All, I'm running Fedora 8 with the Compiz-Fusion 0.6.0-x packages. Unfortunately, I don't have the Magnifier plugin that you mention in Ubuntu. I was able to see a demo of this on a YouTube video and it appears to be exactly what I was describing.
I'm not suggesting a reinvention of the wheel or a duplication of effort but I would really love to see this same feature as part of GNOME. My reasons are primarily selfish in that I don't want to have to run Compiz-Fusion just to see my Linux desktop and partly non-selfish in that I don't see a need to have the same hardware requirements as Compiz-Fusion just for the visually impaired to be able to use a Linux box (easily). Richard Powell JGJones wrote: > Sound like you've used the basic zoom plugin - which is a bit rubbish > to be blunt...as it only zoom into a specific area of desktop but > doesn't move. > > There are two plugins that's to do with magnification: > > Advanced Desktop Zoom - like Desktop Zoom, but does move around with > the mouse. However you see a part of the screen and so you'll have to > move the mouse around to see more. > > Magnifitor (this seem to be new as I had just upgraded to Ubuntu Hardy > Heron and this shows up as an option now) - what this does is very > similar to what someone mentioned earlier - compared to Windows' > magnifior tool - once enabled, it shows a configuable window which > moves with cursor around the screen. Inside this window (it have a > black border around it) everything is magnified. Hope this description > is clear - it's not like Windows in showing a fixed window at top of > screen etc. > > > On Tue, 2008-03-11 at 16:21 -0400, Richard Powell wrote: >> All, >> >> I essentially have two problems using Compiz-Fusion. First, it doesn't >> seem to recognize my keyboard/mouse of choice, i.e. it does recognize >> some of my other keyboard/mice. I use a KVM setup so I use a single >> keyboard and mouse and have spent a lot of time and money finding the >> one that works best for me. I really don't want to have to change if >> possible. Second, the "Desktop Zoom" feature is "static". In other >> words, it zooms in on a fixed, i.e. static, area. In trying to read >> text on a screen I need it to dynamically move as I scan the text. It's >> great in what it does but it does not lend itself to reading. >> >> Richard Powell >> >> JGJones wrote: >> > Just wondering... >> > >> > How is the Compiz's Zoom function for you? - I've mapped it to use the >> > <Super> (Win) key and so while I press the Windows key, and then >> > scroll the mouse wheel up - it'll zoom into around the cursor smoothly >> > as much as you want and the screen moves around with the cursor. >> > >> > You can zoom in and out as much as you wish anytime by pressing the >> > assigned key and moving mousewheel up and down - this is actually the >> > same as to how OSX does their zoom function. >> > >> > Obviously your suggestion is ideal for someone that can't use Compiz >> > for any reason though. >> > >> > BUT the reason I suggest Compiz was that you could make use of extra >> > features to help make things easier to see...for example I notice >> > there's a Negative plugin (reverse colours on screen) which could help >> > make things clear when it's needed etc and finally another plugin >> > called ADD Helper - the purpose of this tool is to dim all other >> > windows in the background so that the active window you are working on >> > is the only one that's "lit up" and all others behind is dimmed. >> > Switch to another window and that lights up and the previous will dim. >> > >> > Am aware that Compiz is not Gnome...but a lot of function could make >> > use of Compiz if supported no? >> > >> > Richard Powell wrote: >> >> All, >> >> >> >> I've been using GNOME for almost 10 years now. In 2003 I became >> >> legally blind (visually impaired). Since that time I have had to use >> >> a combination of tricks to allow me to see the screen well enough to >> >> use it. These "tricks" have included low resolution display setting, >> >> large monitors, extremely large font sizing and the use of a hand >> >> held magnifier. >> >> >> >> I've read through some of the discussions on this mailing list and it >> >> looks like the team members have some ambitious goals. I truly hope >> >> that these goals can and will be met. However, as a visually >> >> impaired GNOME user I know what would make GNOME much easier to use >> >> that I don't believe is nearly as ambitious. Microsoft introduced a >> >> feature with their mice a few years back that has solved my problem >> >> entirely on a Windows machine (which ironically is not as easy to >> >> setup for the visually impaired as GNOME). It's called "Magnify". >> >> Unlike Logitech's "Zoom" feature, which is little more than a button >> >> mapping to the text sizing function of applications such as Mozilla, >> >> "Magnify" actually pops up a magnification window around that mouse >> >> cursor. This window can be adjusted for size and magnification level >> >> by simple mouse controls. What this does for me and the other people >> >> that I have introduced to this, is it allows me to not have to change >> >> all my display and font settings and more importantly I no longer >> >> have to hold a magnifier in one hand while trying to use the computer >> >> with my other hand. >> >> >> >> I'm not sure what the effort level would be for this kind of task. I >> >> do know however that this feature has been the most useful feature to >> >> me (as a visually impaired person) since the introduction of the >> >> mouse itself. This may be a simpler solution that would solve the >> >> same issues that you are currently wrestling with. It's application >> >> independent and it's extremely flexible to the user. >> >> >> >> Richard Powell >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> gnome-accessibility-list mailing list >> >> gnome-accessibility-list@gnome.org >> >> <mailto:gnome-accessibility-list@gnome.org> >> >> http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-accessibility-list >> _______________________________________________ gnome-accessibility-list mailing list gnome-accessibility-list@gnome.org http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-accessibility-list
