Thread Subject: Re: Accessible utility keys

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From: Jim Tobias
Date: Fri, Mar 02 2007 5:40 AM

Don't forget "wake on LAN", which turns on a computer when it receives a
signal over the LAN. This can be implemented in BIOS or in a hardware card.

******
Jim Tobias
Inclusive Technologies
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+1 732.441.0831 voice/tty
skype jimtobias
+1 908.907.2387 mobile

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gregg Vanderheiden [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
> Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 1:12 AM
> To: 'TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee'
> Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys
>
> Does it work with the laptop??
>
> If so - great.
>
> Need to also address PC's though.
>
>
> Gregg
> -- ------------------------------
> Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D.
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> > [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of David
> > Poehlman
> > Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 5:51 PM
> > To: TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee
> > Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys
> >
> > HI RANDY,
> >
> > I'VE A MAC KEYBOARD THAT HAS A POWER PUSH BUTTON ON IT. IT'S A USB
> > KEYBOARD AND IT WORKS. THIS SHOULD BE ADAPTABLE.
> >
> > On Mar 1, 2007, at 3:32 PM, Randy Marsden (Home) wrote:
> >
> > 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 haven't
> > addressed yet, but
> > >> that is important to people with physical and mobility
> > impairments.
> > >> It relates to the use of "utility keys" 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 can't be accessed via software.
> > >>
> > >> On/Off Button: Many people with mobility impairments
> can't access
> > >> these keys, yet they become a critical part of the
> > operation of the
> > >> device. AT can't 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 PDA's and Smartphones. It's a
> > reality of
> > >> many of these devices that sooner or later it will lock up
> > and you'll
> > >> 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
> > >> wouldn't put a user-controlled reset switch there in the first
> > >> place). You know, "if all else fails, press the reset
> button". 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 can't.
> > >>
> > >> 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
> > >> "pressing" 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 TEITAC's
> > mandate, I know,
> > >> but could possibly be included as non-normative comments).
> > >> In any
> > >> case, I think it should be added as a "should" item in
> > 508. (I know
> > >> it can't be a "shall" item right now, since most existing
> > IT products
> > >> don't 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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