Thread Subject: Re: BIOS Accessibility (TETIAC) - from within Windows - ThinkPad solution

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From: Phill Jenkins
Date: Thu, Jul 12 2007 1:50 PM

Rob, don't DELL laptops and desktops have access to the BIOS settings from
an application running on the operating system? IF true, then at least 3
of the top manufactures have this feature.

Lenovo (IBM) ThinkPad has an accessible interface (keyboard, labeled,
etc.) to the BIOS settings via ThinkPad Configuration.
Here is a screen shot of ThinkPad Configuration.


ThinkPads also allow for the setting of "sticky keys" for the function
(Fn) keys that are not controlled by what ever operating systems is loaded
and audible (beeps) password prompting before the OS and screen reader is
loaded. I believe only ThinkPads offer these accessibility features.


See the following for more info about accessibility and "comfort"
features:
http://www-03.ibm.com/able/solution_offerings/comfort.html

Regards,
Phill Jenkins
IBM Research - Human Ability & Accessibility Center
http://www.ibm.com/able




Gregg Vanderheiden < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent by: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
07/12/2007 12:53 PM
Please respond to
TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >


To
"'TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee'"
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >, "'TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee'"
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >, "'TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware)
subcommittee'" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
cc

Subject
[teitac-general] BIOS Accessibility (TETIAC) - from within Windows -
HP solution






We talked about having an application in Windows that would set the BIOS
values. HP does this as a standard provision in their current laptops.

The BIOS provides WMI (Windows Management Interface) for exploring and
changing BIOS configuration settings under Windows.

The GUI is provided through HP ProtectTools and the plug-in is called BIOS
Configuration.

The ProtectTools utility is under the START menu in a folder labeled âHPâ.
A screen shot of the utility is provided below

Thanks Michael for the pointer and for doing things like this at HP.

(Picture courtesy of my own laptop)

Gregg
-- ------------------------------
Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D.

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