| JAWS for Windows is a software program for | | | | Ted Henter and Rex Skipper wrote the original JAWS |
| visually impaired computer users produced by | | | | code in the mid-1980s, releasing version 2.0 in 1990. |
| Freedom Scientific in Florida, USA. | | | | When Skipper left the company, Charles Oppermann |
| JAWS for Windows allows visually impaired people to | | | | was hired to maintain and improve the JAWS |
| use any of the applications on a computer by | | | | program. |
| converting the text displayed on a screen, into speech | | | | Oppermann and Henter continually added minor and |
| or, to a refreshable Braille display. | | | | major features and frequently released new versions |
| JAWS for Windows was originally called JAWS (Job | | | | of JAWS. Freedom Scientific now offer JAWS for |
| Access With Speech). JAWS Version 1.0 was | | | | MS-DOS as a freeware download from their web site. |
| released in 1989 by Ted Henter, a former motorcycle | | | | In the early 1990s, Microsoft Windows became more |
| racer who lost his sight in a 1978 car accident. | | | | popular and Oppermann started to design a new |
| In 1985, Henter along with Bill Joyce, founded the | | | | version of JAWS. A principle design goal was to |
| Henter-Joyce Corporation in St. Petersburg, Florida. | | | | maintain the natural user interface of Windows and to |
| Joyce sold his interest in the company back to Ted | | | | continue to provide a strong macro facility. It was |
| Henter sometime in 1990. | | | | around this time that JAWS was renamed JAWS for |
| JAWS was created for computer users who used | | | | Windows (JFW) and Beta versions of JAWS for |
| the DOS (Disk Operated System). A unique feature of | | | | Windows went on show and were demonstrated at |
| the JAWS program, was its use of cascading menus | | | | many conferences throughout 1993 and 1994. |
| in the style of the popular Lotus 1-2-3 application. | | | | During this time developer Glen Gordon started |
| A significant distinction of JAWS to that of other | | | | working on the JAWS for Windows code, ultimately |
| screen readers of that era, was its use of macros. | | | | taking over its development when Oppermann was |
| Macros allowed users to customise the user interface | | | | hired by Microsoft in November of 1994 and in January |
| and so work better with numerous computer | | | | 1995, JAWS for Windows 1.0 was released. |
| applications. | | | | |