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How do I enlarge the hint feature on iMac running macOS Sonoma?

Sonoma 14.6.1


Just trying to get the hang of Voice Control.



The hints feature is feature is useful but very small and disappears very quickly. Any way to make them bigger and stay visible for longer?


There also seems to be a problem with feedback between Typing Feedback to Voice Control. That is the Typing Feedback is picked up by Voice Control - can this be stopped?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Aug 28, 2024 8:00 AM

Reply
5 replies

Aug 28, 2024 11:01 PM in response to larry666

Thank you kindly for your reply, larry666, and for the additional info.


Re: "I'm trying to show a partially sighted user how to better use accessibility features that macOS provides"


It is possible to join a community of Apple users who are blind or have low vision.

Those who know the Accessibility features best, are those who need to use them.

Pasting the link here below, if either of you are interested to check that out:

Community: https://www.applevis.com/ 

Forum: https://www.applevis.com/forum

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Re: I would have thought it fairly easy to stop Spoken typing to be blocked from Voice Control.


Sorry I don't know the Voice Control settings well enough to say for sure. You may want to check with the experts:

Apple's Accessibility Support Website (online chat / phone / email etc.)

(NB: You can "Get Support" from the link at the bottom of their website:)

Accessibility Support - Official Apple Support

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Re: "I have found a lot of good stuff from Apple on Accessibility. However, I get the impression Apple hasn't tested the Accessibility functions thoroughly, especially with severely sight impaired users".


Those who use the various features may have valuable input to share.

If you'd like to provide feedback about an accessibility feature on an Apple product, you can email the Accessibility team: accessibility@apple.com.


Aug 28, 2024 9:13 PM in response to larry666

Hi Larry,

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Community!


Re: Voice Control:

Am no expert in this area, yet your request surely deserves some response!

Fortunately, Apple documents the way the things work in support articles (links below).

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Re: "The hints feature is useful but very small and disappears very quickly.

Any way to make them bigger and stay visible for longer?"


To quickly magnify small wording on the screen, you may want to enable the use of hover text.

When on, any wording under the cursor is immediately shown large by pressing the Command key.

See how to: Use Hover Text on Mac - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"Turn on Hover Text

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Accessibility in the sidebar,

then click Zoom on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)

Turn on Hover Text".

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Re: "visible for longer" Suggested commands are displayed only if the option “Show hints” is selected in Voice Control settings. I don't know of a way to make hints stay on screen longer: "You can turn standard commands on or off and create your own commands, delete them, and import or export custom commands." See how to: Customize Voice Control on Mac - Apple Support

or

"To see a list of the Voice Control commands you can use with VoiceOver,

choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Accessibility in the sidebar,

then click Voice Control on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)

Click Commands, then scroll to the set of Accessibility commands".

More info: Use Voice Control commands to interact with your Mac - Apple Support

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Re: "There also seems to be a problem with feedback between Typing Feedback to Voice Control.

That is the Typing Feedback is picked up by Voice Control - can this be stopped?"


To turn off typing feedback :

Apple Menu > System Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Typing Feedback

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Re: "Just trying to get the hang of Voice Control".


If you haven't discovered it yet: Apple has a useful resource for getting to know Voice Control:

Voice Control, Switch Control, and Accessibility Keyboard User Guide for Mac - Apple Support


All the best :-)

Aug 28, 2024 10:32 PM in response to brbo

Thanks.


I'm actually in practical terms fully sighted but I'm trying to show a partially sighted user how to better use accessibility features that macOS provides.


Hover text is OK but you first need to be able to see where to put the pointer and in some situations, the pointer need positioning quite precisely. Neither of which a partially sighted person is going to necessarily manage…


I think the more general Zoom is more useful.


Again, if a user has poor vision but can type, it is useful to have what is typed spoken back as you type, to confirm you havetyped correctly. I've found it easier just to turn off Voice Control while typing and you then no longer have a feedback problem. I would have thought it fairly easy to stop Spoken typing to be blocked from Voice Control.


I have found a lot of good stuff from Apple on Accessibility. However, I get the impression Apple hasn't tested the Accessibility functions thoroughly, especially with severely sight impaired users. It's also somewhat confusing that some of the features overlap - for example, Voice Control and Siri can in some cases do much the same thing but in other cases only one will work.

How do I enlarge the hint feature on iMac running macOS Sonoma?

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