Microsoft Windows XP Professional Resource Kit 2003
ISBN: N/A
EAN: N/A
EAN: N/A
Year: 2005
Pages: 338
Pages: 338
Accessibility features built into Windows XP Professional make it easier for users to solve a variety of specific problems. Table I-2 summarizes some common difficulties and the solutions that are built into Windows XP Professional. For more detailed descriptions of many of these solutions in the context of specific disabilities, see the sections that follow the table.
| If the user has difficulty | Use These Windows XP Professional Features |
|---|---|
| Customizing settings in a multiple user network. | Accessibility Wizard, Accessibility Options in Control Panel, Utility Manager. |
| Remembering what accessibility features are activated. | Status indicators on the notification area of the taskbar. In Accessibility Options, on the General tab, click Give a warning message when turning a feature on or Make a sound when turning a feature on or off. |
| Finding a needed feature. | Windows XP Professional Help and Support Center and Help in specific applications. |
| Remembering keyboard navigation shortcuts (underlined access keys). | In Accessibility Options, on the Keyboard tab, select Show extra keyboard help in programs. |
| Hearing sound prompts, distinguishing sounds, hearing audible cues, or working in a noisy environment. | ShowSounds, SoundSentry, and Notification options. |
| Using standard keyboard configurations. | Dvorak keyboards, On Screen Keyboard, MouseKeys. |
| Using a keyboard due to slow key release or inadvertent repeating of keys. | FilterKeys and StickyKeys in Accessibility Options. |
| Holding down two or more keys at the same time. | StickyKeys. |
| Using a standard mouse and keyboard. | MouseKeys, On Screen Keyboard, Utility Manager, third-party assistive technology. |
| Manipulating a mouse. | MouseKeys in Accessibility Options, keyboard shortcuts. |
| Working with a flashing cursor. | Cursor Options in Accessibility Options. |
| Seeing the pointer on the screen. | Cursor Options in Accessibility Options. |
| Seeing keyboard status lights. | ToggleKeys in Accessibility Wizard and in Control Panel; Narrator, third-party assistive technology. |
| Seeing screen elements. | Narrator; Magnifier; in Accessibility Wizard, select I am blind or having difficulty seeing things on screen, third-party assistive technology. |
| Functioning well with built in accessibility features. | SerialKeys in Control Panel for third-party assistive technology. |
| Finding assistive technology and other accessibility information. | See the Microsoft Accessibility link on the Web Resources page at http://windows.microsoft.com/ /windows/reskits/webresources. |
You can use Accessibility Options in Control Panel to customize many accessibility features. However, you can also configure many accessibility features by using Accessibility Wizard. For example, you can customize display, keyboard, mouse, and sound options for the user s own particular needs by using either method.
Features such as text-to-speech tools, keyboard shortcuts, magnifiers, mouse pointers, color and contrast schemes, and other UI elements are useful to people who are blind or have low vision, colorblindness, tunnel vision, or other vision impairments.
Narrator is a minimally featured text-to-speech utility included with Windows XP Professional that reads objects on the screen, their properties, and their spatial relationships. You can run Narrator from the Start menu or by using Utility Manager. Narrator automatically reads certain information when it changes on the screen. Narrator is always available, and the user can later install alternative screen reading devices or features.
Narrator allows users or administrators to customize the way a device reads screen elements. The Voice option allows you to adjust the speed, volume, or pitch of the voice. The Reading option allows you to select the pressed keys you want Narrator to read aloud, such as DELETE, ENTER, printable characters, or modifiers. The Move mouse pointer option causes the mouse pointer to follow the active object on the screen. The Announce events on screen option allows you to configure Narrator to announce new windows, menus, or shortcut menus when it displays them.
Many users with low vision need a text-to-speech utility with a higher functionality for daily use. For a list of other text-to-speech tools, see the Microsoft Accessibility link on the Web Resources page at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources
| Note | Narrator is a temporary aid and is not intended as a replacement for full featured text-to-speech utilities that are available from other software companies. |
People with vision impairments might not be able to see lights on the keyboard that indicate CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, and SCROLL LOCK status. ToggleKeys provides audio cues to indicate whether these keys are active or inactive. If ToggleKeys is on, pressing one of these keys to activate it produces a high-pitched beep. Pressing one of these keys to inactivate it produces a beep that is an octave lower. You can activate ToggleKeys in Accessibility Options in Control Panel or select I have trouble using a keyboard or a mouse in the Accessibility Wizard. You can also use a shortcut key to control ToggleKeys.
To turn ToggleKeys on or off by using a shortcut key
Press and then hold down the NUM LOCK key for eight seconds. When ToggleKeys turns on, a rising series of beeps plays. When it is off, the sound is a descending series of beeps.
ToggleKeys is also useful for people who accidentally press the CAPS LOCK key instead of the TAB key because it provides immediate feedback. For keyboards that do not have indicator lights for the CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, and SCROLL LOCK keys, ToggleKeys provides a method for tracking that status of these keys.
FilterKeys and BounceKeys can both be set to provide audio clues when the user presses a key. You can enable the option Do you want Windows to beep when it accepts a keystroke? by selecting the check box in either of these features or by using the appropriate shortcut keys.
Magnifier is a screen enlarger that magnifies a portion of the display to make the screen easier to read for some people. Magnifier displays an enlarged portion of the screen in a separate window. While Magnifier can be helpful for occasional use, many users with low vision need a magnification utility with a higher functionality for daily use.
| Note | Magnifier is a limited solution and is not intended as a replacement for the full-featured screen-enlargement utilities that are available from other software companies. For more information about screen enlarging tools, see the Microsoft Accessibility link on the Web Resources page at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources |
Using Magnifier, you can do the following:
Magnify an area of the screen up to nine times the standard display size.
Choose to have the magnified area follow the mouse pointer, the keyboard focus, the text editing focus, or any combination of these three.
Invert colors for contrast.
Resize and relocate the Magnifier display area.
When Magnifier is on, the magnified area is a display only, not an active area. The active focus for the cursor, keyboard, and other input devices is in the unmagnified area.
To start Magnifier press the WINDOWS LOGO key+U to run Utility Manager or from the Start menu, point to All Programs, Accessories, Accessibility, and then click Magnifier. If Magnifier is already running, select its button on the taskbar to open the dialog box.
You can use the mouse to resize or reposition the magnification window anywhere within the desktop area. Alternatively, you can reposition the window by using the arrow key. You can also dock the magnification window to the top, bottom, or side of the display. Press ALT+F6 to focus on the magnification window, and then type ALT+SPACEBAR to display the System Menu. Type M to invoke the move feature, and then use the arrow keys to move the magnification window.
Users with low vision might benefit from using larger, more legible fonts in applications and in the user interface. You can change text sizes for Windows messages in Accessibility Wizard or Control Panel. Set custom options in Custom Font Size by choosing Other in the Font Size list and then either selecting one of the percentage options in the drop-down list or clicking the ruler and dragging the pointer to specify a font size.
You can add or remove fonts and restrict font sizes by removing all TrueType fonts and leaving only raster fonts. TrueType fonts are device-independent fonts that are stored as outlines and that can be scaled to produce characters in varying sizes. Raster fonts are bitmap images that can provide greater visibility at fixed sizes. Removing fonts does not delete them from the hard disk drive. Users can easily reinstall the fonts for later use. To add or remove fonts, in Control Panel, double-click Fonts.
| Note | Limiting fonts also limits the number of fonts available to applications. This operation should be used with caution because it affects the display of documents on the screen and how they are printed. |
To limit the system to a single font
Create a new folder on the desktop or hard disk.
In Control Panel, click Fonts.
Select all the fonts in the Fonts folder, move them to the new folder, and then restart the computer.
The system font is not listed, so it remains even when you delete all other fonts.
The font size you specify in Control Panel affects all video adapters on your system. To change font settings for individual window objects, double-click Display in Control Panel, and then click the Appearance tab. To add a new font, in Control Panel, double-click Fonts.
Windows XP Professional includes a new look and feel the Windows XP theme although users can choose the Windows Classic theme instead. The Windows XP theme improves the overall user interface, while the Classic theme provides full flexibility for customization. Users who must configure color schemes can change all aspects of the user interface by using the Windows Classic theme. Using the Windows XP theme limits changes to the size of certain elements. You can choose a theme by using the Display Control Panel Option and selecting the Theme tab.
In the Windows XP Professional Accessibility Wizard and in Control Panel, users can adjust the size and color of most screen elements, such as window text, menus, mouse pointer, fonts, and caption bars. This capability can make the system easier to use and can reduce eyestrain. In Accessibility Wizard, users can change icon size, mouse pointer size, and text size.
The following are considerations for adjusting the color settings:
Settings that display a large number of colors require a large amount of computer processor resources.
A High Color setting (16 bit) includes more than 65,000 colors. A True Color setting (24 bit) includes more than 16 million colors.
The monitor and display adapter determine the maximum number of colors that can appear on the screen.
To change settings for another monitor in a multiple-monitor system, in the Display Properties dialog box, select the Extend My Windows Desktop onto this Monitor check box to change the settings for the other monitor. You can make color settings for each installed monitor.
To change the border width of windows, including command prompt windows, double-click Display in Control Panel, and then click the Appearance tab to select the preferred scheme. Users can also resize a window by using the keyboard instead of the mouse, or in Accessibility Wizard by selecting I am blind or have difficulty seeing things on screen. You can adjust the width of the cursor in Accessibility Options by moving the slider bar on the Display tab.
High-contrast color schemes can be helpful to users with low vision who require a high degree of contrast between foreground and background objects to distinguish the objects. For example, some users cannot easily read black text on a gray background or text drawn over a picture. By selecting a high contrast display scheme, users can instruct Windows XP Professional and programs to display information with a high degree of contrast. Activating High Contrast mode selects a color scheme that makes it easier for some users to see screen objects. To choose a high-contrast color scheme, in Accessibility Options, on the Display tab, click Settings, and then choose a scheme from the drop-down list.
In addition, while using the Magnifier dialog box, users can temporarily invert the colors of the magnification window or display the screen in high contrast. It can take a few seconds for High Contrast Mode to take effect.
Customized through Accessibility Wizard or Control Panel, mouse pointers allow the user to select the most visible pointer. Choices include three sizes and a white or black pointer or an inverted pointer that reacts to screen colors and changes to contrast with the background. You can set the following mouse pointer characteristics:
Pointer size
Pointer color
Speed of the pointer
Visible trails of pointer movement
Animation of the pointer
Other options for users who have difficulty seeing the mouse pointer include MouseKeys and Snap To. For more information about MouseKeys, see Options for Users with Mobility Impairments later in this appendix. For more information about Snap To, see Options for Users with Cognitive Disabilities later in this appendix.
You can increase the visibility of the insertion point indicator by changing the rate at which it flashes. You can change the insertion point indicator blink rate by using the Keyboard Control Panel option.
Users with low vision might benefit from reducing distracting movement on screen. You can prevent animations, videos, and sounds from loading. By using Control Panel, you can assign custom sounds to any event. You can also customize sound schemes by turning sound on or off or adjusting the volume up or down.
Some users are unable to perform certain manual tasks, such as using a mouse or typing two keys at the same time. Others tend to hit multiple keys or bounce their fingers off keys. Mobility impairments include paralysis, repetitive stress injuries, cerebral palsy, erratic motion tremors, quadriplegia, or lack of limbs or fingers. Many users need keyboard and mouse functions adapted to their particular needs, or they rely exclusively on an alternative input device. A large number of assistive technology input devices are available to users, including keyboard filters, voice-input utilities for controlling the computer, on screen keyboards, smaller or larger keyboards, eye-gaze pointing devices, and sip-and-puff systems that the user operates by breath control. For more information about assistive technology and a catalog of third-party assistive technology products, see the Microsoft Accessibility link on the Web Resources page at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources
The following options include some of the Windows XP Professional accessibility features that are useful to people with mobility impairments.
Impaired dexterity can make it difficult for a person to use a standard keyboard. However, keyboard filters built into Windows XP Professional compensate somewhat by correcting for erratic motion tremors, slow response time, and similar conditions. Other kinds of keyboard filters include typing aids, such as word prediction and abbreviation expansion tools and add in spelling checkers.
The following sections describe input devices and features that are different from the standard keyboard. These features include alternative keyboard layouts, keyboard shortcuts, and specialized keyboard filters that operate on the standard keyboard but tailor the behavior of keys to specific accessibility needs.
| Note | In most cases, it is not possible to apply keyboard-style behavior corrections to pointing devices, such as the mouse. This limitation might affect the use of the mouse by users with impaired dexterity. |
Some users have difficulty with both the mouse and the keyboard. However, they might be able to use an on screen keyboard with another input device, such as a pointing device or a joystick that connects to the serial port. They might be able to use the keyboard space bar as a single-switch device. Using the keyboard space bar as a switching device requires additional assistive technology; contact the switch manufacturer for custom cables and any other requirements.
Users can set up and customize the Windows XP Professional On Screen Keyboard in Accessibility Options. The On Screen Keyboard can also be run through Utility Manager. Many users with physical disabilities need an alternative keyboard with higher functionality for daily use. For a list of other Windows-based on screen keyboard tools, see the Microsoft Accessibility link on the Web Resources page at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources
| Note | The On Screen Keyboard is a limited solution and not a day-to-day alternative keyboard. Third-party on screen keyboards provide increased functionality. |
The Dvorak keyboard makes the most frequently typed characters on a keyboard more accessible to people who have difficulty typing on the standard keyboard layout (known as the QWERTY layout). There are three Dvorak layouts: one for people who use two hands to type, one for people who type with their left hand only, and one for people who type with their right hand only. Dvorak layouts reduce the degree of motion required to type common English text. This feature might help avoid some kinds of repetitive strain injuries that are associated with typing. You can add the Dvorak keyboard to a Windows XP Professional installation during setup or add it later. To configure the Dvorak keyboard, double-click the Keyboard icon in Control Panel.
Keyboard shortcuts are keyboard-driven commands that allow a user to navigate and enter commands using just the keyboard and not the mouse. Keyboard shortcuts are important to users with disabilities, and they cover nearly all categories of disabilities. The Microsoft Accessibility Web site includes a searchable database of keyboard shortcuts for many Microsoft products. For more information, see the Accessibility Web site link on the Web Resources Page at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources
By using the ALT and CTRL keys in combination with other keys, a user can navigate and enter commands. Even without configuring accessibility features, the user can use the TAB key in dialog boxes to move the focus and then use the arrow keys to select options in a list. In property sheets that have multiple tabs, the user can press CTRL+TAB to select each property sheet in order from left to right. Or the user can press the TAB key until the focus is on the tab for the current property sheet and then press an arrow key to select the next sheet.
Windows indicates keyboard shortcuts by underlining the shortcut letter on menus and buttons. By default, Windows XP Professional does not underline keyboard navigation indicator letters until the ALT key is pressed. You can override this default and always display the underlines.
To reinstate the underlines for keyboard navigation
In Accessibility Options, on the Keyboard tab, select the Show extra keyboard help in programs check box.
For a list of keyboard shortcuts, see Windows XP Professional Help and Support Center. For accessibility-specific keyboard shortcuts, see the Microsoft Accessibility link on the Web Resources page at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources
A type of shortcut key sequence, sometimes called hot keys, provides quick activation of accessibility features for people who cannot use the computer without accessibility features enabled. Key sequences allow the user to turn on a specific feature temporarily. After the feature is enabled, users can use the Accessibility Wizard or Accessibility Options to configure the feature to their own needs or to turn on the feature permanently. The same key sequence turns off the feature.
These key sequences ordinarily do not conflict with keys that programs use. If such a conflict does arise, the user can disable the key sequence and still use the feature during the current session or by using the Accessibility Wizard or Accessibility Options to turn on the feature permanently. In a typical installation of Windows XP Professional, the accessibility key sequences are inactive by default to prevent them from conflicting with other programs.
You can also assign key sequences to frequently used programs, documents, or folders, and then use a shortcut key to open the object or make it the active window. To turn on the shortcut key for a feature, in Accessibility Options, click Settings for the feature, and select the Use Shortcut check box. You can also create shortcut keys to start programs from the Start menu.
As a precaution against accidental use, if the sound features for StickyKeys are turned on, pressing an accessibility shortcut key causes special tones to sound (a rising tone for activation and a falling tone for deactivation). A confirmation dialog box then appears, which briefly explains the feature and how it is turned on. A user who presses the shortcut key unintentionally can cancel the feature s activation at this time. The confirming dialog box also provides a quick path to more detailed help and to Control Panel settings for the shortcut key feature, in case the user wants to turn off the shortcut key permanently.
To assign a shortcut key to start a program
Create a shortcut to the object on the desktop or on the Start menu.
Display the properties for the shortcut by right-clicking the shortcut icon or name and then clicking Properties or by using SHIFT+F10.
Click the Shortcut tab, and then type the key combination that you want to assign to this object in the Shortcut Key box.
When a shortcut is placed on the desktop or on the Start menu, the user can press the shortcut key for the program at any time, and Windows XP Professional opens that window. Or, if the program is not running, the shortcut key starts it.
| Note | Some keyboard shortcuts might not work if the StickyKeys feature is enabled. |
Tables I-3 through I-7 list essential keyboard shortcuts for the user who has difficulty using the mouse or other input methods and must rely on the keyboard to navigate through Windows XP Professional. What the shortcut letter designates might vary in some configurations. In such situations, the user must also use directional arrows, the tab key, or repeat the same letter to arrive at the desired icon. The Microsoft Accessibility Web site includes a searchable database of keyboard shortcuts for many Microsoft products. For more information, see the Microsoft Accessibility link on the Web Resources Page at http://www.microsoft.com/ /windows/reskits/webresources.
| Accessibility Feature | Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Switch FilterKeys on or off. | RIGHT SHIFT for 8 seconds |
| Switch High Contrast on and off. | LEFT ALT+LEFT SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN |
| Switch MouseKeys on and off. | LEFT ALT+LEFT SHIFT+NUM LOCK |
| Switch StickyKeys on and off. | SHIFT 5 times |
| Switch ToggleKeys on and off. | NUM LOCK for 5 seconds |
| Open Utility Manager. | WINDOWS LOGO key+U |
| Accessibility Topics in Help | Key Sequence |
|---|---|
| Display Help and Support Center. | WINDOWS LOGO key, H |
| Select Accessibility for People with Disabilities. | TAB repeatedly to topic, ENTER |
| Enter a topic content area. | ENTER |
| Select a link. | TAB repeatedly, ENTER |
| Return to Help table of contents (move between panes). | F6 |
| Close Help. | ALT+SPACEBAR, C |
| Accessibility Wizard | Key Sequence |
|---|---|
| Start Accessibility Wizard. | WINDOWS LOGO key, P, A, RIGHT ARROW, ENTER |
| Select setting. | UP ARROW, SPACEBAR; or DOWN ARROW, SPACEBAR; or TAB, SPACEBAR for setting |
| Go to next screen or save settings. | ENTER |
| Close Accessibility Wizard. | ALT+F4 |
| Action | Key Sequence |
|---|---|
| Start Utility Manager. | WINDOWS LOGO key+U |
| Start Magnifier. | WINDOWS LOGO key+U, ALT+TAB, down-arrow to Magnifier |
| Start Narrator. | WINDOWS LOGO key+U, ALT+TAB, down-arrow to Narrator |
| Control Panel Action | Key Sequence |
|---|---|
| Go to the Start menu. | WINDOWS LOGO key or CTRL+ESC |
| Go to Control Panel. | WINDOWS LOGO key, C (or if another icon in the Start menu begins with C, you might need to use the tab key or directional arrows to reach the icon) |
| Select a Control Panel option. | Select the first letter of the option name, ENTER. If more than one option starts with the same letter, you might need to use the tab key or directional arrows to reach the correct icon. |
| Move focus to a tab (if present). | CTRL+TAB |
| Move focus to a dialog box. | TAB |
| Display predefined schemes (if present). | DOWN ARROW |
| Respond to the dialog box query Save the previous scheme? | Y for Yes, N for No, or ESC to close the dialog box without saving changes |
| Check/clear check boxes. | SPACEBAR |
| Move slider bars right or left. | CTRL+RIGHT ARROW or CTRL+LEFT ARROW |
| Close window | ALT+F4 |
Many software programs require the user to press two or three keys at a time. For people who type using a single finger or a mouthstick, that process is not possible. StickyKeys allows the user to press one key at a time and instructs Windows to respond as if the keys are pressed simultaneously. StickyKeys is especially useful when a user must press CTRL+ALT+DEL to log on to the computer.
To activate the StickyKeys feature
In Control Panel, in Accessibility Options, on the Keyboard tab, select the Use StickyKeys check box.
or
To activate StickyKeys from the keyboard, press SHIFT five times.
The following are tips for using StickyKeys:
When StickyKeys is on, pressing any modifier key (SHIFT, CTRL, WINDOWS LOGO, or ALT) latches that key down until the user presses a key that is not a modifier key. If the StickyKeys sound features are on, you hear a short low-pitched beep and then a high-pitched beep. When the next nonmodifier key is pressed, the modifier key(s) are released.
Pressing a modifier key twice in a row locks the key down until it is tapped a third time. If the StickyKeys sound features are on, you hear a short low-to-high sound after the first tap and a single high-pitched beep after the second tap. After a modifier key is locked, it stays locked until it is pressed a third time.
Any and all of the modifier keys (SHIFT, CTRL, WINDOWS LOGO, and ALT) can be latched or locked in combination.
For shared computers, there is an optional feature to keep other users from being confused when StickyKeys is left on. If the option Turn StickyKeys Off If Two Keys Are Pressed at Once is activated and two keys are held down simultaneously, StickyKeys automatically turns off.
Some people do not like to have keyboard sounds, although others find them useful. To turn feedback sounds on or off, in Accessibility Options, on the Keyboard tab select the StickyKeys check box; then either select the Make Sounds When Modifier Key Is Pressed check box to activate the feature or click the check box to clear it if the feature is already activated and you do not want it on.
To turn off the StickyKeys Locked mode, make sure the Press Modifier Key Twice to Lock check box is cleared.
To turn StickyKeys off, press SHIFT five times. This process triggers a high-to-low series of tones.
To turn StickyKeys on, also press SHIFT five times. This process triggers a low-to-high series of tones.
Windows XP Professional includes keyboard filters such as RepeatKeys and SlowKeys that work separately or in combination to make input easier for users who have difficulty with the keyboard because of slow response time, erratic motion tremors, or a tendency to repeat the keys inadvertently. To configure these keys, in Control Panel, in Accessibility Options, on the Keyboard tab, under FilterKeys, click the Settings button. Under Filter options, click Settings.
FilterKeys can perform the following functions:
RepeatKeys allows the user to adjust the repeat rate or ignore the key repeat function on the keyboard, which compensates for a tendency to hold a key down too long. Most keyboards allow the user to repeat a key just by holding it down. Although this automatic repeat feature can be convenient for some people, it poses a problem for individuals who cannot lift their fingers off the keyboard quickly. This feature can also compensate for a tendency to press the wrong key accidentally.
SlowKeys also instructs the computer to disregard keystrokes that are repeated quickly. This allows a user to brush against keys without any effect. By placing a finger on the proper key, the user can hold the key down until the character appears on the screen.
In Control Panel, the Keyboard option also allows users to alter character repeat rates.
| Note | For RepeatKeys, SlowKeys, or BounceKeys (which ignores repeated keystrokes for users who might accidentally press a key too many times), you must define the acceptance delay, which allows you to adjust the amount of time that you must hold a key down before the computer accepts it. |
Another useful FilterKeys feature is the option Beep When a Key Is Pressed. If this option is on and any FilterKeys functions are active, you hear a beep when you press a key or when a key repeats. For example, if SlowKeys is active, you hear a sound when a key is pressed and also when the computer accepts the key. This feature can be useful when the keyboard is set to respond differently than usual.
To adjust key repeat delay and speed
In Control Panel, click Keyboard, click the Speed tab, and then move the slider bar to adjust keyboard behavior.
Do the following:
To adjust how long you must hold down a key before it begins repeating, move the Repeat Delay slider.
To adjust how fast a key repeats when you hold it down, move the Repeat Rate slider.
ToggleKeys instructs Windows to play a high beep or a low beep when the lock keys NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK are on. This sound signals to the user that one of these keys has been turned on.
To make the mouse pointer automatically move to the default button (such as OK, or Apply) in dialog boxes and to reverse the buttons so that the right mouse button is the primary (index finger) button, use the Mouse option in Control Panel. Users can adjust other mouse settings, such as pointer speed and acceleration, left-right orientation, size, color, shape, time allowed between clicks, or animation. By selecting I am blind or have difficulty seeing things on screen and I have difficulty using the keyboard or mouse, users can also set several mouse options in Accessibility Wizard.
Although Windows XP Professional is designed so that users can perform all actions without a mouse, certain programs might require one. MouseKeys in Control Panel is also useful for graphic artists and others who must position the pointer with great accuracy. A user does not need a mouse to use this feature. With MouseKeys, users can control the mouse pointer with one finger or a mouthstick by using the numeric keypad to move the mouse pointer. In this way, users can click, double-click, and move objects as if they were using the mouse. To use shortcut keys to turn the MouseKeys on or off, select the Use Shortcut check box in the Settings for MouseKeys dialog box or click this check box to clear it.
To turn on MouseKeys from the keyboard
Press LEFT ALT+ LEFT SHIFT+NUM LOCK.
When MouseKeys is on, it emits a rising tone if sounds are turned on. If a user is using only one finger or a mouthstick to operate the computer, the easiest way to activate MouseKeys is to first activate StickyKeys by tapping the SHIFT key five times. The user can then press the three keys in sequence rather than simultaneously.
| Note | If FilterKeys is active, all the MouseKeys control keys respond according to the setting for FilterKeys. |
When MouseKeys is on, use the following keys to move the pointer on the screen:
On the numeric keypad, press any of the numbered keys immediately surrounding the 5 key (also called the arrow keys ) to move the pointer in the direction indicated by the arrows.
Use the 5 key on the numeric keypad for a single mouse-button click and the PLUS SIGN (+) key for a double-click.
To drag and release an object, place the pointer on the object and then press the INSERT key to begin dragging. Move the object to its new location, and then press DELETE to release it.
You can use the NUM LOCK key to toggle the MouseKeys control pad back to the numeric keypad and vice versa. This is especially useful with a portable computer that lacks a separate numeric keypad. On these computer keyboards, the numeric keypad is usually overlaid on top of the standard QWERTY keyboard. For example, if you are using the numeric keypad for number entry before starting MouseKeys, when you toggle out of MouseKeys by using the NUM LOCK key, you can enter numbers with the numeric keypad. If you are using the numeric keypad as a cursor keypad before starting MouseKeys, when you toggle out of MouseKeys by using the NUM LOCK key, you have a cursor keypad.
It can be useful to combine MouseKeys and a physical mouse. For example, you can use the standard mouse to move quickly around the screen and then use MouseKeys to move more precisely. Some people cannot use the standard mouse and simultaneously hold down the mouse button. Such users can use MouseKeys to lock down the currently active mouse button, move the mouse pointer by using MouseKeys or the standard mouse, and then release the mouse button by using MouseKeys.
ClickLock allows you to highlight or drag items on the screen without holding down the mouse button. When ClickLock is enabled, press the mouse button briefly to lock your click, and then highlight or drag an item, and then briefly press the mouse button again to release. To enable ClickLock, in Control Panel, click Mouse. On the Buttons tab, under ClickLock, click Settings, and then move the Settings for ClickLock slider to adjust how long you need to hold down the mouse button to lock the click.
SerialKeys is a feature designed for users who have difficulty using the keyboard or the mouse. It allows third-party add-on hardware or software, such as single switch or puff and sip devices to interact with the computer. You can enable SerialKeys from Accessibility Options. For more information about using SerialKeys with assistive technology, see Adding Assistive Technology Products later in this appendix.
Users who have hearing impairments or who work in a noisy environment can adjust the pitch and timbre of sounds, as well as the volume associated with various on screen events, to make them easier to distinguish. The sounds are customizable either by using Accessibility Wizard or by using Control Panel. Windows XP Professional provides sounds that users can associate with many events. These can be events generated either by Windows XP Professional or by programs. If users have difficulty distinguishing identifying a default sound, such as the beep to signal an inoperative keystroke, they can choose a new sound scheme or design their own scheme to make the sounds easier to identify.
If the computer has a sound card, users can adjust the volume for all of the sounds by using the Volume Control property sheet under Sounds and Audio Devices in Control Panel. They can also adjust the sound volume by using the speaker icon on the taskbar.
Some users require visual feedback instead of sound. Such users are likely to be interested in SoundSentry and closed captioning. The following features are useful to people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
ShowSounds, in Accessibility Options, instructs programs that are closed-caption-enabled to display visual feedback in the form of closed captioning. With ShowSounds enabled, information that is typically conveyed by sounds is provided visually as well, by the use of text captions, informative icons, or other visual cues.
This feature for users who are deaf or hard of hearing tells Windows XP Professional to send a visual cue, such as a blinking title bar or screen flash, whenever the system generates a sound. Enabling this feature allows users to see when the computer is generating sounds and to be aware of messages that they might not hear. To enable the SoundSentry feature, in Accessibility Options click the Sound tab, and then select the User SoundSentry check box. To select a visual cue, select an option from the Choose the visual warning drop-down list box.
| Note | If you choose to flash the active window s title bar, a visual cue might not be visible if the active window has no title bar. Some displays do not have a flashing border, so there is no visual cue when using this option on such display hardware. This is true of some liquid crystal displays typically found on portable computers. |
SoundSentry supports only those sounds the computer s internal speaker generates; it cannot detect sounds that are made using multimedia sound cards. If the computer has a multimedia sound card, you might need to disable this hardware to force the computer s built-in speaker to relay the sounds.
To disable the multimedia sound card
In the Control Panel option Sounds and Audio Devices, click the Hardware tab.
Select the sound card, and then click Properties.
On the Properties tab, expand Audio Devices.
Select the sound card, and then click Properties.
Select the Do not use audio features on this device check box.
Users with hearing impairments often rely on indicators, such as lights, to replace sound. If the indicator lights for the locking keys NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK are inactive, it can mean that the user selected the ToggleKeys feature in the Accessibility Options property sheet under Keyboard. To reactivate the indicator lights, click the ToggleKeys check box to clear it.
Microsoft NetMeeting is a package of features designed for Internet-based conferencing. NetMeeting allows users who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to communicate with others in the room or on the Internet though text messages and graphics sharing. It includes a real-time text-based chat feature that allows two or more users to communicate with other users. The bi-directional communication that NetMeeting provides is faster than that available with a TTY device and allows users to save transcripts of discussions. In addition, NetMeeting allows you to share applications, conduct video conferences, and use an electronic whiteboard to create diagrams or display existing ones.
Cognitive disabilities include developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome; learning disabilities; dyslexia; illiteracy; attention deficit disorder; memory loss; and perceptual difficulties, such as slow response time. In addition to third-party assistive technology, such as voice-input utilities, some built in Windows XP Professional features can be helpful to people with cognitive disabilities. Examples of such built in features include AutoCorrect and AutoComplete.
For some users, these features facilitate their work considerably. However, it is advantageous for some users with cognitive disabilities to clear, rather than select options such as AutoComplete or certain sound schemes. Such features can cause distractions, especially if the user is working with a text-to-speech utility. There are two types of AutoComplete that affect use of Windows Explorer and the Run box and which might be undesirable for users with certain cognitive disabilities. One is an automatic suggestion, with a drop-down list of Web sites with the same letters the user has typed. The other AutoComplete feature, called Inline AutoComplete, automatically completes a line if the user has typed it before. The first feature is turned on by default, but Inline AutoComplete is not. To change these defaults, perform the following steps.
To disable the site-address AutoComplete feature
In Control Panel, click Internet Options.
On the Content tab. click AutoComplete, and then clear the Web Addresses check box.
To activate the inline AutoComplete feature
In Control Panel, click Internet Options.
On the Advanced tab, select the Use Inline AutoComplete check box.
The FilterKeys feature allows users to adjust keyboard response time and ignore accidental pressing of keys. In both Accessibility Wizard and Control Panel, users can adjust keyboard response time to instruct Windows XP Professional to ignore accidental pressing of keys and slow response time. FilterKeys includes RepeatKeys and SlowKeys. With RepeatKeys, the user can instruct Windows XP Professional to ignore the automatic repeat feature or to slow down the keyboard repeat rate. SlowKeys requires keys to be held down for a specified period of time before the keystroke is accepted. BounceKeys is a FilterKeys option that instructs Windows XP Professional to ignore keystrokes that are faster than a set period of time.
Other options that are useful to people with cognitive disabilities are shortcut keys and other keyboard shortcuts, such as Quick Launch bar, status indicators on the notification area of the taskbar that show which features are on, and sound options. Sound schemes can help draw attention to, or provide additional feedback for, tasks as the user completes them. For a more extensive list of keyboard shortcuts, see Options for Users with Mobility Impairments earlier in this appendix.
SerialKeys allows third-party add-on hardware or software to interact with the computer. For example, you can use SerialKeys with third-party assistive technology that allows the user to press pictures rather than spelling out full words. You can enable SerialKeys from Accessibility Options in Control Panel. For more information about using SerialKeys with add-on hardware or software, see Adding Assistive Technology later in this appendix.
Snap To is helpful for people who have difficulty finding elements on a screen. The feature automatically moves the pointer to the default button in a dialog box. You can enable Snap To from the Mouse Control Panel option.
Certain visual elements, such as flashing images, can adversely affect users with seizure disorders. These can be disabled or adjusted. Users who experience seizures, including those with epilepsy, can adjust screen elements, such as timing, color and contrast, and sound by using Accessibility Wizard or Accessibility Options. The range of options in many of these features is expanded in Windows XP Professional.
Timing patterns can affect users in many adverse ways. Users who have seizures might be sensitive to screen refresh rates and blinking or flashing images. Users or administrators can also adjust the rate at which most objects flash to select a frequency that is less likely to trigger seizures, or they can prevent images from blinking or flashing at all.
Users who have seizures might be sensitive to the blink rate of screen images, such as the cursor. You can use the Keyboard option in Control Panel to adjust the rate at which the cursor blinks, or you can prevent it from blinking at all. On the Speed tab, move the Cursor blink rate slider all the way to the left to prevent the cursor from blinking.
Users who have seizures can be affected by specific sounds. Settings in Windows XP Professional can prevent the default loading of animations, videos, and sounds. By using Control Panel, users can also assign custom sounds to any event. The ability to customize sound schemes, whether by turning sound on or off or adjusting the volume up or down, is important for people with various kinds of disabilities as well as for other users.
In Accessibility Options users can adjust color and contrast settings to make objects on the screen easier to distinguish from one another. New to Windows XP Professional is an expanded spectrum of color schemes, customizable to suit a user s individual needs. For more detailed information about color and contrast settings, see Options for Users with Vision Impairments earlier in this appendix.