Thread Subject: Re: Accessible utility keys

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From: Randy Marsden (Home)
Date: Thu, Mar 01 2007 1:40 PM

Thanks David. I believe what you are saying is true for most things - but
utility keys are different. For example, there is no way I know of to do
the equivalent of pressing on the power button via an external device
connected through the USB port while the computer is turned off. I know the
power button is assigned a key code, so I can use assistive technology to
turn the computer off, for example (via on-screen keyboards, etc). But then
how do I turn it back on?

There is a direct electrical connection internally in the hardware that
causes the computer to turn on when the power button is pressed. That
electrical connection is not extended to the standard ports, such as USB,
that I know of. Ditto for reset buttons. They are done through hardware
interrupts, so present a particular challenge.
------------------------------------------------
Randy Marsden
President & CEO, Madentec Limited
ATIA Global Policy Chair

780-450-8926 ext. 223
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =


> From: David Poehlman < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Reply-To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 14:57:25 -0500
> To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys
>
> Hi Randy,
>
> It flows through that anything doable frrom the keyboard is
> replicable through manyy modalities or am I missing something. I was
> merely plugging a hole in your example set it seemed. We deffinitely
> need standards language to address this.
>
> On Mar 1, 2007, at 2:43 PM, Randy Marsden (Home) wrote:
>
> But what if you can't press a key on the keyboard...? That's my
> point. Sit
> on your hands and then imagine how you'd do it. I don't believe the USB
> port allows for an external keyboard emulator, for example, to do the
> same
> thing as the built-in keyboard. The old Apple ADB protocol allowed for
> power-on from an external device, but when it was replaced by USB, that
> feature went away. Unless I'm missing something...
> ------------------------------------------------
> Randy Marsden
> President & CEO, Madentec Limited
> ATIA Global Policy Chair
>
> 780-450-8926 ext. 223
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>
>
>> From: David Poehlman < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> Reply-To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
>> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 14:32:27 -0500
>> To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
>> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys
>>
>> Hi randy and all,
>>
>> Al of the examples you site can be accomplishable via the keyboard
>> even if the device is turned off. On and off for instancee can be a
>> key instead of a switch or small button. computers have had warm
>> reset for quite a while and often, this is all that is needed. Some
>> apple keyboards have a power button which turnss the system on as
>> well as off. Iin other words,, I agree with thee importance of this
>> though the design is less invasive than it might seem.
>>
>> On Mar 1, 2007, at 1:36 PM, Randy Marsden (Home) wrote:
>>
>> I wanted to open a discussion item that we haven¹t addressed yet, but
>> that
>> is important to people with physical and mobility impairments. It
>> relates
>> to the use of ³utility keys² on hardware ­ things like the on/off
>> button,
>> reset button, volume keys, display brightness keys, and so on ­ with a
>> special emphasis on the Reset key and ON/Off keys. These are
>> controls that
>> can¹t be accessed via software.
>>
>> On/Off Button: Many people with mobility impairments can¹t access
>> these
>> keys, yet they become a critical part of the operation of the
>> device. AT
>> can¹t really help in the traditional sense, because the device may be
>> hung
>> (requiring reset) or simply turned off. In the old days, when the On/
>> Off
>> control was a toggle switch, special AT devices were developed that
>> turned
>> on and off the AC power to the computer (like a power bar), thus
>> effectively
>> turning the computer on and off. But now, with laptops and the
>> momentary
>> On/Off key, these solutions are no longer effective. Some AT
>> manufacturers
>> have gone to the extent of kludging solenoid actuators over the On/
>> Off key
>> and provided alternative access to that. But it is far from ideal.
>>
>> Reset Key: these are becoming more and more prevalent (and
>> necessary) on
>> portable devices, such as PDA¹s and Smartphones. It¹s a reality of
>> many of
>> these devices that sooner or later it will lock up and you¹ll need to
>> press
>> the reset button. These are usually recessed and require actuation
>> by a
>> stylus, paper-clip, or something else small. I believe most
>> manufacturers
>> view this as a necessary evil (or they wouldn¹t put a user-controlled
>> reset
>> switch there in the first place). You know, ³if all else fails,
>> press the
>> reset button². I know I have to press the one on my smartphone at
>> least 2
>> or 3 times a week. But how do people with mobility impairments do
>> this?
>> Many can¹t.
>>
>> These are not simple problems to solve. One suggestion is that if
>> there is
>> an expansion connector or slot provided on an IT device, that extra
>> pins be
>> assigned to perform the same function as the On/Off and Reset
>> buttons. In
>> this way, AT can connect to the device via the expansion connector and
>> provide alternative ways of ³pressing² the keys. Since most ports
>> now are
>> industry standard (USB, PC Card, etc), we may be talking about making
>> recommendations to those standards groups (outside of the TEITAC¹s
>> mandate,
>> I know, but could possibly be included as non-normative comments).
>> In any
>> case, I think it should be added as a ³should² item in 508. (I
>> know it
>> can¹t be a ³shall² item right now, since most existing IT products
>> don¹t
>> presently have this capability).
>>
>>
>> -Randy
>> ------------------------------------------------
>> Randy Marsden
>> President & CEO, Madentec Limited
>> ATIA Global Policy Chair
>>
>> 780-450-8926 ext. 223
>> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>
>>
>>

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