Mike
McBride
2002-02-11
3.00.00
KDE
KControl
accessibility

# Accessibility

## Introduction

This module is designed to help users who have difficulty hearing audible cues, or who have difficulty using a keyboard or mouse.

The module is divided into three tabs: Bell, Keyboard, Mouse.

### Bell

This panel is divided into an Audible Bell section and a Visible Bell section.

The top check box labeled Use System bell, determines whether the normal System bell rings. If this option is disabled, the System bell will be silenced.

The next check box down can be used to play a different sound whenever the system bell is triggered. To activate, place a mark in the check box labeled Use customized bell, and enter the complete pathname to the sound file in the text box labeled Sound to Play. If you want, you can select the Browse button to navigate through your filesystem to find the exact file.

For those users who have difficulty hearing the System bell, or those users who have a silent computer, &kde; offers the Visible bell. This bell can be configured to invert the screen, or to flash a color across the screen.

To use the visible bell, first place a mark in the check box labeled Use visible bell.

You can then select between Invert screen, or Flash screen. If you select Invert screen, all colors on the screen will be reversed. If you choose Flash screen, you can choose the color by clicking the button to the right of the Flash screen selection.

The slider bar can be used to adjust the duration of the visible bell. The default value is 500ms, or half a second.

### Keyboard

There are three sections to this panel.

Use Sticky Keys

  If this option is enabled, the user can press and release the &Shift;, &Alt; or &Ctrl; keys, and then press another key to get a key combo (example: &Ctrl; &Alt; Del could be done with &Ctrl; then &Alt; then Del).

  Also in this section is a check box labeled Lock Sticky Keys. If this check box is enabled, the &Alt;, &Ctrl; and &Shift; keys stay selected until they are de-selected by the user.

  As an example:

  With Lock Sticky Keys disabled:

    The user presses the &Shift; key, then presses the F key. The computer translates this into &Shift;F. Now if the user types a p, the computer interprets this as the letter p (no shift).

  With Lock Sticky Keys enabled:

    The user presses the &Shift; key, then presses the F key. The computer translates this into &Shift;F. Now if the user types a p, the computer interprets this as the letter P (&Shift;P).

Slow keys

  If this option is enabled, the user must hold the key down for a specified period of time (adjustable with the slider) before the keystroke will be accepted. This helps prevent accidental key strokes.

Bounce keys

  If this option is enabled, the user must wait a specified delay (configurable with the slider) before the next key press can be accepted. This prevents accidental multiple key strokes.

### Mouse navigation

Keyboard navigation helps people who have difficulty with track-balls, digital tablets and mice. These users can now configure &kde; to use the arrow keys on the numeric keypad as a replacement.

To enable this option, place a mark in the check box labeled Move mouse with keyboard.

You can use the 5 sliders to adjust the Acceleration delay, Repeat interval, Acceleration time, Maximum speed and Acceleration profile to your comfort.

## Section Author

This section written by Mike McBride mpmcbride7@yahoo.com