Chapter 5 Using the Assistive Technologies
The Java Desktop
System contains the following applications to enable users with a physical
disability to use the desktop:
The desktop applications and utilities
in the Java Desktop System
are also designed with accessibility and usability in mind. However, there
are some exceptions where the default applications are not suitable for users
with special needs. In these situations, you must change the default application
to an application that is suitable for all users, as described in the following
sections:
5.1 On-Screen Keyboard
The GNOME On-Screen Keyboard (GOK) application displays virtual keyboards on your desktop
that you can operate using the standard mouse pointer or alternative pointing
device. GOK displays the following types of keyboards:
-
Compose keyboards that enable you to compose text. To type
alphanumeric characters, you select the characters on the compose keyboard.
-
Dynamic keyboards that GOK generates
to reflect the applications that are currently running on the desktop. For
example, GOK generates keyboards that contain keys
to represent the applications that are running on your desktop or the menus
that are contained in an application.
To start GOK, click Launch,
then choose Applications -> Accessibility -> On-Screen Keyboard. For more information about the application, see the online
Help for GOK.
5.1.1 Maximizing Terminal for GOK Users
If you are a GOK user, you cannot use the Terminal application in Full Screen mode because the Terminal window obscures the GOK display.
To resize the Terminal window for use with the GOK application, perform the following steps:
-
Do not enable the Full Screen mode in Terminal.
-
Give focus to the Terminal window.
-
Press F10 to maximize the application.
5.2 Screen Reader and Magnifier
The screen reader and magnifier
application is called Gnopernicus. Gnopernicus enables users with limited vision, or no vision,
to use the Java Desktop
System and associated applications. Gnopernicus
provides the following functionality:
-
Screen reader
The screen reader enables non-visual access to standard applications
in the Java Desktop System,
using speech and Braille output.
-
Magnifier
The magnifier provides automated focus tracking and fullscreen magnification
to aid low-vision users.
To start Gnopernicus, click Launch, then choose Applications -> Accessibility -> Screen Reader and
Magnifier. For more information about the application,
see the online Help for Gnopernicus.
5.2.1 Disabling the Screensaver for Gnopernicus Users
To disable the screensaver, perform the following
steps:
-
Click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Display -> Screensaver.
-
In the Display Modes tabbed section,
deselect the Lock Screen After check box.
-
In the Mode drop-down list, select Disable Screen Saver.
-
Choose File -> Restart Daemon.
-
Choose File -> Quit to close the Screensaver Preferences dialog.
5.3 Displaying Online Help
The default
online Help application for the Java Desktop System might not be suitable
for some accessibility users. To change the default Help application for the
Java Desktop System to an alternative Help application, perform the following
steps:
-
Click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> File Associations.
-
Click on the arrow next to Internet Services.
-
Select the Gnome documentation entry.
-
Click Edit.
-
Replace the contents of the Program field
with the following command:
gnome-help "%s"
-
Click OK.
-
Click Close.
5.4 Displaying PDF Documents
The
default Portable Document Format (PDF) viewer application for the Java Desktop
System might not be suitable for some accessibility users. To change the default
PDF viewer application for the Java Desktop System to another PDF viewer application,
perform the following steps:
-
Click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> File Associations.
-
Click on the arrow next to Documents.
-
Click on the arrow next to Published Materials.
-
Select the PDF document entry.
-
Click Edit.
-
Enter the following command in the Program to run field:
/usr/bin/gpdf
-
Click OK.
-
Click Close.