Guide
Computer Numpad Part 2: NVDA Review Cursor Video Tutorial
Become a NVDA tech power user with numpad commands and the Review Cursor!
To become a tech “power user” with a screen reader, the student must fully embrace keyboard commands, including numpad key commands. In previous posts, we learned about different numpad keyboard layouts (Computer Numpad Part 1: Learning Numpad post) and activities to introduce numpad layouts (Learning Numeric Keypad Layout: Activities post). In this post, we will learn how to use NVDA’s Review Cursor and the corresponding numpad commands.
System Caret and Review Cursor
Learning to use a screen reader can be confusing! Using and understanding the terms is the critical first step to unraveling the screen reader mystery. Here are two terms that you need to know for this activity!
- System Caret: The blinking cursor that allows you to navigate, highlight and select text. It is also used when it is possible to insert or edit text.
- Review Cursor: A blinking cursor that allows you to read text without moving the focus of the system caret. The review cursor is beneficial, as it allows the student to review the content without losing his/her editing position. Example: If the student is editing a document, he/she can move through the content on the screen by character, word or line, while the system caret stays in the original position. This enables the student to check or find an error and have the ability to jump back to the original position.
NVDA numpad hints
NVDA has keyboard commands (for laptops without numpad keys) and associated numpad commands (for desktops or laptops with numpad keys). The numpad keys are more efficient typically requiring only one key to press, easy to remember commands and users can quickly navigate content using the numpad keys input.
Note: Users with physical issues or those who struggle to press multiple keys simultaneously, often benefit from using the numpad commands.
Remember, the numpad keys on a computer keyboard have 1, 2, 3 across the bottom.
NVDA has organized the commands by rows:
- Numbers in the top row: Review text by line
- Numbers in the middle row: Review text by word
- Numbers in the bottom row: Review text by character
Order of the left to right key in each row:
- Left key in row: Previous
- Middle key in row: Current
- Last key in row: Next
Review Cursor Commands
The “NVDA” key is the Insert Key. NVDA can also be configured to use the Capslock key as the NVDA key. Toggle caret moves review cursor on/off: NVDA + 6. Turn Number Lock off.
The NVDA Review Cursor Commands chart has three columns: the description (or action) of the command, the associated numpad command and the associated keyboard command.
Download the accessible NVDA Review Cursor Commands chart here.
Power User Tip: For all the keystrokes above, pressing them once will read the text as described. Pressing them twice quickly will read the text by a character. Pressing them three times quickly will read the text phonetically.
Video Tutorial
In the video below, Thee Quinn does an excellent job explaining and demonstrating the use of the NVDA Review Cursor.
by Diane Brauner
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