3.1 Single Window Design

Speaking Access uses one single window that reshapes itself depending on what the user is doing. It never opens extra windows, pop-ups, or toolbars. The program simply changes shape when switching tasks.

The different shapes include:

• Main Task Area
• Menu View
• Post Mode
• Spelling Mode
• Search Menu
• Access Help

Important: The changing size and shape is intentional, not a glitch. This design keeps things simple for blind and low-vision learners by avoiding window clutter.

Speaking Access has no buttons, no toolbars, no menus, and no clickable controls. Everything—every interaction—is done by voice only.

3.2 Always Listening Locally

Speaking Access listens continuously with no wake word, meaning the user does not have to say “Hey Access” or anything similar.

It works even if:

• The window is minimized
• Another program is in front
• The desktop is busy
• The user is switching between applications

Speech recognition runs 100% locally on the computer. No audio is uploaded, stored, or sent to the internet.

• No internet connection is required
• No dictation history is saved
• No commands or sentences are recorded

This protects privacy and keeps the system fast and predictable for daily use.

3.3 How to Focus Speaking Access

Understanding focus is the most important part of using Speaking Access.

Speaking Access acts on whatever program is currently active—just like a person sitting beside the user with a second keyboard.

5.1 Commands Only Work in the Correct Program

Commands change depending on what is in focus:

• When Edge is focused → browser commands work
• When WordPad is focused → document editing commands work
• When the desktop is focused → desktop commands work
• You cannot use browser commands in WordPad
• You cannot use document commands in the browser

Speaking Access does not “take focus” when the user speaks. It simply presses the correct shortcut keys for the program that is already open and active.

5.2 Post Mode and Focus

POST Mode is where users build and edit sentences before sending them into another program. There are two ways to use POST Mode.

Method 1 — Speaking Access Is in Focus

1. The Speaking Access window is active.
2. The user dictates into POST Mode (the preview area).
3. When finished, the user switches focus to the location where the text should go (WordPad, an email, a form, and so on).
4. The user says “Post” or “Access Post”.
5. The text is inserted at the blinking cursor.

This method is helpful for beginners because it keeps the dictation separate from the writing program.

Method 2 — The Target Program Is in Focus (Recommended)

This is the original, smoother workflow:

1. WordPad (or any other program) stays in focus the entire time.
2. The user speaks normally.
3. POST Mode collects the sentences in the background.
4. When ready, the user says “Post” or “Access Post.”
5. The text appears where the cursor is blinking.

This method is faster because the user never has to switch windows.

5.3 The Main Concept

Speaking Access always works with the window the user is currently using.

Voice commands only affect the program that is in front. POST Mode text is always sent to where the cursor is blinking when the user says “Post.”