Wow John, that was some post all right. I've owned two internet keyboards in
my time in fact I'm typing on such an animal right now and I can tell you
that my experience they work better with jaws if you don't install any extra
software at all. Sure some of the special keys don't work at all or even do
their unique tricks that's the way it goes. It's because of the way jaws
works by intercepting every key stroke to determine if it is a jaws command
or not, and those special software packages interfere with that
functionality. In fact this is a wireless keyboard made by gateway.
David Ferrin
Personal Email Address
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Justice" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 3:55 PM
Subject: [JAWS-Users] JAWS AND LOGITEK LASER KEYBOARDS
Hi group:
I don't post much here because I find your discussions more interesting than
anything I normally have to offer. But, recently, more as a chance than by
plan, I ended up buying a Logitech laser keyboard from my local Best Buys
store. I never expected any trouble but boy did I get it. I'll explain in
some detail but for the moment, know this. If you want to use one of these
wireless keyboards, you don't need the disk which accompanies the purchase
in spite of everything the manufacturer tells you. The keyboard works just
fine without it. But why do I need a laser keyboard, you might ask? My
friends, this keyboard can move anywhere within 30 feet of the computer and
still function just as if it was hard wired to the PC. You can literally
sit across the room and operate your computer. Last night, just for fun, I
stretched out on a lounge chair and rested the keyboard on my stomach.
After some experimentation as to exact location, I was able to use it quite
easily. For us, as blind computer operators, the advantages are in the fact
that no extensive wiring is required. Once the antenna has been installed,
that's all the wiring needed.
SETTING UP THE LOGITECH WIRELESS
KEYBOARD AND MOUSE:
CONTENTS OF SHIPPING CONTAINER:
Please check and note all of these items before you begin. If anything is
missing, return the unit immediately to the store. There are 2 tampering
seals on the front flap of the box. If either or both of those seals are
broken, do not purchase the unit. It should be completely sealed at time of
purchase. However, most stores will permit you to open the container to
verify that all of the contents are present. Nobody's perfect. In order to
open the box, the seals will have to be broken. Unless there is something
wrong with the contents of this container, please try to take that box as
your purchase since other customers will have the same concern as you do
about missing items or security.
The box should contain the following.
ONE WIRELESS KEYBOARD,
ONE WIRELESS MOUSE,
ONE ANTENNA ASSEMBLY,
ONE SOFTWARE CD,
2 SETS OF BATTERIES, DOUBLE AND TRIPLE-A,
INSTRUCTION SHEET:
INSTALLING THE ANTENNA:
This small device looks a lot like the antennas used in XM radio receivers.
It can rest comfortably on any flat surface although the designers recommend
that you avoid placing the antenna on a metal surface. That leaves the top
of your tower out. We used a small piece of Velcro and attached the flat
side of the antenna to a convenient shelf. There's a "Connection" button
on the front side of the antenna which you will need access to at times. So
wherever you install it, make it reachable. There are 2 ways to attach the
antenna to your PC. You can use the 2 PS2 connectors which are provided and
place them in the same positions as your keyboard and mouse. The keyboard
connector is fitted with an adapter and that makes it easy to determine
which plug is which. The second way to connect the antenna is with a USB
port. The adapter should be removed from the keyboard side of the cable,
then the remaining USB jack should be fitted into any convenient port
designed for that purpose. In that case, the second connecting cable hangs
free because it isn't needed. If you use the USB option, just fold the
second lead back and tape it into place out of the way. Make sure that the
antenna isn't blocked by any metallic objects like the rails on a shelf unit
or the housing of your computer. The best place for the antenna is higher
than the computer itself. This allows for a wider range of signal exchange
between the antenna and the remote components.
POWERING THE REMOTE COMPONENTS:
Some components require batteries. There are 2 which operate independently
from the computer. The mouse takes 2 double-A batteries and the keyboard
takes 2 triple-A batteries. both sets of batteries are provided by the
manufacturer.
INSERTING THE MOUSE BATTERIES:
There's a tiny RECESSED push button located at the thicker end of the mouse
on the bottom. If you press that sliding switch in toward the center of the
mouse, a small door will pop open and that is where the two double-A
batteries are inserted. Examine the terminals or connectors inside the
compartment carefully. The batteries go in opposite directions so that they
complete an "in parallel" circuit. But the compartment is reasonably
accessible. If you hold the mouse with the Scrolling Wheel toward you, the
left battery is inserted with the "positive" pole going away from you. The
right hand battery is installed in exactly the opposite manner, with the
"negative" pole facing away from you. Once the batteries are seated
firmly, the door can be replaced and snapped down. Always insert the rear
edge of the battery door first. Do not use excessive pressure. The plastic
is relatively thin.
INSERTING THE BATTERIES INTO THE KEYBOARD:
The battery compartment on the keyboard is much more noticeable. It is
located near the center of the unit on the bottom, but closer to the front
edge. Turn the keyboard over and rest it carefully on a flat surface. Make
sure that the front side of the keyboard is the one closest to you. The
door is comparable to many types of equipment which take batteries. You
will find a finger sized depression where the locking tab is mounted. If
you press the small switch away from you, a tiny section of the keyboard
base opens to allow the insertion of two triple-A batteries. In this case,
the batteries are mounted end to end. The "positive" pole should be facing
toward the opening of the compartment in each case. One battery slides in
and under the plastic base, while the second fits snugly and the "positive"
pole locks into the connector provided. Once both batteries are inserted,
you will feel a resistance which is created by a small spring mounted out of
sight. That spring terminal maintains constant good connection while the
keyboard is being carried or moved around. The small battery compartment
door should be fitted with the rear edge in first. Then the front edge can
be pressed until it locks into place. Again, do not use excessive force.
The door is made of relatively thin plastic and would break under extreme
pressure.
IMPORTANT BATTERY NOTE:
The position of the batteries in each of these units is critical. Feel the
shape of the terminals and you'll know. In each case, the "Positive" end
of the battery is the part which is fitted with a raised terminal. Even on
the tiny triple-A battery, this feature is easily detected by the sensitive
fingers of a visually impaired user. The "negative" end or flat side of
the battery is flat and has no protruding terminal. In the case of the
mouse, the batteries are mounted parallel and that is why they are placed in
opposite directions. The keyboard, on the other hand, allows the batteries
to be placed end to end. Why is this? Primarily, because the manufacturer
only had enough room in the mouse for a parallel mounting.
LOGITECH SOFTWARE DISK:
This laser keyboard and mouse set comes with self installing software. But
it isn't necessary to the operation of the keyboard or the mouse. There are
several programs including Logitech's version of a music search program
called MUSICMATCH. A second program sets up your computer to receive
notification when updates to the software are made available. The third
file contains a program which allows the complete redesign of every key's
function. The software is a bit difficult to work with but more
importantly, all of the keys are brought to an "unassigned" status. Even
things like the Alt F4 key don't work any more. Can you imagine a keyboard
where all of the function keys don't work at all? This "clean slate"
approach is intended by Logitech as a tool with which the operator can
customize his particular keyboard in such a way that each and every function
key has up to 12 variable commands. We tried assigning keys in this manner
but without the use of a mouse, the software is reluctant to respond to any
keyboard based commands. It is the opinion of this author that the program
has marvelous potential but that it may require the assistance of a sighted
person if such an ambitious project is being considered. If only the
designer permitted the "default" settings to be retained while other keys
could be programmed for whatever purpose. There is a "Restore To Default
Settings" option, but it does not respond to any confirmation key stroke we
could discover.
THE KEYBOARD, A DESCRIPTION:
This Logitech keyboard, even in its "out of the box" configuration, is a
marvelous tool for Internet or computer based multiple functions. On each
side of the main keyboard, there are buttons which operate the volume of the
sound card, mute the computer sound and operate some built in media players
such as Real Player and Windows Media Player. Those controls are mounted on
the right side of the keyboard in a vertical pattern with the Mute key at
the bottom and an easily recognized Volume toggle right above it. Jaws
doesn't respond to these keys with labels. It may not even see them but
they operate just the same. On the left side of the unit, a protruding
button is mounted which will take the operator back to his chosen "Home"
page with a single touch.
Unlike most conventional keyboards, the primary function keys F1
through F12 and the Escape Key are a different shape than the other
controls. They are smaller and mounted close to the top edge of the board.
All of these controls do operate normally. But their change in shape can be
somewhat disconcerting until the operator gets used to them.
ESTABLISHING CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE ANTENNA AND REMOTE COMPONENTS:
You may recall the small button mounted on the antenna. At times,
especially in the beginning or in the setting up of remote components, a
connection must be established or confirmed between the antenna, computer
and the remote keyboard or mouse. On the under side of both the keyboard
and the mouse is a small recessed red button. That button corresponds to
the antenna Connection button. If, for any reason, neither component works,
press the antenna's Connection button, wait 2 seconds, then press the
corresponding Connection button on the component which is not responding. A
light on the component itself should flash, confirming that the connection
has been made. Now, that isn't going to help those of us whom are blind.
But it may be useful to a sighted friend or family member if trouble
develops.
BATTERY INDICATORS:
Both the keyboard and the mouse have warning indicators which change from
green to red when the units become low on power. Again, we won't be able to
make much use of these sight oriented features but they might be helpful if
trouble shooting is required. The mouse is a laser type unit which has no
tracking ball. Small ports on the bottom of the device will detect motion
and act accordingly. If the mouse is not in use, place it in an out of the
way area. The scroll wheel on the top of the unit is very sensitive. If it
is touched accidentally, Jaws may lose its focus temporarily.
BATTERY LIFE:
Although no one could give us a real estimate of how long the batteries
might last, that would depend largely on the use of the devices. Each time
a key is pressed, some of that battery's limited store of energy is
depleted. However, the manufacturers assure us that the batteries in both
the keyboard and the mouse will last a long time. One example compares the
life expectancy of a battery in one of these keyboards to that in a standard
digital clock. Our recommendation would be that a spare set of batteries be
kept at hand for any emergency.
IMPORTANT NOTICE, CHANGING BATTERIES:
If it is necessary that the batteries in the keyboard or mouse be changed,
reconnection with the antenna might be required. It is recommended that, if
possible, the computer be turned off before any attempt is made to change a
battery. We recommend that the batteries be changed regularly every 3
months on the average. In that way, the operator won't be surprised with a
screen filled with text or calculations and no way to save or protect the
data.
COST:
Here in Pennsylvania, this unit goes for about $60.00. It is the middle of
the road for laser units like this. Some more expensive models have a built
in clock and other specialized features. They run in cost from about $30.00
to over $140.00 depending on the features and configuration. There is even
one which has an ergonomic design. The keys are fitted in a curved manner
which is supposed to make them easier to use. For a visually impaired
operator, that would require an entirely new set of orientation parameters.
JAWS AND LOGITECH:
Since this keyboard operates normally without the added software, there are
no real problems with Jaws and configuration. Perhaps, Jaws could be taught
to recognize the additional function keys as well but that is far beyond
this author's ability to attempt.
DISCLAIMER:
The information contained in this document is based on the manual provided
by the manufacturer. It is intended for the use of visually impaired
computer operators and as such, is limited in scope. It will not be
marketed, sold or distributed. The alterations are intended to make this
device or devices accessible to the visually impaired members of the Jaws
User's Group. Care has been taken to adhere to the guidelines specified in
copyright infringement regulations. No part of the original manual was
copied, scanned or duplicated for the purpose of creating this document.
The author is solely responsible for its content.
John Justice
May 28, 2007
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