Thread Subject: Re: Accessible utility keys

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From: Sean Hayes
Date: Fri, Mar 09 2007 11:20 AM

This device http://www.welovemacs.com/usb-key-bt.html
seems to do it, but only on certain makes of Mac.

-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Randy Marsden
Sent: 09 March 2007 18:03
To: TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee
Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys

David:

Can you confirm for us that you are using your keyboard to turn on your computer from a COLD shutdown (as opposed to a sleep condition)? If so, what key do you use on the keyboard for that, and what computer are you using?
------------------------------------------------
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: Fri, 2 Mar 2007 05:46:18 -0500
> To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys
>
> Yes, It came from Mac Alley. Sorry for the potentially inaccurate
> spelling. I can dig it up later.
>
> On Mar 2, 2007, at 1:12 AM, Gregg Vanderheiden wrote:
>
> 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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