I've been discussing this with a talented developer off-list and he's suggested that this might well be a project for the keyboard stack in the Kernel. My idea mimics the Hotkey app so that is the direction I was hoping to go. Remembering that this app would be for the end user, I was hoping we could gui it to that end, but again, I am a layman so I don't know the ramifications or difficulty level of this project. In that Linux is more of a modular DE and Windows is, well...Windows, their apps work across the DE and into Word and other addon apps. Finding a way for it to encompass the entire system might be a problem...unless of course the keyboard kernel driver was written.
There is no sense in reinventing the wheel and Macaroon looks like it could be adapted to work. Anyway, your input is important to me as I would like to pursue this possibility. "A child's exposure to technology should never be predicated on the ability to afford it." On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 11:20 AM, Steve Lee <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Ken > > There are a couple of macro programs available that I have heard of > but not tried > > xnee - http://www.gnu.org/software/xnee/ > Macaroon - http://live.gnome.org/Orca/RegressionTesting/W*The HeliOS > Project > 308A Highland Estates Drive > Round Rock Texas 78664 > > 512 689 > 6556*ritingTests#Macaroon<http://live.gnome.org/Orca/RegressionTesting/WritingTests#Macaroon> > > Macaroon is a developer tool but with a little wrapper code and polish > it could become an end user friendly tool > > Mind you it would be great to see something as awesome as autohotkey > [1] available on GNOME as this is a really powerful accessibility aid. > > Finally the specific problem you describe is browser specific and as > most distros include Firefox or it's easy to install you should also > look at the many accessibility features and pugins it has on Ken > Saunder's excellent access firefox site [2] > > 1:http://www.autohotkey.com/ > 2:http://accessfirefox.org > > -- > Steve Lee > > Full Measure - open source accessibility - http://fullmeasure.co.uk > > > On 11 November 2010 16:49, Ken Starks <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hello all. I joined this list in order to receive feedback and hope to > > generate a conversation about a much-needed feature in Linux and > > specifically Gnome. > > > > I am the founding director of The HeliOS Project. We accept broken or > > decommissioned computers, refurbish them and then give them to kids who's > > family cannot afford a computer. You can see a bit about what we do at > > http://www.heliosinitiative.org. > > > > We deal with many people with disabilities as well and some of the most > > prominent disabilities are muscular or coordination-limited people. If > you > > notice the URL I gave you as an example, it is a fairly long URL and many > > people we encounter would have problems in typing it. As loathe as I am > to > > mention it, in the Windows world, there is a freeware app called > shortkeys > > lite. Simply put, it is a macro app that can be set to type a line of > text > > by calling on a system key plus the hook key. When I set the program up > for > > instance, the alt key pressed in conjunction with any chosen letter or > > number key, my url would automatically appear. Of course, it can be set > to > > do any number of macros. > > > > I realize my lack of dev skills blind me to the complexity of writing > such a > > program but as a long-time Linux advocate, I have spent enough time in > the > > field to know that this would be an important and appreciated addition to > > the Gnome or Linux user. > > > > I appreciate your time and your hard work. > > > > "A child's exposure to technology should never be predicated on the > ability > > to afford it." > > > > _______________________________________________ > > gnome-accessibility-list mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-accessibility-list > > > > >
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