All:

First, if you have a braille display with JAWS, then you can press Ctrl+spacebar, s to silence the JAWS voice (it's a toggle, meaning that repeating the command will turn the voice back on) and using the braille display only inside Zoom.

If you don't have a braille display, one thing you can try is purchasing a directional microphone and plugging that into your computer (I got mine from amazon.com). These mics are a little more expensive than the standard lavalier microphones that most people use, but they are supposed to block all sounds except those directly in front of the microphone.

Good luck.

--
Ted Chittenden

Every story has at least two sides, if not more.

-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Ana G
Sent: Saturday, March 6, 2021 6:59 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] Best way to separate the Zoom and desktop computer audio?

I think the topic of Zoom with screen readers is complicated. I use Zoom at work with a headset and microphone, and other people still hear the screen reader.


The version of Windows 10 I'm running at work is not current, so Narrator is buggier. On that version of Narrator, I don't have the option to send the screen reader to a different sound card.


Mostly I use NVDA with Zoom at work, and after much searching, I finally found the commands for changing The soundcard for NVDA. The command is 
NVDA+ctrl+s, then tab once. I'll have an opportunity to try it next week.


At home, I've experimented with Jaws and the Soundcard settings, which 
are located in the Jaws Utility menu. Sometimes it works, but not always.


The long and the short of it is that I suspect some behavior is 
determined by the host.


To make my life easier I do the following:


Sometimes, I turn the screen reader off once I'm in the session. This 
isn't idea, especially if I have to keep track of things like chats, but 
sometimes it's more practicable.


Sometimes I just prepare to tap the ctrl button as needed. I've found 
that some screen-reader chatter is not unwelcome. For example, many 
people don't mind hearing that someone came or left the meeting. But a 
lot of screen reader chatter is disruptive, so I tap the ctrl key 
frequently.


Most of the time, I use the headset controls to mute myself. I have a 
Logitech; I think it's an H540. I hit the headset mute button as soon as 
I know I'm in the call. Then I can explore the screen, adjust settings, 
and listen to my screen reader all I want. When it's time for me to 
speak, I unmute using the headset and immediately tap the ctrl key to 
stop people from hearing that I'm unmuted.


What I do depends on the specific situation.


On 3/5/2021 10:59 PM, Albert Ruel wrote:
> Zoom meetings done with a screen reader should always have a headset and microphone, either built-in or separate. It’s the only way to isolate the screen reader sound from your voice input.
>
> Thx, Albert
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Mar 5, 2021, at 6:40 AM, Duane Farrar <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> I have a Windows 10 desktop PC computer running JAWS 2021 as my screen reader. I have a USB webcam that also acts as my microphone. It is mounted on top of my 23-inch display screen. On either side of the display screen are my separate speakers for the computer's audio output. These are connected to and powered by a separate sub-woofer box underneath my desk. These speakers connect to the computer's sound card in the back of the desktop box via a standard 3.5 MM jack. There are also available jacks for speakers/headphones and microphones on the front of the desktop unit.
>
> When I am connected to a Zoom session my webcam microphone will pick up the computer speaker audio and this is often problematic when I am trying to use JAWS to navigate around the screen or JAWS is reporting things that are happening on the screen, such as a new user joining the meeting or updates in the chat and Q&A areas. Everyone else connected to the meeting can also hear this audio output so I usually have to mute my computer unless I need to speak, which can be a real annoyance, especially in an animated discussion with friends.
>
> How have others solved this problem? Should I acquire a pair of headphones with a built-in microphone, or even a separate USB microphone? Can I route the JAWS output to the headphones and other computer audio to the external speakers? What are your recommendations?
>
> Thanks,
> Duane
>
>
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