To grab the
latest copy of Skype 8, head over to the downloads section at
http://www.skype.com
You will need to
save the file to your computer then set it up. For Skype you
can use any of the following: Web cam with a built in
microphone, a plug in microphone for audio chats, computer
speakers so you can hear what they are saying, or a headset
with both a microphone and ear phones. You could always go old
school and just type on a keyboard and speakers if you prefer
to text chat.
Logging into
Skype
After Skype has
been installed to your computer, press the Windows start
button, then all apps, then Skype. You will hear NVDA say
Skype folder, then press the Enter key. It will open up. Press
the Enter key on the Skype menu and it will go to log you into
Skype as long as you enter your details correctly. You just
need to locate the Skype shortcut. You can also log in
from the Desktop.
If you do not
have a Skype account, you will need to create one. Follow the
on screen instructions to set up a new Skype account. If you
do have one already, it is just a matter of entering in your
Skype name and password to log into Skype.
You can get a
list of Skype 8 shortcuts from the following page https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA12025/what-are-hotkeys-and-how-do-i-use-them-in-skype
Alt + F will
bring up a drop down menu which includes the following: (for
example new group, new chat, new call, view profile, sign out
and quit).
While on a
contact in Skype you can use this shortcut to make a call
etcetera as mentioned above.
Ctrl + I
Open Notification panel
Ctrl + , Open app
settings
Ctrl + H Open
help in default browser
Ctrl + D Launch
main dial pad
Ctrl + N Start
new conversation
Ctrl + G New
group
Ctrl + F Search
for all contacts, messages and bots
Ctrl + Shift + S
Search within selected message
Alt + 1 Navigate
to recent chats
Alt + 2 Open
contacts
Alt + 3 Open
contact screen to bots
Ctrl + O
Send feedback
Ctrl + R Refresh
the app
Ctrl + T Open
themes
Ctrl + Shift + T
Toggle between light and dark mode
Use Alt + V to
bring up the View menu to zoom in, out, or return to actual
size
Ctrl + Shift + =
Zoom in
Ctrl + - Zoom out
Ctrl + 0 for
actual size
Use the View
button to zoom in, out, or return to actual size
Up arrow after
sending a message. Edit the last message sent
Ctrl + P Show
conversation profile
Ctrl + Shift + A
Add people to conversation
Ctrl + Shift + U
Mark as unread
Ctrl + Shift + K
Start a video call
Ctrl + Shift + P
Start an audio call
Ctrl + Shift + F
Send a file
Enter Start a PSTN call
Ctrl + Shift + G
Open gallery
Ctrl + S Take a
snapshot
Ctrl + E Hang up
Ctrl + M Toggle
mute
Down Arrow Select
the next message in the chat list
Up Arrow Select
the previous message in the chat
The Skype 8
interface is like a web page and can be jumped around with
NVDA’s quick navigation keys. Some examples are H for
headings, B for buttons, E for edit areas, F for form fields,
K for links, and U for unvisited links.
Putting the Shift
key + that letter will take you in reverse.
The down and up
arrow keys can also be used.
The Ctrl key +
Home key will take you to the top of the page while the Ctrl
key + End key will take you to the bottom of the page.
The Enter key
will take you into a section; while in most cases the Escape
key will get you out unless there is a close button (depending
on where NVDA is focused).
Pressing the
Enter key (or the spacebar) on a button will bring up a new
section.
The Shift key or
Tab key might be used as well.
You will need to
change between focus mode (where you can type in edit areas)
and browse mode (where you can use single letter navigation
keys in some areas to see the extra options).
A. Profile -
Access and personalize your settings.
B. Notifications
- Catch up on reactions, and @mentions, or jump right back
into a conversation.
C. Contacts - See
your contacts, view who's active or invite people to Skype.
D. Call - Make
one-to-one or group calls or use the dial pad to call a mobile
or landline.
E. More - Access
your application, audio, and video settings.
Press the
Spacebar on this button and you will be given the following
sections. They are as follows: select a profile picture; your
name (which is your Skype name); tell your friends what you
are up to; your present status; share profile button; Skype
credit and subscriptions; applications settings button; audio
and video settings button; calling button; account and profile
button; money button; and language button. You also have
sections called Skype number get; add birthday button; colour
button; theme
button; help and feedback button; get Skype for mobile button;
about button; and a sign
out button. These appear all in one large drop down menu.
Just below your
profile is a menu submenu section called “more options”. You
can press the Spacebar on this to see the previous settings
(as mentioned before) such as applications settings, audio and
video settings, help and feedback, report a problem, rate us
and sign out.
Search Skype button
This is where you
would search for a Skype user. If there is more than one user
with the same name, you will have to go down the list to find
them.
1. Go to
Contacts.
2. Select the add
contact icon or click directly in the search text box and type
the name, Skype name or email of the person you want to add.
Click Search Skype.
3. Select your
friend from the search results and click Add to Contacts.
4. Type a quick
note to introduce yourself and then click Send.
The person is
added to your contact list, but will appear offline until they
accept your request. After they’ve accepted your request, you
can see when they’re online and make free voice and video
calls with them.
Use Dial pad
button
Under this
section (when you press the Enter key or Spacebar on it), it
will give you the following options: Countries and Regions
calling code, New Zealand, settings number calling, phone
number (which will have your area code already in there); then
it is a matter of just putting in your number, contacts
button, Skype to phone, add funds button, and just under this
will be the dial pad.
You can use your
down or up arrow keys to go through the numbers. Press the
Enter key or Spacebar on the ones you want.
If you then tab
to the call button, and press the Enter key, it will call that
number. There is also a clear phone number button (to remove
the whole number) but it is most probably quicker to do it in
the edit area (where you can put in a phone number) where the
area code is.
Press Alt + 2,
then arrow down. Just under the add a new contact button, you
will be given the following options. Tab here and you will see
all of your Skype contacts; Tab Skype all of your Skype
contacts, and tab Active now people who are online.
Under the
notifications section there are 4 tabs. One is the chat tab; 2
is the calls tab; 3 is the contacts tab and the fourth tab is
the notifications tab. You can use the arrow keys down or up
to go between these tabs.
Press the Enter
key on any of the tabs to go into that section. Then, it is a
matter of arrowing down to see what is in each section.
Press Alt + 1.
Locate the chat tab, then press the Enter key. Locate the chat
you want to delete, then press the applications key. A context
menu will come up, then you will be given some options (such
as add to favourites or block that person). Press the Enter
key on delete conversation. You will be asked to confirm that
you want to delete it; press the Enter key and now it will be
gone.
To export your
chat history, locate your profile then go to application
settings. Under this section, locate a heading called other,
then locate the Export chat history. Export it to where you
will be able to find it easily.
Under the
contacts tab will be a list of contacts on your list. If they
are on, they will have the word active next to their username;
otherwise they are not online.
Locate the person
you want to delete (under the contacts tab). The easiest way
is to jump down by buttons. Next, push the applications key
(or if you do not have one the Shift + F10 keys). A context
menu will come up. Arrow down to view profile, then press the
Enter key. It will give you a list of options. Tab down to
delete contact, then press the Enter key. It will come up with
a message and just say yes to it. Now your contact is deleted
from your contacts list.
Press the letter
B (for button) to jump down quickly to the use dial pad
button, then use the down arrow keys. There are the 4 tabs
that were mentioned before. Locate the contacts tab, then
press the Enter key. It will come up with a list of your
contacts that you have in Skype (below these tabs). Locate the
person you want. You can either arrow down or jump down
quicker by buttons and the names of your contacts will be
spoken out.
Before you get to
your contacts, you will hear NVDA say View menu, All and under
this section it will give you the option to add new contact,
or invite people to Skype.
This is after you have pressed the Enter key on the all
button.
Locate the
contact you want to speak to, then either press the Spacebar
or Enter key on the button, and you will be given some
options. You might have to arrow down the page to see the
extra options such as the persons profile, gallery button,
video calling, audio call button, create new group button, say
hi to the person with a wave, Open Emoticon picker, then an
edit area to type a message, Open Moji picker, add media or
files button, transfer money button, share your location
button, and addins button.
If it is a matter
of just doing an audio call, locate the audio call button,
then press the Enter key on it and it will start calling that
person.
The easiest way
to accept a call in Skype at present is to accept calls
automatically. Locate your profile button then press the
Spacebar. Go down the list until you get to the calling
button, then press the Spacebar. You will be given different
options under the “calling settings”.
These are the
Calling Settings:
Call forwarding
and voicemail, Disabled
Caller ID,
Disabled
Answer incoming
calls automatically
Start my video
automatically
Show call window
when Skype is in the background
Emergency Call
Set your default
country/region to check if Skype supports emergency calls in
your country/region.
Set your country
and region.
Make sure you
check the boxes for incoming calls with the Spacebar.
Verify Your Phone
Number. Help
friends find the right Gene more easily by adding your phone
number to your Microsoft...
Settings under
your Profile button
Setting up
your speakers, web cam or microphone/headset
To set up any of
these devices you will need to go to the following area in
Skype. Go to your profile button, then press the Spacebar.
When the next section opens up, either tab or arrow down until
you hear NVDA say audio and video settings, then press the
Enter key. There will be: a Make a free test call button,
Microphone button, Automatically adjust microphone settings
button, Speakers, Default communications device, Selected,
Change speaker volume slider, and Start audio test button.
Make sure your
items are plugged in correctly so that Skype can see them.