Thank you very much for the link to the extensions. I'm working on updating my version of GNOME so that I can use some of the extensions suggested. That one will be especially helpful.
Since I wrote my statements on xmag, I have spent some time with the zoom feature on the accessibility menu. Now that I've given it a good workout I like it very much. Hopefully once I get the other things worked out, I can get the residents together and show them how to use it. It is much simpler than xmag, so I think I have a good chance. On Mon, Jan 16, 2012 at 5:28 AM, Piñeiro <[email protected]> wrote: > On 01/14/2012 12:44 AM, Smitten wrote: > > Thank you for your response, and for the links. Extremely helpful. I > > hope I did this right. I sent to the list and to you. It's been a VERY > > long time since I worked through lists. *grin* > > > > With reference to: > > > > >>. Instead of going to the Applications view, I think > > is more sensible to configure the dash with your >>favorite applications > > > > How do you add applications to the dash which are not found in the > > applications menu? For example, I have installed xmag for a few of the > > users and I haven't found a way to add it to the dash. Drag and drop > > from the folder didn't work. Trying to drag the icon to the dash while > > the application was running didn't work. I have reverted to the old > > desktop and added it there, but I would like to use it as intended. I > > haven't tried GNOME Magnifier yet, as I have to install. > > Hi, I have just installed xmag and take a look. AFAIK, in order to add a > application to the Dash the application needs to provide a .desktop > file. And xmag doesn't provide it (for the same reason, xmag doesn't > appear on the applications menu as you said). Anyway, I'm not sure who > usually solves this, if the distro of the original developer. > > About GNOME Magnifier, in the case of GNOME 3 you don't need to install > anything. GNOME 3 has a built-in magnifier. That means that it is not a > different application, but the desktop itself can do the magnification. > You can try it but pressing that accessibility icon at the top right > corner, and activate Zoom. Unfourtunately, the configuration dialog is > still not available, but planned to be added on the release at March. > Anyway, it can be configured using the command line. I know that this is > not ideal (you mentioned dconf-editor, but this is somewhat more > low-level). So don't hesitate in asking specific commands. > > > > > > > With regards to: > > > > >>In fact, the GNOME design team has put special care to ensure that it > > >>can be used by those who have a low level of pointer control, either > > >>because they are not well practised at using pointing devices or our > > >>software, because they might not have good control over the hand and > > >>fingers, or because they are using low quality hardware. > > > > It takes more positioning of the mouse to navigate. Even if all you > > have to do is hover, the difficulty is getting the mouse pointer in > > position. If you increase the number of times, or increase the > > distance, the mouse has to be repositioned, you increase the > > difficulty of using your application for persons who have little > > control. For example I can't even switch between desktops (with a > > mouse) without first clicking on Activities, then moving to the > > opposite side of the page to nudge the widow that contains the > > desktops, and finally clicking on the desktop. Then I have to repeat > > it all to get back. Formerly I just clicked once on a window in the > > panel and I was there. There's an enormous amount of repositioning the > > mouse! She can't use keyboard shortcuts! She only has two fingers > > mobile on one hand. How can she press Ctrl, Alt, Tab? I found that one > > under the heading "Accessibility" in one of the links you provided. I > > think that's actually textbook for irony. *grin* > > Ctrl+Alt+Tab was also GNOME2 shortcut to set the keyboard focus on a > different region of the desktop. For this same reason I agree with you > that this is not a "accessibility switcher", it is just a utility dialog > if you want to use the desktop without the mouse, that it is not your > case (note to myself: contact that writer page to rewrite that). > > For the issue related with the desktop switching, there are a extension > to do that. Just in case: GNOME 3 provides a easy way to developers to > create custom extensions. This is the page: > > https://extensions.gnome.org/ > > There are two different extensions to add a workspace switcher: > > https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/21/workspace-indicator/ > https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/3/bottom-panel/ > > Although it is true that this doesn't solve the issues related to add a > new desktop. In my personal case, I also miss the possibility of having > some predefining desktops existing by default, instead of the current > default 1. But this is just my personal taste. > > > > > > Responding to: > > > > >>And about the Applications view, the applications are grouped like in > > >>the old way ... > > > > While you are correct that you still have "Accessories," "Games," etc > > in the same old order, first you have to click on "Activities" then > > you must click on "Applications" and finally you have to move your > > mouse pointer to the opposite side of the screen to click on the set > > you want. Once you do, you have to scroll through three screens to > > access Tetravex for example, while the old way I only had to move my > > mouse pointer about three inches on my little Netbook. I don't think > > the designers have thought this through. > > As far as I remember, designers were mostly thinking on doing the search > introducing some text. As you said, this is not really practical if you > want to use only the mouse to launch an application. > > For this case, there is the option of a extension setting you a menu > more similar to the one used at GNOME 2 > > https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/6/applications-menu/ > > > > > Additionally, while I was specifically speaking about control, as B is > > the person I'm most concerned about, there are many other problems > > that must be overcome for nursing home residents. The designers have > > made such a drastic change that the residents with memory issues are > > going to have a difficult time. > > > > I made some specialty icons for the desktop. For example an 82 year > > old preacher with Alzheimers is able to recognize the Bible on the > > desktop. When he clicks that it takes him to a Web site that lets him > > read and study the Bible, as he has for over 60 years. It's something > > he remembers how to do, but only if he sees that icon. > > Yes you are right, I didn't realize that you can't add a launcher on the > desktop itself (I never used too much that feature). Probably it would > be easier to create an extension. > > Having said so, and after proof-read my mail. IMHO, asking an user to > install and try 4 or 5 customs extensions are not practical. And at this > moment, it can be problematic to install a extension if you don't have > the specific desktop version. In the same way, if you need to add 4 or 5 > custom extensions this can be a sign that something is wrong. And most > of your comments shows not only accessibility issues, but IMHO, also > more general usability issues. > > > > > I've overcome most of these issues, however I did it by reverting BACK > > to the desktop. I am NOT able to use GNOME3 as it was intended to be > > used. Or rather I can (almost), although with more difficulty than > > before, but the residents can't. > > This is a pity, and shows that there are still a lot of room for > improvement. I hope that my comments would be useful somehow. Not sure > if you need all the extensions, but taking into account your comments, > probably the extension to have a GNOME2 applications menu could be useful. > > Thanks for the review and all the feedback. > > BR > > -- > Alejandro Piñeiro Iglesias > >
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