
GLOSSARY
Active Window _ (Windows Term) Top-most window. A 
window which is not currently obscured by any other 
windows, and which has a highlighted title.
Application Window _ (Windows Term) see Parent Window.
Application _ (Windows Term) A program, such as a 
spreadsheet or word processor.
ARROW Keys _ Usually located between the numeric keypad 
and the main keyboard. These are four keys used by 
Windows and other applications to shift focus within a 
window or dialog box. These keys are also used to move 
the caret within editable text. 
Attribute_ A visual enhancement of text, such as 
highlight, bold, or underline, serving to differentiate 
it from other text of the same font.
Automatic Graphics_ (oSW Feature) When this feature is 
turned on, outSPOKEN will automatically speak any icons 
or symbols as they are drawn to the screen.
Automatic Text_ (oSW Feature) When this feature is 
turned on, outSPOKEN will automatically speak any text 
as it is drawn to the screen.
Bitmap_ A computer's way of storing a picture such as 
an icon or symbol.
Bit depth _ A term related to the number of colors that 
can be displayed on the screen. Higher bit depths mean 
that more colors can be shown. 
Bottom _ (oSW Key, KPD 3) Located on this key are the 
commands BOTTOM OF WINDOW and READ REST OF WINDOW.
Button _ A picture of a button which, when clicked on, 
will perform an operation or adjust a setting.
Caret _ The text insertion, or "application," cursor. A 
cursor which keeps track of the location where new text 
will be inserted.
Check Box _ A control which can appear to be either 
checked or un-checked. Usually used for settings that 
have only two states: on and off.
Child Window _ (Windows Term) A window without a menu 
bar, which appears inside a larger window (e.g., a 
document window inside a word processor).
Click _ (KPD 5) The act of placing the pointer on an 
object and pressing the mouse button or outSPOKEN's 
SELECT key (KPD 5).
Combo Box _ (Windows term) A control (usually found in 
a dialog box) which has its current setting listed in 
it. Clicking in the combo box pops up a list of other 
available settings for that control, similar to a menu. 
This list is called a combo list box. 
Combo Button _ A small graphic inside a combo box which 
looks like a downward-pointing arrow. Clicking on this 
symbol opens the combo list box to reveal the possible 
settings for that control.
Combo List Box _ The list of options which is shown 
when a combo box is opened. Combo list boxes are 
frequently scrollable. Making a selection from a combo 
list box closes the list. 
Command Line Installer _ (oSW Feature) The method of 
installing outSPOKEN which allows the user to specify 
all parameters at once, instead of responding to 
questions about the hardware configuration.
Command Line _ A DOS term meaning anything typed in 
response to a DOS prompt.
Control _ A button, check box, combo box, list box, or 
other object which can be manipulated to change a 
setting or perform a function. Controls are most 
frequently found in dialog boxes. 
Control Menu_(Windows Feature) A symbol located in the 
upper-left corner of most windows which is used to re-
size or move the entire window.
Current Window _ (oSW Term) The window containing the 
pointer. 
Cursor _ An object (such as a pointer or caret) which 
can be moved by means of a mouse or keyboard commands, 
and which represents a means of manipulating text or 
graphics. 
Def Button _ The "default" button. The button that will 
be selected if the oENTER key is pressed. 
Desktop _ The virtual surface on which all windows are 
opened, closed, and moved. When all windows are closed, 
the desktop remains.
Dialog Box _ A type of window which prompts the user 
for some kind of input (e.g., when saving a file, the 
user will be prompted for a file name by a dialog).
Dimmed _ A text attribute indicating that an item or 
control is not currently available for use (frequently 
seen in menus and dialog boxes).
Double-click _ Two clicks of the mouse, or outSPOKEN 
SELECT key (KPD 5), in rapid succession.
Down _ (oSW Key, KPD 2) Located on this key are the 
commands NEXT LINE, BOTTOM EDGE, and POINTER DOWN.
Drag _ Holding the mouse button down while moving the 
pointer with the mouse or outSPOKEN direction keys. 
DRAG is also an outSPOKEN Key (KPD 9). Located on this 
key is the command MOUSE BUTTON DOWN/UP.
Edit Box _ A field (often in a dialog box) into which 
text can be typed.
Error Tones _ (oSW Feature) A series of three or more 
low tones emitted by outSPOKEN's installer, indicating 
a problem.
Event _ An occurrence on the screen such as a new 
window opening or a pointer changing shape.
Find _ (oSW Key, KPD 1) Located on this key are the 
commands FIND TEXT/GRAPHIC, FIND CARET, and FIND 
HIGHLIGHT.
Focus Voice _ (oSW Term) The voice outSPOKEN uses to 
speak the newly highlighted item as the focus changes. 
Focus _ The currently highlighted item, or active 
window. 
Font _ A type style. There are many different fonts, 
each coming in a variety of sizes (point size), and 
each having a unique name and appearance. 
Graphic Voice _ (oSW Term) The voice outSPOKEN uses to 
speak the names of icons and symbols as they are read.
Graphic _ A picture of any size. Icons and symbols are 
graphics, as are larger images.
Group Box _ (Windows Term) A rectangle that encloses 
controls and/or text that belong together in a dialog 
box.
Highlight _ A text attribute (usually appearing as 
inverse) used to indicate an item which has been 
selected to be launched or used.
Hotkey _ (Windows Term) A key combination which 
performs an action, such as opening a menu or selecting 
a button.
Hour Glass _ (Windows Term) The shape of the pointer 
when Windows is busy computing or accessing the disk.
I-Bar _ The shape of the pointer when it is on top of 
text which can be edited. Clicking the mouse will 
position the caret at the position of the I-bar.
Icon _ A graphic thirty-two pixels square or larger, 
usually having a text label below it, and often 
representing a file or application.
Info _ (oSW Key, KPD PERIOD) Located on this key are 
the commands FONT/GRAPHIC INFO, WHERE IN WINDOW, and 
WHERE ON SCREEN.
Insertion Point _ See Caret.
Interactive Installer _ (oSW Feature) The method of 
installing outSPOKEN which allows the user to respond 
to questions about the hardware configuration.
Keypad _ See outSPOKEN Keys.
Left _ (oSW Key, KPD 4) Located on this key are the 
commands PREVIOUS WORD, PREVIOUS CHARACTER, LEFT EDGE, 
and POINTER LEFT.
Maximize _ (Windows Term) re-sizing a window to fill 
all available space.
Menu Bar _ A row of menu headings along the top edge of 
an application's parent window.
Menu _ A list of commands or choices, usually presented 
in a window that is "pulled down" from the menu bar by 
clicking on the menu's title. 
Minimize _ (Windows Term) Re-sizing a window to the 
size of an icon, so none of its contents are visible 
except the title.
Modifier Keys _ Keys which are pressed in conjunction 
with, and which change the meaning of, other keys. The 
most common modifier keys are SHIFT, ALT, and CTRL. 
Mouse Click _ (oSW Command, KPD 5) outSPOKEN's command 
emulating the click of a mouse button. This key, 
located on the numeric keypad, often has a small raised 
mark on it for easy identification. See also SELECT 
key.
Navigation _ See Pointer Navigation.
outSPOKEN Keys _ (oSW Term) The numeric keypad, located 
on the right end of most keyboards, where outSPOKEN 
commands are found. 
Parent Window _ (Windows Term) Also called an 
"Application Window." A window which contains a menu 
bar, as well as one or more smaller windows.
Pixel _ A single dot of color on a screen. All images 
and text are constructed on the screen by combining 
many pixels in the proper shape and color. 
Pointer _ The mouse cursor. The pointer moves in a 
corresponding direction when the mouse is moved, and 
changes shape to convey information about the state of 
the system, and the object being pointed to. outSPOKEN 
uses the pointer as a screen review cursor. 
Pointer Navigation _ The ability to move the mouse 
pointer with outSPOKEN commands and read the items that 
the pointer moves to.
Progress Tones _ (oSW Feature) An ascending series of 
tones generated by outSPOKEN's installer, which provide 
feedback about how far the installation procedure has 
progressed. 
Prompt Tones _ (oSW Feature) Two quick tones requesting 
user input_first low, then high_generated by 
outSPOKEN's installer.
Radio Button _ A type of button, occurring only in 
groups of two or more, only one of which can be "on" at 
a time. Selecting an inactive radio button will 
activate it and deactivate the one which was previously 
selected.
Rename Graphics _ (oSW Feature, CTRL-KPD PLUS) The 
outSPOKEN dialog in which icons, symbols, and pointers 
can be named and re-named. 
Restore _ (Windows Term) Resize a window such that it 
is neither minimized nor maximized.
Right _ (oSW Key, KPD 6) Located on this key are the 
commands NEXT WORD, NEXT CHARACTER, RIGHT EDGE, and 
POINTER RIGHT.
Scroll Bar _ A graphical control (usually along the 
edge of a window or control) which allows the user to 
view obscured portions of a document or list which is 
larger than the area of the window in which it is 
displayed. 
Select _ To highlight something, such as a control, 
file, or program item. Selections can be made by using 
hotkeys, by placing the pointer on an object and 
clicking with the mouse button, or by pressing 
outSPOKEN's SELECT key (KPD 5).
SELECT Key _ SELECT is an outSPOKEN Key (KPD 5). 
Located on this key is the command MOUSE CLICK.
Speak Focus _ (oSW Feature) outSPOKEN's ability to 
announce controls, menu items, and other objects as 
they gain focus or become highlighted.
Static Text _ (Windows Term) Text in a dialog box which 
is not part of a control and which cannot be edited.
Sub-dialog _ A dialog box which is produced by pressing 
a button in another dialog box (e.g., the outSPOKEN 
Preferences dialog has eight sub-dialogs). 
Symbol _ (oSW Term) A graphic which is smaller than 
thirty-two pixels square.
System Voice _ (oSW Term) The voice used by outSPOKEN 
to announce actions and events (e.g., when the user 
presses TOP, outSPOKEN moves the pointer to the top of 
the window and says "Top" in the System Voice).
Text Voice _ (oSW Term) The voice outSPOKEN uses to 
read text. 
Title Bar _ A line at the top of most windows 
containing a title describing the window and its 
contents.
Toggle _ A feature or setting which can be turned on 
and off with the same command. A feature which toggles 
turns on the first time the command is issued, and off 
when it is issued again. 
Top _ (oSW Key, KPD 7) Located on this key are the 
commands TOP OF WINDOW, MENU BAR, CONTROL MENU - CHILD 
WINDOW, and CONTROL MENU - PARENT WINDOW.
Top Window_(oSW command, KPD SLASH) Moves the pointer 
to the top of the active window. 
Track Focus _ (oSW Feature) outSPOKEN's ability to move 
the pointer to controls, menu items, and other objects 
as they gain focus, or are highlighted. See Focus.
Up _ (oSW Key, KPD 8) Located on this key are the 
commands PREVIOUS LINE, TOP EDGE, and POINTER UP.
Where _ (oSW Command, SHIFT-CTRL-KPD PERIOD) This 
outSPOKEN command tells the user where the pointer is 
located. With SHIFT and CTRL, the location with respect 
to the upper-left corner of the screen is given; with 
CTRL, the position is given with respect to the upper-
left corner of the current window.
Window _ A generic term, meaning any bordered rectangle 
on the screen into which text and/or graphics can be 
drawn. WINDOW is also an outSPOKEN Key (KPD SLASH). 
Located on this key are the commands TOP WINDOW, WINDOW 
MENU, and WINDOW NAME.
Windows Menu _ (oSW Feature, SHIFT-KPD SLASH) This 
outSPOKEN command opens a menu of currently visible 
parent windows. If any of these windows have child 
windows, there will be a sub-menu listing them. 
Selecting a window from the outSPOKEN Windows Menu 
places the pointer in it. Another Click then activates 
that window.



