Basic tasks using a screen reader with Skype for mobile

You can read also these Article:

 Skype for Windows 

 Skype for Mac 

Using Skype with a screen reader is a very useful program for people who have visual impairments, and this article is part of the Skype Accessibility content set that is available for people with disabilities. Visit the Skype Support home page if you are looking for more general assistance.

It is necessary to have a screen reader installed on your device in order to be able to sign in to Skype so that you are able to communicate with others (VoiceOver on iOS devices, TalkBack on Android devices). In addition to being able to make calls, you can also send messages using instant messaging (IM), and do more. I hope you will find the information you need to use Skype with the latest version of the program in this article. If you would like to learn more about how to update Skype, please visit How do I update Skype?

Notes:

• If you are reading this article on your Android phone or iPhone, please assume that you are reading it on that device. There might be some differences in the way gestures and navigation are handled on an Android tablet or an iPad compared to how they are handled on a desktop computer.
• There is a presumption in this article that you are using either TalkBack (for Android) or VoiceOver (for iOS).
• Visit What accessibility features are available for Skype if you are interested in learning more about this feature.

 

Open Skype and sign in

Sign in to Skype for the first time

It will be necessary for you to sign in or create an account on Skype once you have downloaded it from the App Store or Google Play Store. The following steps need to be followed if you previously signed in to Skype, but you chose not to have your device remember your settings when you logged out. The following steps need to be followed if you are in that situation.

1. When you are on your home screen, swipe right to hear “Skype,” then double-tap the screen until the Skype app opens up.
   In the case of multiple home screens, you can quickly switch between them by swiping left or right with three fingers if you have more than one.
2. As soon as you open Skype for the first time, swipe right until you hear the message “Let’s go.” Double-tap the screen when the window appears to open Skype.
   • You will no longer hear “Let’s go” after you have signed out a few times. Instead, you will hear “Sign in or create,” which should be heard after you have swiped right a few times.
3. In the text box on the right side of the screen, you will be asked to enter your Skype name, email address, or phone number. Once you hear this message, double click the screen and type your Skype name, email address, or phone number into the box. Then double-tap the screen after you have swiped right until you hear the phrase “Next.”.
   • In addition, it is possible to create a new account by swiping left until the message “Create a Microsoft account” appears, and then hitting Enter after the message appears.
4. Password is the field that needs to be focused on now. You can use the keyboard on the screen to type your password in. Secondly, you have to double click the screen until “Sign in” appears on the screen, then you have to swipe right until “Sign in” appears, then you are ready to start using it.
5. The theme selection dialog will appear shortly after you hear “Choose your theme,” and then you should swipe right again when you have chosen the theme that you would like to apply, as soon as you hear “Choose your theme.”. To select the theme, double-tap the screen once you have heard the theme you wish to select. Double-tap the screen when you hear the message “Continue.” Swipe right until you hear it.
6. Upon tapping the right side of the screen, a “Find Contacts Easy” dialog will appear after you swipe right to hear the Contacts dialog. While you are listening to the Contacts dialog, you can choose to skip it if you do not wish to add contacts, or you can swipe right if you do wish to add them. Press and hold the screen twice.
7. As part of the installation process of Skype, you may be asked to select the initial settings for the program, such as whether or not you want to show notifications, whether you want to use your microphone, or whether or not you want to use your camera during the installation process. Swipe left or right to move through the dialog box. Double-tapping the screen will allow you to select one of the buttons.

The Skype sign-in process has now been completed. More information about how to log out of Skype can be found in the section of this article titled “How to Log Out of Skype”.

Sign in to Skype once you’ve signed out

If you sign in to Skype for the first time, you will not have to sign in again until you specifically select to sign out of Skype the next time you open Skype so make sure to take note of this fact once you have signed in to Skype for the first time. If you had selected to keep your account settings while you were signed out of Skype, then it will always allow you to sign in with your previous account when you are signed out of Skype. You should be able to hear the name of your account on the Sign in screen after you swipe right, so double click on the screen when you hear that name.

By using a different account, you only have to swipe right until you hear the words “Use a different account” and then double tap the screen until you hear your new account name appear on the screen. If the Skype name, email or phone you want to use is not available, click or swipe right until you hear “Next.” Once you hear that, double-tap the screen. Password is the next field to be focused on, and this is where the focus will be. On the screen you will find a keyboard on which you can type your password. Double tap the screen once you have completed the sign-in process on the right side of the screen. If Skype decides that you want to show notifications to your contacts, an initial settings dialog may appear. You will need to select this option. By swiping right or left, you will be able to move through the dialog. You can select a button by double-tapping the screen in order to select it.

Find a contact

1. You can search for people, groups, and messages in Skype by swiping left or right on the main screen until you hear “Search for people, groups, and messages,” and then do a double-tap on the screen.
2. In the middle of the screen there is a small rectangle that contains the on-screen keyboard. You can use the keyboard if it is necessary to type the name or the e-mail address of your contact, or if it is necessary to type their phone number. As you type, a screen reader will announce how many search results have been found.
3. The results screen opens when you swipe left after typing a name or a status, and you will be able to see the name and status of the person you are looking for the moment you reach the results screen.
4. When you double-tap the screen, the contact card of the person will appear on your screen. With the contact card, you will be able to check the person’s availability, schedule a video conference call, an audio conference call, or a chat session with the person. Swiping right or left will allow you to browse through the contact card.

Make and answer a call

It is common for people to hear their phones ring when they receive a call. When you receive a call, you need to swipe right on the screen until you hear the words “Accept” and then double-tap the screen to answer the call.

You can make a call by following these steps:

1. If you want to call a particular person through Skype, you need to open their contact card. For instructions, please refer to the section Find a contact, above.
2. After hearing one of the two notifications, either “Video call” or “Audio call,” double tap the screen as soon as you hear the notification, and you will then be able to initiate the video or audio call.
   
   When the call is in progress, you can end it by swiping right until you hear “End call,” and then double-tapping the screen to close the call.

Chat via IM

1. The first step in chatting with someone is to open up their contact card in Skype. If you need instructions, please refer to the Find a contact section above.
2. Whenever you hear the message “Type a message” on the screen, double-tap the screen and then swipe right until you hear the message “Type a message.” A keyboard will appear on the screen and you will be able to type your message.
3. In order to send the message, you need to swipe left until you hear the words “Send message,” and then double-tap the screen to initiate the sending process. Any messages you receive will be read aloud to you by your screen reader. In this case, the focus will be returned to the message insertion field so that you can continue typing your message in the message insertion field.
   
   You can return to your previous view at any time by double tapping the screen after you have finished your chat, or you can swipe left until you hear the words “Back” on the screen.

Leave Skype by signing out

1. Double-tap the screen while you are in the Skype main view until you hear the phrase “My info,” and then swipe to the left until you hear the phrase again.
2. Then you will need to double tap the screen until you hear the message “Sign out” after repeatedly swiping right. It is important to note that once you sign out of Skype, you will receive the message “Remember account and application settings on this device?”. If you want to make sure that Skype remembers your account settings and applications settings when you sign out, simply swipe right until you hear either the “Yes” or the “No” buttons. It is then necessary to double tap the screen to confirm your decision after you have made your choice.

Technical support for customers with disabilities

It is very important to Microsoft that our customers have the best experience possible. The Microsoft Disability Answer Desk is available to assist you with technical support if you have questions or concerns about accessibility due to a disability. Our support team at Disability Answer Desk is part of a large network of professionals who are specifically trained to use a variety of popular assistive technologies. We are available to provide assistance in English, Spanish, French, as well as American Sign Language. In order to find out the contact details for your region, you should visit the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk website.

Frequently Asked Questions 

 

How do I share my screen on Skype Android?

1. You can select the desktop or web version of the application. By clicking on the sharing button, you will be able to select a screen that you would like to share with others. …
2. You can use the more button on your Android device to open the more options, then tap on the. There is a button that allows you to share your screen.
3. On iPhones and iPads, you need to tap on the more button followed by the. The sharing button is located on the bottom of the screen.