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KEYBOARD VIRTUOSITY:
CUSTOMIZING WINDOWS FOR MOUSE-FREE OPERATION

Copyright (c) Alan Cantor 2001. All rights reserved.

Alan Cantor
Cantor + Associates
Workplace Accommodation Consultants
32 Queensdale Avenue
Toronto Ontario M4J 1X9 Canada
phone 416 406 5098
fax 416 406 5498
acantor@interlog.com
 www.interlog.com/~acantor

Keyboard-only techniques are indispensable for individuals who are blind and who have low-vision; who operate computers with one finger, toe, or stump; who use head-pointers, mouth-sticks or similar appliances; who have mouse-induced repetitive strain injuries; and who have certain learning disabilities. In addition, knowing how to operate Windows without a mouse assists laptop owners, Windows UI programmers, Help Desk and other IT professionals, assistive technology trainers, and anyone requiring faster, less mouse-intensive ways to operate a PC. People who master the Windows keyboard-only interface can complete many tasks significantly quicker and with less energy expenditure than they can using a mouse or other pointing device.

When Windows and most Windows applications are installed, the default settings are not, in general, conducive to mouse-free operation. On the contrary, standard installations often feature objects that are hard (or impossible) to access by keyboard alone. During this session, I will describe and demonstrate dozens of ways to modify the appearance and operation of Windows and Windows applications to enhance keyboard-only access. Many of these techniques are undocumented or poorly documented.

Topics covered in this presentation include:

• Folder adjustments: Change folder options to create a more consistent, keyboard-friendly interface.
• Control Panel settings: Make the keyboard more responsive, adjust display settings to enhance the legibility of the screen (necessary for efficient keyboard-only access), and use built-in accessibility aids creatively.
• Start menu, Taskbar, and System Tray customizations: Organize and simplify the Start menu, hide unwanted toolbars, turn off inaccessible features, and remove unneeded icons from the Systray.
• Application-specific techniques: Reorganize and create menus and toolbars, change the appearance of the interface, and create custom shortcuts.
• "Wormhole techniques:" Discover and define shortcuts to perform tasks faster -- and with less energy -- than is possible using "standard" techniques. Wormhole techniques include unconventional use of Windows folders for file management, macro software, and global hotkeys (keyboard shortcuts that work in any context).

This material is based on a chapter in the presenter's forthcoming book on how to operate Windows without a mouse. For information about availability of the book, contact the presenter.

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