Leasey, (which functions in conjunction with the JAWS for Windows screen-reader from
Freedom Scientific), is the world’s first application ideal for people wishing to learn computing through to the power user.
From everyday simple tasks such as writing a letter or Email, to tools for study or leisure reading, from searching for (and listening to) books, to hearing your favourite music or the radio,
Leasey has a host of tools, utilities and services to offer the computer beginner to the advanced user. Every JAWS user should have Leasey!
Leasey uses mainstream applications, adapted to make them accessible for everyone, no matter your computing ability.
You’re not restricted to using a specially designed interface, making it possible to use a computer belonging to family and friends.
If your computer knowledge expands, you do not need an alternative technology product. Leasey is right with you, every step of the way!
What is Leasey Basic?
Have you just purchased your first computer and don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, computing doesn’t have to be complicated!
Leasey makes it easy for new computer users to access (and work with) frequently used programs.
- Through a simple and easy-to-use menu system, with Leasey you can write documents, manage your Email, read (and search for) your talking books, hear radio stations, talk to your friends on Skype, work with an address book, keep track of appointments, hear music files and CD’s, stream music on Spotify, use iTunes, surf the web, tweet on Twitter, friend people on Facebook, and much more! Leasey makes tasks simple!
- Now We’re Talking! Leasey’s female guidance voice is human and not synthetic. She is your friend and will talk you through the menus and give you help when you need it most, introducing you to synthetic speech gradually.
- I Need Some Help! No problem. Not sure what to do at any time? Help is always at hand. Press a keystroke and Leasey will tell you what to do next.
- One key to go forward, another to go back. When in a program, through her menu system Leasey will give you the options you are likely to need most. Press Enter to go into a menu, Escape to go back. In Leasey’s menus, when writing text, apply bold or underlining, Find and Replace, insert today’s date, and more. You can even create a letter with address templates. When composing Email, create or reply to a message, read it or send.
- Where do I Start! Leasey’s Getting Started audio DAISY guide teaches you how to use Leasey from the time you switch on your computer.
I’m Already a JAWS User – Why Would I Need Leasey?
Meet Leasey Advanced! Leasey Advanced provides you with a sophisticated set of tools to use your computer efficiently, saving you time and making life easier.
So, as you grow in confidence, there’s still a lot she can do for you.
- Leasey Select – easily select (or highlight) text within supported applications without holding multiple keys.
- LeaseyTexts – reproduce phrases or paragraphs within seconds by selecting them from a convenient list.
- LeaseyNotes – create quick notes and store them under categories.
- LeaseyCuts – locate folders, web pages and documents with incredible speed.
- Leasey Points – easily find important passages in documents or web pages.
- LeaseyAlerts – set alerts to automatically focus on important parts of websites.
- LeaseyTags – move, copy, or delete files and folders in File Explorer all at once. Tagged files can also create audio playlists.
- LeaseySearch – quickly access news sources, weather forecasts, RSS feeds, podcasts, recipes, holidays, YouTube, Amazon, and eBay.
- LeaseyDiary – a simple, easy-to-use calendar to keep track of appointments.
- LeaseyClock – stopwatch, countdown timer, alarms, and customisable Westminster chimes.
- LeaseyAudio – create and manage playlists, listen to music, control playback, and even create CDs.
- LeaseyRadio – listen to 80,000 radio stations and set favourites and presets.
- LeaseySpotify – use Spotify easily to listen to songs, create playlists, and explore artists.
- Utilities – manage mapped drives, start menus and notifications.
- Social – manage Mastodon contacts, or use scripts for X and WhatsApp with productivity features.
- Create HTML or Markdown text easily with Leasey’s tools.
- Use ChatGPT in a highly accessible way.
- Keep updated with your favourite sports teams through Leasey Sports and Games.
- Shortcut Keys – logical and easy to press; learn them via Hotkey Help.
- Internet Updating – Leasey can update itself quickly via the internet.
- Great Documentation – see the product documentation for full details and training.
We’ve only just scratched the surface of the productivity features and application enhancements Leasey offers.
What’s the Difference Between Leasey Total Package and Advanced?
It’s quite simple. Leasey Advanced contains everything the product offers, except the human-narrated speech, menus for complete computer beginners and the DAISY book described below.
If you like to learn through audio however, and you use Leasey Advanced, consider reviewing our
LeaseyBite Audio Tutorials.
You can also purchase our Leasey training course.
In summary, if you are a JAWS user already, you’ll almost certainly want Leasey Advanced.
What Would You Like to Do? The Leasey Audio Tutorial for Computer Beginners
It doesn’t matter how easy a piece of software is to use. If you’ve never worked with a computer before, you will be concerned that you might make a mistake.
You will not know even basic concepts such as how to edit text, what the subject line of an Email message means, or why web pages contain links and headings.
Obtaining quality computer training for many people is simply out of reach financially. But that does not lessen the need for a person to have it.
That is why Leasey Total Package contains an audio tutorial which aims to encourage people to get to grips with computing concepts within the context of Leasey!
Co-Designer of Leasey Brian Hartgen has been teaching visually impaired people how to use the computer for close to 30 years, in the workplace, educational settings and within organisations concerned with rehabilitation.
This is especially important since the concept of this audio tutorial is all about encouraging people to learn computing with a screen-reader for the very first time.
Brian gently guides listeners through the tasks many people will want to achieve with a computer.
The guide (containing over 4 hours of training) is divided into 15 chapters with sub-headings.
Using a DAISY talking book player, it can be worked through systematically or used as a reference tool.
The DAISY book is ideal for playing in Voice Dream Reader, and many hardware and software digital talking book players.
DAISY means it’s easy to set bookmarks in the book to come back to things you want to check out again.
The free FSReader built into JAWS will also play the DAISY book. FSReader (which interacts directly with Leasey) is an ideal tool if you want to follow along with the book on your PC.
Its universally accessible play/pause feature, accessed by pressing Control+P, means you can pause the tutorial without leaving the application in which you are working.
Purchasers of Leasey Total Package will have access to this useful resource which has 64 headings and two levels of navigation, so you can easily search for what you want quickly!
Table of Contents
- Introduction.
- Introducing the screen-reader, Leasey and the computer keyboard.
- Getting to Know Leasey – switching on, menus, help, and navigation.
- Creating a Document – naming, typing, saving, and closing.
- Working with Documents – open, delete, insert, and edit text.
- Selecting Text – selecting, cutting, copying, and pasting.
- Final Word Processing Features – fonts, printing, date insertion, spell check, and letters.
- LeaseyConnect – creating, modifying, and deleting connections.
- Using Email – composing, managing, and creating LeaseyConnect entries from mail.
- The LeaseyClock – stopwatch, timer, alarm, and chimes.
- The LeaseyDiary – creating, viewing, and deleting appointments.
- LeaseyRadio – stations, favourites, presets, and the top 10.
- LeaseyAudio – creating, managing, and deleting playlists.
- Using the Internet – overview, Google search, tips, saving and browsing with LeaseyCuts.
- Getting Help – Leasey Central, remote support, updates, and documentation.