Both Windows and Macintosh operating systems offer features that make user interactions with their personal devices simpler. Explore the features available to you, and the steps to enable and, or, access them, based on the operating system your personal device runs by expanding one of the options below.
Windows Cognitive Assistive Tools
Windows Simplification
Windows allows users to customize certain aspects of their Windows experience that have the ability to simplify the experience of users. These customizations can reduce distractions, direct focus, and ease the use of utilizing Windows amongst users.
Windows 10 Instructions
To minimize visual distractions by turning off animations, background images, and more; Windows 10 users can select the Start button, then Settings > Ease of Access > Display. From there, users can select from the different options under Simplify and personalize Windows to personalize the complexity of Windows on their personal computer.
Windows 10 users can also personalize the complexity of their taskbar by selecting which icons appear on it by selecting the Start button, then select Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, and under Notification area, choose Select which icons appear on the taskbar.
Windows 11 Instructions
To minimize visual distractions by turning off animations, background images, and more; Windows 11 users can select the Start button > Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects. Once there, users can customize the visual effects of Windows to their preferred level of complexity or simplicity.
Windows 11 users can also personalize the complexity of their taskbar by selecting which icons appear on it by selecting the Start button, then Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. From there, users can select Taskbar items and Taskbar corner icons to expand those sections and toggle off the options for the items they would prefer not be visible on their taskbar. To select which icons can appear in the taskbar corner, users can select Taskbar corner overflow and turn on the switches for the icons that they would like to see in the taskbar corner.
Focus Assist / Do Not Disturb
Windows allows users to customize notification protocols and preferences to avoid generally distracting notifications, or notifications during moments that the user may or does prefer to be distraction free. These built-in options are generally consolidated under the Focus Assist feature for Windows 10 and present through Do Not Disturb in Windows 11.
Windows 10 Instructions
In Windows 10, users can activate Focus Assist by entering the Action Center by selecting the Action Center icon on the taskbar followed by selecting Focus assist. From there users can cycle through available settings. Focus assist settings can be further edited by users by selecting the Start button > Settings > System > Focus assist. In the Focus assist settings, users can limit late-night notifications using the Automatic rules section, users can also choose what days they want to apply the rule, and what types of notifications they’d still like to receive during the times they set.
Additionally, users can adjust which apps display notifications and fine-tune how they appear. To change notification settings, users can select the Start button, then select Settings > System > Notifications & actions. Users can then configure notifications to their preferences.
Windows 11 Instructions
In Windows 11, users can turn on Do Not Disturb by selecting the Start button > Settings > System > Notifications, and then toggle on Do not disturb. If users would like to customize the applications barred from delivering notifications when Do Not Disturb is active, users can select Set priority notifications and modify the following options to allow for certain notifications.
Users can also set time periods in which Do Not Disturb automatically activates, and choose types of tasks that would immediately enable Do Not Disturb by selecting During these times to turn it on. In Notifications from apps and other senders, users can customize the applications they receive notifications from. Users can also complete these actions under Settings > System > Focus Assist
Immersive Reader
Windows allows users utilizing the operating system’s default browser, Microsoft Edge, to improve reading fluency, comprehension, and focus, by removing visual clutter, customizing text, line concentration, and providing other additional features through Immersive Reader, available on text-centered webpages.
Windows 10 Instructions
Users can enable Immersive Reader on Windows 10 while running Microsoft Edge on a qualifying page by selecting the Enter Immersive Reader icon in the Microsoft Edge address bar (also known as the search bar); users can also select the Fn (Function) Key + F9 to quickly enable the feature. Once in, users can have the text read aloud to them, customize the text and page layout and appearance, highlight certain parts of speech in the text, have words broken up by syllable, and/or center the page on 1 to 5 lines at a time. To exit the Immersive Reader view, users can select the Fn (Function) Key + F9 or the icon in the address bar again.
Windows 11 Instructions
Users can enable Immersive Reader on Windows 11 while running Microsoft Edge on a qualifying page by selecting the Enter Immersive Reader icon in the Microsoft Edge address bar (also known as the search bar); users can also select the Fn (Function) Key + F9 to quickly enable the feature. Once in, users can have the text read aloud to them, customize the text and page layout and appearance, highlight certain parts of speech in the text, have words broken up by syllable, and/or center the page on 1 to 5 lines at a time. To exit the Immersive Reader view, users can select the Fn (Function) Key + F9 or the icon in the address bar again.
Macintosh Cognitive Assistive Tools
Safari Reader
Macintosh’s default web browser, Safari, comes enabled with a feature known as Safari Reader that strips away ads, buttons, and navigation bars, allowing users to focus solely on the content of a webpage and none of the distractions. Users can use Safari Reader to view a webpage article in one page, formatted for easy reading, and presented without ads, navigation, or other distracting items. Users can adjust font, font size, and background color as well.
macOS (High Sierra – Monterey) Instructions
Users of Apple’s Macintosh High Sierra through Macintosh Monterey operating systems can enable Safari Reader by selecting the Reader button/icon on the left hand side of the search bar in Safari. The button will only appear with the presence of compatible text content. Users can leave the view by selecting the icon again or by clicking the escape (Esc) key.
Hover Text
Macintosh devices running macOS Catalina and newer come with Hover Text, a feature that allows users to focus on segments of text on their display. Users can select a paragraph, caption, or headline for a bigger, high‑resolution focused version of their selection. The font and text color of this view can be customized as well.
macOS (Catalina – Monterey) Instructions
Users of Apple’s Macintosh Catalina through Macintosh Monterey operating systems can enable Hover Text on their devices by selecting the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Accessibility > Zoom, and from there, selecting Enable Hover Text. Once enabled users can select the Command key to display a large text view of items under their cursor. Users should note that Hover Text does not work in text editors.
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