or additional options. Mouse over events are controlled by Windows and the different apps within Windows.
In the table below, the commands are in the first column, the laptop keystrokes are in the second column, and desktop keystrokes are in column three.
| Command | Laptop Keystroke | Desktop Keystroke |
|---|---|---|
| JAWS cursor | CAPS LOCK+P | NUM PAD MINUS |
| PC cursor | CAPS LOCK+SEMICOLON | NUM PAD PLUS |
| Route JAWS to PC | CAPS LOCK+LEFT BRACKET | INSERT+NUM PAD MINUS |
| Left Mouse button | CAPS LOCK+8 | NUM PAD SLASH |
| Right Mouse button | CAPS LOCK+9 | NUM PAD STAR |
Please allow [07:26] to watch the short instructional demonstration on using the JAWS cursor before continuing to the next topic.
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