The JAWS cursor roams around the screen, like a person's eyes, going and seeing where the PC cursor is not allowed to go. You are never out of touch with your application program, and there is only one simplified keyboard layout to learn. It presents and lets you change the options that are unique to that device. For example, the DECtalk PC has Comma Pause, Period Pause, Proper Names, Citation Mode, and Punctuation, while the Accent has Intonation, Fast Processing, Abbreviations, Single Stress, Hard A, Punctuation, and Word Pause. Many of these options are not supported on other screen readers.
Macros allow the user to define one key or key- combo to perform many other keys or functions.
Macros enhance the use of the keyboard, therefore making the computer easier to use. A sighted person uses the keyboard for input and their eyes for output, i.e. to read the screen. A blind person uses the keyboard for input AND for output, thus macros are even more important. Macros can combine computer and reading functions into one fluid thought or motion. This can trigger a macro to present the appropriate information to the user.