Keyboard Accessibility Preferences
The Keyboard Accessibility preference tool allows you to set options such as filtering out accidental keypresses, using the keyboard as a substitute for the mouse, and using shortcut keys without having to hold down several keys at once. The Keyboard accessibility preference tool is also known as AccessX.
This section describes each of the preferences you can set. For a more task-oriented description of keyboard accessibility, see the GNOME Desktop Accessibility Guide.
To open the Keyboard Accessibility preference tool, do one of the following:
From the , choose ->->->.
In the Keyboard preference tool, click the Accessibility button.
You can customize the preferences for the keyboard accessibility in
the following functional areas:
Table 8.5, “Keyboard Accessibility Preferences” lists the basic keyboard accessibility
preferences that you can modify.
Table 8.5. Keyboard Accessibility Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
Enable keyboard
accessibility features
|
Select this option to enable keyboard accessibility features.
When you select this option, the other options in the preference tool become
available. |
Disable if unused
for
|
Select this option to deactivate keyboard accessibility preferences if the
keyboard is not used for a specified period of time. Use the slider to specify
the number of seconds of keyboard idle time required before the system disables
the keyboard accessibility preferences. When the specified number of seconds
elapses, the following keyboard accessibility preferences are disabled:
Bounce keys Mouse keys Slow keys Sticky keys Toggle keys |
Beep when features
turned on or off from keyboard
|
Select this option for an audible indication when a feature
such as sticky keys or slow keys is activated, or deactivated. |
Import Feature
Settings
|
Click on this button to import an AccessX configuration
file. |
|
Enable Sticky
Keys
|
Select this option to perform multiple simultaneous keypress operations by
pressing the keys in sequence. Alternatively, to enable the sticky keys feature,
press Shift five times.
You can set the following
sticky keys preferences:
Beep when modifier is pressed: Select
this option for an audible indication when you press a modifier key. Disable if two keys pressed together:
Select this option to specify that when you press two keys simultaneously,
you can no longer press keys in sequence to perform multiple simultaneous
keypresses. |
|
Enable Repeat
Keys
|
Select this option to enable the autorepeat settings for your keyboard. You
can set the following autorepeat preferences:
Delay: Use the slider or the spin box
to specify the interval to wait after the first keypress before the automatic
repeat of a pressed key. Speed: Use the slider or the spin box
to specify the number of characters per second to enter. |
Type to test settings
|
The
test area is an interactive interface so you can see how the keyboard settings
affect the display as you type. Type text in the test area to test the effect
of your settings. |
For more information on configuring keyboard accessibility preferences,
see the GNOME Desktop Accessibility Guide.
Table 8.6, “Filter Preferences” lists the filter preferences that
you can modify.
Table 8.6. Filter Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
Enable keyboard
accessibility features
|
Select this option to enable keyboard accessibility features.
When you select this option, the other options in the preference tool become
available. |
|
Enable Slow Keys
|
Select this option to control the period of time that you must press-and-hold
a key before acceptance. Alternatively, to enable the slow keys feature, press-and-hold Shift for eight seconds.
You can set the following slow
keys preferences:
Only accept keys held for: Use the slider
or the spin box to specify the period of time that you must press-and-hold
a key before acceptance. Beep when key is: Select the appropriate
option or options for an audible indication when a key is pressed, accepted,
or rejected. |
|
Enable Bounce
Keys
|
Select this option to accept a key input and to control the key repeat characteristics
of the keyboard. You can set the following bounce keys preferences:
Ignore duplicate keypresses within: Use
the slider or the spin box to specify the interval to wait after the first
keypress before the automatic repeat of a pressed key. Beep if key is rejected: Select this
option for an audible indication of key rejection. |
|
Enable Toggle
Keys
|
Select this option for an audible indication of a toggle keypress. You hear
one beep when a toggle key is turned on. You hear two beeps when a toggle
key is turned off. |
Type to test settings
|
The
test area is an interactive interface so you can see how the keyboard settings
affect the display as you type. Type text in the test area to test the effect
of your settings. |
For more information on configuring keyboard accessibility preferences,
see the GNOME Desktop Accessibility Guide.
Table 8.7, “Mouse Preferences” lists the mouse preferences that
you can modify.
Table 8.7. Mouse Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
Enable keyboard
accessibility features
|
Select this option to enable keyboard accessibility features.
When you select this option, the other options in the preference tool become
available. |
|
Enable Mouse Keys
|
Select this option to make the numeric keypad emulate mouse actions. The list of keys and their equivalences is in the GNOME Desktop Accessibility Guide under the heading To Enable the Keyboard to Emulate the Mouse.
You can
set the following mouse key preferences:
Maximum pointer speed: Use the slider
or the spin box to specify the maximum speed that the pointer moves across
the screen. Time to accelerate to maximum speed:
Use the slider or the spin box to specify the duration of the acceleration
time of the pointer. Delay between keypress and pointer movement:
Use the slider or the spin box to specify the period of time that must pass
after a keypress before the pointer moves. |
Mouse Preferences
|
Click on this button to open the Mouse preference tool. |
For more information on configuring keyboard accessibility preferences,
see the GNOME Desktop Accessibility Guide.
