JAWS Tandem Quick Start Guide

Use JAWS Tandem™ to access another computer running JAWS to provide hands on technical support, write scripts from a distance, or perform remote JAWS training. This feature consists of a controller system, used by support personnel, distributors, dealers, consultants, and trainers, and a target system, which is the customer’s JAWS application and computer. JAWS Tandem Center is a subscription service on the controller side only. This means that ultimately, there will be a charge for anyone acting as a controller. There will not be a fee for the customer getting the support, acting as the target computer. The initial release of JAWS 10 is providing this subscription service free of charge for all customers wishing to act as a controller for a period of time yet to be determined.

Remember to visit the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Note: Always use the INSERT key when typing JAWS Tandem specific keystrokes. When using the Laptop keyboard layout, do not substitute CAPS LOCK for INSERT.

Verify the following before you begin:

Internet access
Windows XP or later
If you are having issues connecting to the Tandem Center, please make sure that Internet address tandem.freedomscientific.com and port 12000 be given access in the firewall. If you are in a corporate environment, please contact your IT team with this information.

Starting a JAWS Tandem Center Session

Note: The controller user provides the target user with a meeting ID. The ID is automatically generated for the controller during the connection process as described in the following procedure.

To start a JAWS Tandem Center session on a controller computer, do the following:

Press INSERT+J to open the JAWS application window.
Press ALT+U to open the Utilities menu.
Select JAWS Tandem from this menu, and then select Tandem Center from the next submenu.
Select Get Access to a computer, which then opens the Get Access to a Computer dialog box.
Press SPACEBAR to activate the Get Access button.
The Meeting ID Created dialog box opens. An alphanumeric ID appears in the Meeting ID read-only edit field. It is not case sensitive.
Provide the target user with the meeting ID, and then wait for the connection process to complete on the target system. After successful connection with the target, you have access to the target system’s desktop. Note that once an ID is generated, it is valid for 60 minutes until a connection is made. If you have not made a connection within this period, you must obtain a new ID from the Tandem Center.

Note: Instead of having the target user walk through similar menus, just tell him or her to press INSERT+ALT+T. This will open the Allow Access to My Computer dialog box, and place focus in the Meeting ID edit box. You can then give the user the meeting ID that was created for you.

On the target computer, do the following:

Press INSERT+ALT+T. The Allow Access to My Computer dialog box opens.
Type the meeting ID into the edit box. The ID is not case sensitive.
Press TAB, and then SPACEBAR to activate the Allow Access button.
After the controller and target successfully connect, the controller has access to the target system's desktop.

Running a Session

As a controller, you can run the target system using JAWS and braille just as if you are sitting in front of that computer. Use the same JAWS keystrokes and functionality that you are familiar with to control the target system. JAWS keystrokes work no matter which type of keyboard layout is used: Laptop or Desktop.

Note: When using the Laptop keyboard layout, do not substitute CAPS LOCK for INSERT when typing a JAWS Tandem keystroke.

JAWS Tandem Keystrokes

INSERT+ALT+T – ends session and can be issued from controller or target systems.
Note: You can also use this keystroke to start JAWS Tandem on a target system.
INSERT+ALT+TAB – toggles between target system’s desktop and controller system’s desktop. Only available on controller system; cannot be used by target system.
INSERT+CTRL+SHIFT+V – toggles video on or off. Video is off by default. When video is on, it lets sighted users watch JAWS Tandem activity. Only available on controller system; cannot be used by target system.

Remote Clipboard

Use the CTRL+C keystroke to copy text with formatting from the target system, and then use CTRL+V to paste text into a file on the controller system. This is ideal for support personnel who want to copy specific text from a log file on the target system.

Note: Remote Clipboard will not transfer files.

Disconnecting a Session

Press INSERT+ALT+T to terminate a session at any time from either the controller system or the target system. Each system regains control of its own desktop.

Tandem Direct Session

A Tandem Direct session is used for enterprise networks in a business when two JAWS users are connected to the same network. All functionality and keystrokes previously mentioned for a Tandem Center session are applicable for a Tandem Direct session.

Starting a Tandem Direct session is slightly different than a Tandem Center session as outlined in the following list.

Determine which computer will be the controller and which will be the target.
The first time you run a Tandem Direct session on a target system, you must unblock the program JTTarget so that it can communicate through Windows Firewall.
The target system always initiates the session, and it must provide its meeting ID and its host name to the controller.
By default, the target system listens on port 3000. If you change the port setting, remember to configure the controller system for the same port.
The controller can turn on video to view JAWS Tandem activity.

Starting a JAWS Tandem Direct Session

A JAWS Tandem Direct session is always launched from the target computer. To start, do the following:

Press INSERT+J and then ALT+U to open the Utilities menu in the JAWS application window.
Press T to open the JAWS Tandem submenu, and then R to open the Tandem Direct submenu.
Press A to choose Allow Access to my Computer. A dialog box opens with focus in the Meeting ID edit box.
Type a value into the Meeting ID edit box. The Meeting ID can be letters, numbers, or a combination of both. The maximum ID length is 64-characters, and it is not case sensitive. You will provide this ID to the controller user.
Press TAB to move to the Host Name or IP Address read-only edit box. Provide the controller user with the host name, for example, ABC-DEF001.
Press TAB to move to the Allow Access button, and press SPACEBAR to activate the button.

Note: As a target system, a Windows Security Alert dialog box may appear after pressing the Allow Access button. If this happens, choose the Unblock button and press SPACEBAR. (For Windows Vista users, a User Account Control dialog box opens. Choose the Continue button and press SPACEBAR.) This action adds the JTTarget program to an exceptions list in Windows Firewall on the target system for both Windows XP and Windows Vista users.

Wait for the controller user to enter the target information. On a successful Tandem Direct connection, JAWS announces Tandem connection open. The controller system now has access to and can operate the target system.

To start a JAWS Tandem Direct session on the controller computer, do the following:

Press INSERT+J to open the JAWS application window, and press ALT+U to open the Utilities menu.
Press T to open the JAWS Tandem submenu, and then R to open the Tandem Direct submenu.
Press G to select Get Access to a Computer. A dialog box opens, and focus is in the Host Name or IP Address edit box.
Type the host name, provided to you by the target user, into the edit box.
Press TAB to move to the Meeting ID edit box, and type the ID provided by the target user.
Press TAB to move to the Enable Video check box. If you are a sighted user and want to watch the JAWS Tandem activity on the target system, select the check box. If you do not need video, clear the check box.

Note: By default, the Enable Video check box is cleared; however, if you selected the check box in a previous session, JAWS Tandem remembers this setting and uses it for the next session. Also, video can be toggled on or off at any time during a session using INSERT+CTRL+SHIFT+V.

Press TAB to move to the Get Access button and press SPACEBAR to activate the button. After successfully connecting with the target, you now have control of the target system’s desktop. If the connection fails, verify that Windows Firewall is not blocking JTTarget on the target system. Also verify that host name, meeting ID, and port settings match.

Configuring Windows Firewall for Tandem Direct Sessions

Note: The following procedures are only necessary if JTTarget is later blocked on the target system.

The target system uses a program named JTTarget. It must be added to an exceptions list on the target system so that the program can communicate through Windows Firewall. (It is not necessary to do this on the controller system.) Windows lets you unblock this program when you first create a Tandem Direct session. Later, if you block the program by deleting JTTarget from the Windows Firewall exceptions list or by clearing the JTTarget check box in the exceptions list, an error message or a Windows Security Alert will appear the next time the target and controller try to connect.

Adding JTTarget to the Exceptions List

If you previously deleted the JTTarget program from the exceptions list in Windows Firewall, use the following steps to add the program:

Press WINDOWS Key and then open Control Panel.
For Windows XP, select and open Windows Firewall.
For Windows Vista, navigate to and select the Allow a program through Windows Firewall link. If a User Account Control dialog box opens, choose the Continue button and press SPACEBAR to activate the button.
Press CTRL+TAB to switch to the Exceptions page in the Windows Firewall dialog box.
Press TAB to move to the Add program button, and then press SPACEBAR to activate the button.
Choose the Browse button in the Add a Program dialog box, and then type JTTarget.exe in the File name combo of the Browse dialog box.
Press ENTER. The program is added to the Programs list in the Add a Program dialog box.
Choose OK.
For Windows XP, JTTarget is added to and selected in the Programs and Services list.
For Windows Vista, JTTarget is added to and selected in the To Enable an Exception, Select its Check Box list.
Press TAB to move to the OK button and press SPACEBAR to save the change and close Windows Firewall. The controller system can now connect to the target system.

Windows Firewall Exception for Tandem Direct

If you previously cleared the JTTarget check box in the exceptions list, do the following to select the check box:

Press WINDOWS Key and then open Control Panel.
For Windows XP, select and open Windows Firewall.
For Windows Vista, navigate to and select the Allow a program through Windows Firewall link. If a User Account Control dialog box opens, select the Continue button and press SPACEBAR to activate the button.
Press CTRL+TAB to switch to the Exceptions page in the Windows Firewall dialog box.
For Windows XP, in the Programs and Services list, use the ARROW keys to move to JTTarget.
For Windows Vista, in the To Enable an Exception, Select its Check Box list, use the ARROW keys to move to JTTarget.
Press SPACEBAR to select the check box.
Press TAB to move to the OK button and press SPACEBAR to save the change and close Windows Firewall. The controller system can now connect to the target system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What version of JAWS must the controller and target system have?

Answer: JAWS 10 or later. An authorized license is needed if you are going to be a controller.

Question: How responsive is the JAWS Tandem session?

Answer: You'll be amazed! It’s very much like Remote Desktop or Citrix.

Question: Can JAWS Demo or JAWS 40-Minute mode be used with JAWS Tandem on either the controller or target system?

Answer: Yes, you can use JAWS as a Demo for a target system during Tandem sessions.

Question: Can a sighted user who is using a mouse on the controller computer work with the target computer or is it limited to keyboard use only?

Answer: The mouse is also active when running JAWS Tandem provided that you turn on the video output on controller side.

Question: What are the main uses of this outside of AT training and tech support? For example, can it be used to work with Web developers for usability testing?

Answer: Yes. It can also be used by consultants to help with scripting and debugging issues from a distance.

Question: Can JAWS Tandem be used by a JAWS user to remote into computers of sighted colleagues that don't necessarily use JAWS?

Answer: Yes, if the sighted colleagues install JAWS 10 as a demo on their computers.

Question: What is the difference between JAWS Tandem and Remote Desktop, Citrix, or terminal services?

Answer: JAWS Tandem lets you, the controller, run in the target’s user session while the target user is on the computer at the same time. Remote Desktop/Terminal/Citrix is running on your own desktop on the remote machine, and no one on the other side can see or hear it. For support purposes, JAWS Tandem is perfect.

Question: Why can I not use the CAPS LOCK key as the JAWS cursor in laptop layout, when pressing the three different JAWS Tandem keystrokes?

Answer: JAWS Tandem keystrokes are not changeable. You can only use the INSERT key regardless of JAWS being in laptop or desktop layout. You should not attempt to change these.

Question: Can I use a USB Thumb Drive version of JAWS and still work with JAWS Tandem as either a controller or target?

Answer: No. Because of installation and registry entries, it is not possible at this time to use a USB Drive version of JAWS 10 or later if you intend to establish JAWS Tandem connections. In fact, the JAWS Tandem options will not be present in the JAWS menus if you are using a USB Drive version of JAWS.

Question: While in a JAWS Tandem session, can the controller use the Task Manager on the target computer?

Answer: Yes. To launch Task Manager on the target side, you must use the keystroke CTRL+SHIFT+ESCAPE, or press WINDOWS Key+R to open the Run dialog box, and then type taskmgr and press ENTER. Note that if you try to use CTRL+ALT+DELETE to open the Task Manager, this command will be executed on the controller's machine.

Question: From the controller system, can I hear the target system’s audio?

Answer: No. However, this is being studied for a future update.

Question: Can I change my synthesizer during a session?

Answer: No. After a session is established, you can only change the pitch or volume of your synthesizer.

Question: Can my English United States (ENU) computer use JAWS Tandem to connect to an English United Kingdom (ENG) or Australian (ENA) computer?

Answer: Yes. Systems with different minor languages (dialects) will work in JAWS Tandem.

Question: Can my English computer use JAWS Tandem connect to a computer with a different major language such as French or Spanish?

Answer: No. You would first need to switch one of computers to match the others’ major language before starting the JAWS Tandem meeting.

Question: Can a controller temporarily turn off any JAWS user settings on the target computer, in order to troubleshoot a problem that the target computer is having?

Answer: Yes. Use the Manage Application Settings dialog box located in the Options menu of the JAWS application window. In this dialog, you can choose to disable all settings, default settings, or selective applications without having to restart JAWS. A restart would end the JAWS Tandem session. This is a great way to troubleshoot a problem by ruling out any user modifications or third party scripts.

Question: If either the controller or target computer needs to be restarted, what will happen to the JAWS Tandem session?

Answer: You would need to start a JAWS Tandem session again with a new meeting ID after the computer restarts. It is suggested that the controller or target use end the JAWS Tandem session with INSERT+ALT+T before rebooting the computer.

Question: How many computers can join a JAWS Tandem Meeting?

Answer: There can only be two. One controller and one target, at this time.

Question: If you are using Skype to talk from between two different computers, can you also use JAWS Tandem without ending the Skype call?

Answer: Yes, this can be very useful as well. The controller can explain what is being done and the target user can ask questions over Skype during the entire meeting consequently avoiding a phone call.

Question: What if either computer receives a Skype call during a JAWS Tandem Session? Can it be answered?

Answer: If the call is on the target computer, then either the target user, or controller for that matter, can answer. If the call is on the controller side, then the controller can answer it by toggling back to his or her own desktop by using INSERT+ALT+TAB without having to end the JAWS Tandem session.

Question: Can I run JAWS and MAGic simultaneously with JAWS Tandem?

Answer: Not at this time. However, this functionality will be available in the next MAGic update scheduled for the first quarter of 2009. If you want to run JAWS Tandem, exit MAGic first before starting a JAWS Tandem session. You can restart MAGic after you close the session.

Question: What is the role of the Tandem Center?

Answer: The Tandem Center allows two arbitrary JAWS users anywhere on the Internet to connect to each other. The Tandem Center gets data from one user and passes to the other user.

Question: Who runs the Tandem Center?

Answer: The Tandem Center is hosted by Freedom Scientific.

Question: How secure are Tandem Center sessions?

Answer: All communications between the Tandem Center, JAWS on the controller system, and JAWS on the target system is encrypted using industry standard encryption algorithms.

Question: Does Freedom Scientific know about what I am doing if all data travel through the Tandem Center?

Answer: Freedom Scientific does not record the contents of any session. The session infrastructure is set up so that once a session begins; the data are encrypted so that the Tandem Center server cannot decipher the information.

Question: Can the target user disconnect the session if they do not like the controller user’s actions?

Answer: Yes. Any user can disconnect at any time by pressing INSERT+ALT+T.

Question: My Firewall is blocking the connection to the Tandem Center. What do I do?

Answer: The Tandem Center runs at a well-known Internet address and port. The Tandem Center address is tandem.freedomscientific.com. The port is 12000. If Tandem Center is being blocked, configure your firewall to allow access to this address and port.

Question: For a Tandem Direct session, what port does the target system listen to for a connection to the controller system? Can I change the port?

Answer: For a Tandem Direct session, the target system listens on port 3000 by default. If you need to change the port setting, choose the Options button in the Allow Access to my Computer dialog box, and type a new port number in the Port edit box. Remember to tell the user on the controller side so that JAWS Tandem on the controller system can be configured for the same port. The Options button is in the Get Access to a Computer on the controller system.

Question: I use the DECtalk hardware synthesizer. My friend wants to connect to me and help me configure e-mail. He does not have DECtalk and uses RealSpeak Direct. Can we have a JAWS Tandem session?

Answer: Yes, JAWS Tandem will detect that you and your friend have different synthesizers. It will offer to switch both of you to Eloquence for the length of the sessions. You both will connect and work for the length of the session using Eloquence. After the JAWS Tandem session ends, both you and your friend will go back to your synthesizers automatically.

Question: My Tandem Direct connection fails and JAWS announces the following message: A connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond after a period of time, or the established connection failed because the connected host has failed to respond. What happened?

Answer: On the target system, you must add an exception to the JTTarget program in the Windows Firewall dialog box. To do this, open Control Panel and choose Windows Firewall. Next, press CTRL+TAB to switch to the Exceptions page. In the Programs and Services list, use the ARROW keys to move to JTTarget. Press SPACEBAR to select the check box. Press TAB to move to the OK button and press SPACEBAR to save the change and close Windows Firewall. Make a Tandem Direct connection again. If this still does not work, restart JAWS and try to connect again.

This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit.(http://www.openssl.org/)
This product includes cryptographic software written by Eric Young (eay@cryptsoft.com)