JAWS (Job Access With Speech)
JAWS is a Windows screen reader developed by Freedom Scientific (now Vispero). It is the most widely-used commercial screen reader in enterprise and government settings, with deep integration with Windows, Microsoft Office, and many third-party applications.
Detailed explanation
JAWS reads on-screen content aloud and supports refreshable braille displays. WebAIM's 2024 Screen Reader User Survey reported JAWS as the most-used screen reader among respondents (~40% primary use), followed by NVDA (~35%) and VoiceOver (~13%).
JAWS is commercial software (single-user license ~$1,200), but Vispero offers a 40-minute free demo per session and licenses for blind and visually-impaired users via state vocational rehabilitation programs.
How this applies to Shopify stores
JAWS uses a "virtual cursor" mode for web content that parses semantic HTML — properly-marked headings, lists, form labels, and ARIA attributes. Shopify storefronts with proper semantics work well with JAWS; stores with `<div>`-based custom dropdowns and missing form labels do not.
Primary source: freedomscientific.com