Changes to the printed version
Since this document was published, the following changes have taken
place:
* The URL for special needs resources is now
http://www.ex.ac.uk/its/helpdesk/accessibility.html
* The URL for the online version of this document is now
http://www.ex.ac.uk/its/USE/B/sr6538.htm
University of Exeter Information Technology Services
Windows accessibility features
USE/B/Windows/3
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This page is Bobby approved Bobby Approved (v 3.1)
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Table of Contents
* 1 Introduction
* 2 Installing Accessibility Options
* 3 Activating the accessibility features
+ 3.1 Using Control Panel
+ 3.2 Using hotkeys or shortcuts
* 4 Features for users with low vision
+ 4.1 Enlarging user interface elements
+ 4.2 High-contrast colour schemes
+ 4.3 High Contrast mode
+ 4.4 A customisable mouse pointer
* 5 Features for easier keyboard and mouse input
+ 5.1 Activating key combinations with single presses
(StickyKeys)
+ 5.2 Adjusting the keyboard response sensitivity (FilterKeys)
+ 5.3 Using the keyboard to control the mouse
+ 5.4 Providing audio cues when toggle keys are used
(ToggleKeys)
* 6 Features for the deaf or hard of hearing
+ 6.1 Replacing the system beep with visual cues (SoundSentry)
+ 6.2 Replacing audio feedback with visual feedback
(ShowSounds)
* 7 The accessibility features timeout
* 8 References
* Appendix A: Emergency hotkeys
* Appendix B: Useful Windows 95 keyboard shortcuts
1 Introduction
Information about special needs resources for IT is available on the
World Wide Web (see Reference A) at the URL
http://www.ex.ac.uk/ecu/special_needs/. [Note: The URL for special
needs resources has changed to
http://www.ex.ac.uk/its/helpdesk/accessibility.html.] An online
version of this document is available at
http://www.ex.ac.uk/ecu/USE/B/sr6538.htm. [Note: The URL for the
online version of this document has changed to
http://www.ex.ac.uk/its/USE/B/sr6538.htm.] It may be possible to
provide a customised version of this document for users who cannot
comfortably read the standard printed or online versions; please
contact Information Technology Services Reception (Ext 3939) or send
e-mail to [log in to unmask] with details of your special
requirements.
Windows 95 offers many features that make computing more accessible
for anyone with a disability. This document explains these features
and how they can be used to make the use of computers more
comfortable. All Windows 95 accessibility features are carried over to
Windows 98, including the methods of setting them via Control Panel.
Additional features available in Windows 98 include an accessibility
wizard that makes it easier to set the various features based on type
of disability, and a screen magnifier that shows part of the screen in
a separate window magnified up to nine times.
Windows 95 accessibility features are intended to help users with
limited vision, who have difficulty using a keyboard or mouse, and/or
who are deaf or hard of hearing. In practice, a number of the features
described in this document may help any user.
In addition there are general accessibility features that may prove
useful. These include hotkeys to activate most of the accessibility
features, a user-specified time-out for these features and an optional
on-screen status indicator for the accessibility features. Online help
is also available.
In clusters of PCs that are managed by IT Services the accessibility
options have all been installed and the hotkeys have been activated.
On these PCs any accessibility features that have been altered will
revert to the usual settings when the PC is restarted; changes to the
accessibility features will not normally be lost when other PCs are
restarted.
This document assumes a basic knowledge of Windows 95; Reference B
describes available tuition for Windows 95.
2 Installing Accessibility Options
If the Accessibility Options icon is not visible when you open Control
Panel (as described in Section 3.1 below), you can install the options
by double-clicking on Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel, then
clicking on the Windows Setup tab, clicking on Accessibility Options
and finally clicking on OK. If this is successful your Control Panel
will now contain the Accessibility Options icon.
3 Activating the accessibility features
The accessibility features can be controlled in two ways, as described
below.
3.1 Using Control Panel
There are three icons in Control Panel that can be used to make the
various settings discussed in this document. Control Panel is accessed
by clicking on the Windows 95 Start button on the task bar (this can
also be selected by pressing the Ctrl and Esc keys together), then
selecting Settings (or press the S key) and then Control Panel (or
press the C key). The Accessibility Options icon in Control Panel
controls most of the accessibility features in Windows 95. These
options allow users to turn the accessibility features on or off and
to customise the keyboard, sound, display, and mouse operation for
their own particular needs.
In addition some of the options discussed are chosen via the Display
and Mouse options in Control Panel.
Note that Control Panel can be navigated with either the mouse or via
keyboard strokes. For example the Tab key can be used to move to the
next option in a Control Panel property settings tab, and Ctrl + Tab
(holding down the Ctrl key and pressing the Tab key) can be used to
move to the next property settings tab. Within any of these settings
tabs, each option can be chosen by a single keyboard letter, eg S or s
for Scheme. These keyboard alternatives are mentioned in the text.
3.2 Using hotkeys or shortcuts
The emergency hotkeys provide an alternative method of activating
accessibility features, for people who cannot use the computer without
first having accessibility features in effect. Also known as
shortcuts, the emergency hotkeys allow the user to temporarily turn on
the specific feature needed.
As a precaution against accidental use, pressing an emergency hotkey
causes special tones to sound (a rising siren tone for on, and a
falling siren tone for off), and causes a confirmation dialog box to
appear, briefly explaining the feature and how it was activated. If
the hotkey was pressed unintentionally, the user can cancel the
feature's activation at this time. This can be done by pressing either
the Esc key or the Cancel button (selected by pressing the Tab key
once). The confirming dialog box also provides a quick path to more
detailed help and to the Control Panel Settings option (press Tab
again or press S) for the hotkey feature, in case the user wants to
enable or disable the hotkey permanently.
Before the hotkeys will work they must be switched on in the
appropriate Control Panel Settings dialog box. All available hotkeys
are switched on by default in clusters of PCs that are managed by IT
Services.
If a feature can be activated or deactivated by a hotkey, this is
explained in the appropriate section below. All hotkeys are listed in
Appendix A for reference.
4 Features for users with low vision
Windows 95 offers several enhancements designed to make the system
more accessible and easier to use for people with low vision.
4.1 Enlarging user interface elements
Users who have visual impairments or who suffer eyestrain while using
a computer can adjust the sizes and colours of window titles, scroll
bars, borders, icons, menu text, and other standard screen elements.
Some of these changes can be made via Control Panel Display options.
Options are available under the Appearance tab to customise various
schemes, fonts and items.
Users can also choose between two sizes for the built-in system font.
This is done via Control Panel. Under Display, choose the Settings tab
(Ctrl + Tab three times) and select Large Fonts or Small Fonts in the
Font Size drop-down box. Note that the selections are greyed out if
your Desktop Area is set at 640 by 480 pixels. This option is not
available on PCs in clusters that are managed by IT Services.
Some applications (including Word, Excel and Access) allow further
customisation, such as large toolbar buttons and Zoom, which helps
some users with visual impairments.
4.2 High-contrast colour schemes
Windows 95 also allows users to choose from several sets of screen
colour options designed both to match users' individual tastes and to
meet their visual needs. The schemes in Windows 95 include
high-contrast colours designed to optimise the visibility of screen
objects, making it easier for users with visual impairments to see
them.
In Control Panel, choose the Display options, select the Appearance
tab (Ctrl + Tab twice) and choose from one of the high-contrast,
large, or extra large options in the drop-down Scheme (or press S)
list. Press H to reach the high-contrast schemes in the list. Select a
scheme and click on OK or press the Enter key.
4.3 High Contrast mode
If the colour changes discussed in the previous sections are not
sufficient to enable you to see the screen clearly, you could try
using the High Contrast mode.
Many users with low vision require a high contrast between foreground
and background objects to be able to distinguish one from the other.
For example, they may not be able to easily read black text on a grey
background or text drawn over a picture.
Users can set an accessibility option to make Windows 95 present
information with high contrast. This can be activated via
Accessibility Options in Control Panel. Go to the Display tab (Ctrl +
Tab twice) and select Use High Contrast (press U).
There is also a Settings (press S) menu that offers the choice of
White on black (the default, press W), Black on white (press B), or
Custom (press C and select a scheme).
Click on Apply (press A) or OK (press Enter) for these settings to
take effect.
There is a hotkey combination to activate High Contrast mode: press
the left Alt, left Shift, and Print Screen keys simultaneously.
4.4 A customisable mouse pointer
Users who have difficulty seeing or following the mouse pointer can
set the characteristics described below (via the Mouse options of
Control Panel) in order to improve visibility of the mouse pointer.
4.4.1 Pointer size
Select the Pointers tab (Ctrl + Tab). If the Scheme (press S)
drop-down list contains Windows Standard (extra large) and Windows
Standard (large), select one of these. (If the large schemes do not
appear in the list, it may be possible to install them.)
4.4.2 Speed of the pointer
This is controlled in the Motion tab (Ctrl + Tab twice from entering
the options dialog). Move the pointer speed indicator by dragging or
using the left or right arrow keys to decrease or increase the speed
respectively.
4.4.3 Visible trails of pointer movement
This is controlled in the Motion tab (Ctrl + Tab twice from entering
the options dialog). Select Show pointer trails (press O).
4.4.4 Animated hourglass
Windows 95 features an animated hourglass pointer for better viewing.
To activate this, select the Pointers tab (Ctrl + Tab from entering
the options dialog) and then select the animated hourglass from the
Scheme drop-down list. This can be achieved by pressing the S key and
then using the arrow keys to move up or down in the list. To apply the
change press the A key or click on OK (press the Enter key).
5 Features for easier keyboard and mouse input
This section describes accessibility features that assist users who
may have difficulty using the keyboard or the mouse.
Note that even without installing accessibility features you can use
the Tab key in dialog boxes to move to the next option and use the
arrow keys to select items in a list. In dialog boxes that have
multiple property sheets, you can press Ctrl + Tab to select each
property sheet in order from left to right.
5.1 Activating key combinations with single presses (StickyKeys)
Many software programs require the user to press two keys at once,
which is impossible for users who type with a single finger or a
mouthstick. The StickyKeys feature allows users to press one key at a
time and instructs Windows to respond as if two keys had been pressed
simultaneously.
StickyKeys is turned on via Control Panel. In the Accessibility
Properties menu (obtained by double-clicking on the Accessibility
Options icon) select the Keyboard tab (the first one) and then select
the Use StickyKeys option (press U). This is a toggle; clicking here
or pressing U again switches the feature off. Click on Apply (press A)
to apply the change without closing the dialog box or click on OK
(press Enter) to make the change.
Users can also turn the feature on or off using the emergency hotkey:
press the Shift key five consecutive times.
Once the feature is on:
* An icon appears in the right-hand side of the taskbar to show
which of the modifier keys (ie Ctrl, Shift or Alt) have been made
'sticky'.
* Pressing any modifier key latches that key down until the user
presses any other non-modifier key.
* Pressing any modifier key twice in succession locks the key down
until it is pressed a third time.
* Pressing any two modifier keys at once switches StickyKeys off
altogether.
5.2 Adjusting the keyboard response sensitivity (FilterKeys)
The sensitivity of the keyboard can be a significant problem for some
individuals, eg those who often press keys accidentally because of a
tremor or who cannot remove their fingers from keys quickly. Windows
95 includes a series of FilterKeys features that are designed to work
either individually or in combination to compensate for problems in
keyboard usage. These features are called SlowKeys, RepeatKeys, and
BounceKeys.
Users can adjust FilterKeys functionality using the Accessibility
Options icon in Control Panel. In the Keyboard tab (the first one)
select FilterKeys (press F) and then Apply (press A) to switch them
on.
Once switched on, each keystroke will be accompanied by a beep.
Various settings can be changed by selecting the FilterKeys Settings
menu (press E); the changes only take effect after the Apply button
(or A) has been pressed.
A stopwatch icon appears in the right-hand side of the taskbar when
FilterKeys is on.
5.2.1 Ignoring keystrokes that are repeated quickly (BounceKeys)
Once a key has been pressed, users can control how soon the next
allowed keystroke can be pressed using the BounceKeys feature. In the
Settings for FilterKeys dialog box, select Ignore Repeated Keystrokes
(press O). Then press S for Settings. Now select a time period between
0.5 and 2 seconds by using the right arrow and left arrow respectively
in 5 steps of 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 seconds.
For example, if set to the longest setting (2.0 seconds), you cannot
activate another key until 2 seconds have elapsed; any keys pressed
sooner than this are ignored.
For the settings available here to take effect you must click on OK
(press Enter) in the Settings dialog box.
5.2.2 Disregarding short keystrokes (SlowKeys)
SlowKeys instructs Windows 95 to disregard keystrokes that are not
held down for a minimum period of time. This allows a user to brush
against keys without any effect, and when the user gets a finger on
the proper key, the key can be held down until the character appears
on the screen.
These settings are accessed via the Ignore quick keystrokes and slow
down the repeat rate (press N) option within the Settings for
FilterKeys box (press E). In this box go to the SlowKeys section
(press K). Enter a time for which keys must be kept pressed before
they are activated. This figure can also be increased or decreased by
using the right arrow and left arrow respectively in 7 settings of 0,
0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.4 and 2.0 seconds.
For example, if set to the longest setting (2.0 seconds), a key must
be held down for 2 seconds before it is activated; any keys pressed
for less than this are ignored.
5.2.3 Switching off the keyboard repeat
Normally, holding down a key makes it appear many times until it is
released. The keyboard repeat can be switched off altogether, meaning
that holding a key down will only ever show it once. This setting is
accessed via the Ignore quick keystrokes and slow down the repeat rate
(press N) option within the Settings for FilterKeys box (press E). The
first option in this box is No keyboard repeat (press N).
5.2.4 Slowing down the keyboard repeat
As an alternative to switching the keyboard repeat off, the repeat
rate can be slowed down. This setting is accessed via the Ignore quick
keystrokes and slow down the repeat rate (press N) option within the
Settings for FilterKeys box (press E). The second option in this box
is Slow down keyboard repeat rates (press S). Setting this option will
cause the keyboard to repeat more slowly. There are fine settings
available here too - you can control the repeat delay (how soon the
second key appears after the first is pressed) and the repeat rate
(how often the key repeats once it has been held down).
5.2.5 Keyboard sensitivity hotkeys
Specific FilterKeys features can be turned on or off using an
emergency hotkey. Holding down the right Shift key for eight seconds
causes a single sound to play and activates this group of features
with the user's default settings.
If those settings are not appropriate, holding down the key for 12
seconds causes two quick beeps to sound, and turns on the BounceKeys
and RepeatKeys features, with their most conservative settings.
Holding down the key for 16 seconds causes three quick beeps to sound,
and turns on the SlowKeys and RepeatKeys features with their most
conservative settings.
5.3 Using the keyboard to control the mouse
If you find that using the mouse is hard but not impossible, you can
change the button configuration or double-click speed of the mouse.
This is done via the Mouse options in Control Panel. Select the
Buttons tab (this is the default tab in the Mouse options) and select
settings there.
If you are unable to use a mouse at all, the MouseKeys feature will
let you control the mouse pointer using the keyboard. The easiest way
to switch on the MouseKeys feature is to use the hotkey: Left Alt +
left Shift + Num Lock. All MouseKeys functions are activated using
keys on the numeric keypad on the right hand side of the keyboard.
The method using Control Panel is to open the Accessibility Options
and select the Mouse tab (Ctrl Tab three times) and then select the
Use MouseKeys checkbox (press M). Then select Apply (press A). There
is also a Settings option (press S) which enables you to control the
top speed and acceleration of the mouse. With MouseKeys the Num Lock
key acts as a toggle, switching MouseKeys on or off. The default is
that MouseKeys is on when Num Lock is on; in the Settings for
MouseKeys dialog box you can switch this function round.
When MouseKeys is on an icon appears on the taskbar showing which
mouse keys are in use.
With MouseKeys on you can interact with the mouse pointer as described
below.
5.3.1 Selecting a mouse button
When MouseKeys is on, the left mouse button is selected by default.
Note that it is only selected; you need to press other keys (see
below) to simulate a single or double click. You can select any of the
mouse buttons:
* For the left button, press the numeric pad / key.
* For the right button, press the numeric pad - key.
* For the middle button (emulated by left and right together), press
the numeric pad * key.
Note that there is also a general Windows 95 keyboard shortcut for
selecting the right-mouse pop-up menus: Shift + F10.
5.3.2 Single click
To simulate a single mouse click with the currently selected mouse
button, press the 5 key on the numeric keypad.
5.3.3 Double click
To simulate a double mouse click with the currently selected mouse
button, press the + key on the numeric keypad. You only need to press
it once.
5.3.4 Moving the mouse
Press any number key except 5 on the numeric keypad - these keys are
also called the direction keys - to move the pointer in the directions
indicated in Figure 1 below. For example, to move the pointer down and
to the left you would use 1 on the numeric keypad.
-----------------------------------------
| | | | |
| (Num | Left | Both | Right |
| Lock) | button | buttons | button |
-----------------------------------------
| | | | |
| Up + | Up | Up + | |
| left | | right | Double |
------------------------------| |
| | | | click |
| Left | Click | Right | |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------
| | | | |
| Down + | Down | Down + | |
| left | | right | (Enter) |
------------------------------| |
| | | |
| Button lock | Button | |
| | release | |
-----------------------------------------
Figure 1 The keys on the numeric keypad that control the mouse pointer
You can 'jump' the pointer in large increments across the screen by
holding down the Ctrl key while using the direction keys.
You can move the mouse a single pixel at a time for greater accuracy
by holding down the Shift key while using the direction keys.
5.3.5 Dragging an object
To drag an object, point to the object, press the Ins key to lock the
mouse button and begin dragging, move the object to its new location,
then press the Del key to release the button and drop the object. When
a mouse button is locked down with the Ins key, the icon on the
taskbar becomes filled rather than shaded.
5.4 Providing audio cues when toggle keys are used (ToggleKeys)
This feature applies to the Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock keys.
The ToggleKeys feature provides audio cues - high and low beeps - to
tell users whether a toggle key is active or inactive respectively.
To switch on ToggleKeys, select Accessibility Options in Control Panel
and in the Keyboard tab (the first one) select Use ToggleKeys (press
T). Repeat the process to switch ToggleKeys off. You must then click
on Apply (press A) or OK (press Enter) for the change to take effect.
The keyboard shortcut is to hold down the Num Lock key for 5 seconds.
6 Features for the deaf or hard of hearing
Windows 95 offers several enhancements designed to make the system
more accessible and easier to use for people whose hearing is
impaired.
6.1 Replacing the system beep with visual cues (SoundSentry)
SoundSentry tells Windows to send a visual cue, such as a blinking
title bar or screen flash, whenever the system beeps.
SoundSentry can be activated via Accessibility Options in Control
Panel. You can control how this feature works by selecting the Sound
tab (Ctrl + Tab), then pressing S to use SoundSentry, then choosing
the Settings option (press E). You can then choose between making the
active caption bar, active window or entire desktop flash.
This feature might be useful to those who are deaf or hard of hearing,
who work in a very noisy environment, or who turn off the computer's
speakers in a very quiet working environment.
6.2 Replacing audio feedback with visual feedback (ShowSounds)
This is known as the ShowSounds feature.
Some applications present information audibly, as waveform files
containing digitised speech or through audible cues that each convey a
different meaning. These cues might be unusable by a person who is
deaf or hard of hearing.
With ShowSounds set, co-operative applications will display 'closed
captions' instead of sounds. This feature can be turned on via
Accessibility Options in Control Panel. Select the Sound tab (Ctrl +
Tab), and click the Use ShowSounds checkbox (press H).
7 The accessibility features timeout
The timeout feature can be set to turn off accessibility functionality
after the computer has been idle for a certain period of time. It then
returns the operating system to its default configuration. This
feature is useful on computers shared by multiple users. To alter the
default reset time (5 minutes), select Accessibility Options in
Control Panel and then select the General tab (Ctrl + Tab four times).
Then either change the Turn off accessibility features after idle for:
checkbox setting (press T) or change the reset time in the numeric box
provided (press Tab twice to get to this box). Then press OK (or
Enter).
8 References
A Accessing the World Wide Web at Exeter
USE/O/WWW/1.3
B Microsoft Windows 95 at Exeter
USE/B/Windows/2.1
Appendix A: Emergency hotkeys
The following table summarises the available hotkeys. The various
functions are explained in this document.
To turn on the function Press these keys
StickyKeys Shift five times
MouseKeys Left Alt + left Shift + Num Lock
FilterKeys, with default settings Right Shift and hold down for 8
active seconds
FilterKeys, with SlowKeys and Right Shift and hold down for 12
RepeatKeys set to the most seconds
conservative values
FilterKeys, with BounceKeys and Right Shift and hold down for 16
RepeatKeys set to the most seconds
conservative values
ToggleKeys Num Lock and hold down for 5 seconds
High Contrast key Left Alt, left Shift and Print
Screen keys simultaneously
Appendix B: Useful Windows 95 keyboard shortcuts
The shortcuts mentioned here are always available but may be
especially useful to people with disabilities. A complete list can be
found in the file 'tips.txt' in the Windows directory on your hard
disk.
Operation Shortcut
Start menu Ctrl + Esc
Cycle through active windows Alt + Tab until you have
selected the one required
Bring up right-mouse pop-up window Shift + F10
Go to next option in a dialog box Tab
Go to next property sheet in a dialog box Ctrl + Tab
Help F1
Close a program or window or shutdown Windows Alt + F4
Display Properties sheet for selected object Alt + Enter
Refresh Explorer F5
Rename a selected folder, document or shortcut F2
Copy selected text to clipboard Ctrl + C
Cut selected text to clipboard Ctrl + X
Paste selected text from clipboard Ctrl + V or Shift + Ins
Find a file (from desktop, Explorer and folder F3
windows)
Save (from within a program) Ctrl + S
Print (from within a program) Ctrl + P
Undo Ctrl + Z
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