Sorry for my misinformation. I was under the impression that you had to hold a modifier, like Function, to use Mouse Keys, so that typing wouldn't be interfered with. I'm surprised it works the way it does; how do you type with this option enabled?
In any case, Andy, you don't necessarily need an official Apple trackpad, unless you plan to make use of Trackpad Commander or regular mouse gestures. You could grab a cheap USB mouse and plug that in, disabling the trackpad as you're trying to but at a much lower cost. Again, the Apple hardware is good, but only if you plan to use the trackpad. If your only aim is to disable your trackpad, a cheap mouse should do the job. -- Alex Hall > On Apr 11, 2017, at 09:33, Andy <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi again Anne. > > You've obviously slept on it, a skill I really should develop further. > > I'm brand new to mac but it did seem to me that I was simply not given enough > time to respond. > > Tim has come up with an alternative solution and that is to purchase an > external Trackpad, to > avoide accidentally touching the on-board Track pad screen, which could be a > cause of my problems also. > > I attend an organization in Glasgow called Site Glasgow : > http://www.sitescotland.org/ <http://www.sitescotland.org/> > > Which is a voluntary organisation that teaches apple products to blind people > and the instructors are themselves all blind! Cool or what? > > I'm hoping to visit Glasgow on Monday, so I will take both you and Tim's > comments up with me, along with my macbook, and see if my instructor can help > work all of this out for me. > > > I think it's important to set up my devices before actually starting my > training, especially so, when authors are recommending this. > > To follow a particular instruction book, you really need to listen to her and > make the changes that she suggests, if only to keep up with her through the > book. > > > > That's my thoughts and it was the same with the Windows platform. > > I'll get there eventually Anne, fingers crossed! > > Thanks for your advice. > > Very best wishes. > > Andy. > From Scotland with Love. > > >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Anne Robertson <mailto:[email protected]> >> To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2017 12:55 PM >> Subject: Re: Can I get my mackbook to be a little more patience when waiting >> for a command >> >> Hello Andy, >> >> Having thought further about your problem, I’m wondering whether your screen >> or even your computer is going to sleep too quickly. >> To fix this, open System Preferences and press VO-Space Bar on Energy Saver. >> On this screen, there are two tabs: Battery and Power Adapter. You can set >> the time separately for each. >> There are two sliders for each of these tabs: Computer Sleep, and Display >> Sleep. The slider is to the right of the label in each case, and you should >> set them to at least 15 minutes to give yourself time to find your way >> around the computer. >> To adjust a slider, interact with it (VO-Shift-Down Arrow) and do VO-Right >> Arrow to increase it, or VO-Left Arrow to reduce it. Then stop interacting. >> I don’t know whether you are aware of this, but you can choose whether to >> use the Control and Option keys or the Caps Lock key as your VO keys. I’ve >> been using a Mac with VO for a dozen years now, so I haven’t bothered to >> change my habits, but for new users, I think the Caps Lock is a better >> choice. You make this choice in the VoiceOver Utility (VO-F8). Having >> opened the VO-Utility, navigate right to Keys to use as the VoiceOver >> modifier: and make your choice. >> >> Cheers, >> >> Anne >> >> >> >>> On 11 Apr 2017, at 11:15, Andy <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> >>> Hi again Tim. >>> >>> I think you are right my friend as the table that I have my macbook on is >>> quite high, so perhaps I am brushing the on-board trackpad. >>> >>> I had thought however, that I had to activate the trackpad before any >>> finger command work was possible. >>> >>> This is not a great problem and your solution of perhaps fitting a second >>> usb trackpad - £114.00 at the Apple store, would be the way to go and my >>> case could easily accomodate such a small device. >>> >>> Doing this would give me a little more control and confidence, especially >>> at this very early stage of my learning. >>> >>> Thanks very much for your advice and support. >>> >>> Very best wishes. >>> >>> Andy. >>> From Scotland with Love. >>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: Tim Kilburn <mailto:[email protected]> >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Monday, April 10, 2017 10:14 PM >>>> Subject: Re: Can I get my mackbook to be a little more patience when >>>> waiting for a command >>>> >>>> Hi Andy, >>>> >>>> I believe that Anne was suggesting that you maybe are just accidentally >>>> brushing your hand or thumb on the TrackPad itself. Not that you're >>>> necessarily doing anything with the TrackPad commander. The TrackPad can >>>> often be quite sensitive and, thus, react to inadvertent touching by >>>> moving the mouse pointer due to that touch or brush. If you have a USB >>>> mouse, there's an option whereby you can turn off the Trackpad when this >>>> is connected. The setting is in System Preferences, Accessibilityy. >>>> Select the Mouse & TrackPad from the Accessibility features table then >>>> check the box that tells the MacBook to ignore the TrackPad when an >>>> external mouse or TrackPad is present. >>>> >>>> HTH. >>>> >>>> Later... >>>> >>>> Tim Kilburn >>>> Fort McMurray, AB Canada >>>> >>>> On Apr 10, 2017, at 14:56, Andy <[email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi Ann. >>>> >>>> Thanks for your support. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Although it may be possible that I am activating Trackpad Commander >>>> commands without being aware of it, I doubt that this is my problem, as I >>>> believe I would need first, to turn my Tracpad Commander on. >>>> >>>> My problem just seemes to be like I simply timed out as it was taking me >>>> too long to make the changes I wanted to make. >>>> >>>> >>>> Here is the text that I'm trying to follow: >>>> >>>> Configuring Your Mac to Work Well with VoiceOver >>>> Changing some factory default settings will enable your computer to work >>>> better with VoiceOver. Plus, making these changes gives you some practice >>>> with frequently used VoiceOver commands. The first two adjustments involve >>>> the keyboard. >>>> Keyboard Changes >>>> By default, the function keys are set to control hardware (such as >>>> changing the volume and screen brightness) rather than to work with >>>> software. If you use this setting, you'll have to add the FN key to any >>>> function key (F1 through F12) that is part of a VO command. Fortunately, >>>> you can reverse this behavior, so that you use only the FN key when you >>>> want to control the hardware. Here's how: >>>> * From anywhere on the Mac, press VO-M to get to the menu bar. You will be >>>> in the Apple menu. >>>> * Press VO-Down Arrow until you reach System Preferences, and press >>>> VO-Spacebar to open that item. >>>> * Press Tab until you find Keyboard, and press VO-Spacebar to open its >>>> menu. >>>> * Find the keyboard tab by using VO-Right Arrow, and press VO-Spacebar to >>>> select it. >>>> * Press VO-Right Arrow until you get to a checkbox that says, “Use all F1, >>>> F2, etc. keys as standard function keys,” and press VO-Spacebar to check >>>> it. >>>> The next change will allow the Tab key to go through all controls in a >>>> dialogue box: >>>> * While still in the keyboard section in System Preferences, press VO-Left >>>> Arrow until you hear "Keyboard Shortcuts,” and select it with VO-Spacebar. >>>> * Now press VO-Right Arrow until you hear "Full Keyboard Access: In >>>> windows and dialogs, press Tab to move keyboard focus between.” >>>> * There are two radio buttons from which to choose. VO-Right Arrow twice >>>> to the button that says, "All controls," and check it with VO-Spacebar. >>>> * Close the Preferences window with Command-W. >>>> List View >>>> For many people, VoiceOver is easier to use when items are displayed in a >>>> list view. To do this, type Command-2. This will put you in List View in >>>> any application that supports it. >>>> Column View >>>> Another option is to use Column view. This option will display files in a >>>> manner similar to the Windows Tree view. Press Command-3. Depending on >>>> what information I need, I will sometimes switch between views. >>>> You can set the view globally for all Finder windows, including Documents >>>> and Downloads. Here’s how to do it: >>>> * Go to the Desktop with Shift-VO-D. >>>> * Open one of the Finder windows. We’ll open the Documents window with >>>> Command-Shift-O. >>>> * Press Command-J to go to View Options. >>>> * Use the tab key to find the checkbox that says “Always open in column >>>> view” and the checkbox labeled “Browse in column view.” If these boxes are >>>> not checked, check them with VO-Spacebar. >>>> Making VoiceOver Keep Your Place >>>> By default, when you switch between windows in an application, such as >>>> TextEdit (Apple's word processor), the VoiceOver cursor jumps to the top >>>> of the active window. To have the cursor remain where you left off in each >>>> window, do this: >>>> * Open the VoiceOver Utility with VO-F8. >>>> * Interact with the Categories table with Shift-VO-Down Arrow and VO-Down >>>> Arrow to Navigation. >>>> * Stop interacting with categories by pressing Shift-VO-Up Arrow. >>>> * Press VO-Right Arrow to the initial position of VoiceOver cursor pop-up >>>> button. Pop-up buttons are very much like combo boxes in Windows. >>>> * If the menu button doesn’t say, “Keyboard focused item,” open it with >>>> VO-Spacebar. Use the arrow keys to find “Keyboard focused item,” and >>>> select it with VO-Spacebar. >>>> * Close the window with Command-W. >>>> Making Web Pages Easier to Navigate >>>> Here's how to make VoiceOver read all controls on a web page, so you can >>>> just press Tab and Shift-Tab to move through the page. This is similar to >>>> the setting you changed earlier, enabling you to tab through all items in >>>> a dialog box. >>>> * Go to the Dock by pressing VO-D. >>>> * Type the letter S, for Safari, and press VO-Spacebar to open it. >>>> * Press Command-, to open Safari preferences. You will land on a Toolbar. >>>> Interact with Shift-VO-Down Arrow. >>>> * Tab to the Advanced tab and select it with VO-Spacebar. >>>> * Tab till you hear “Press tab to highlight each item on a web page." >>>> Check that option with VO-Spacebar. >>>> * Close the window with Command-W. >>>> Another way to get to the Advanced button is to use the Item Chooser by >>>> pressing VO-I. This will bring up all the elements on the page. Type the >>>> first few letters of the word “advanced” and you will land on the word. >>>> The Item Chooser is a useful tool for locating information. Try it on >>>> websites and in documents. >>>> >>>> This is rather a lot for an old Windows dog to follow Ann, yet the >>>> instructions seem quite simple to follow. >>>> >>>> I think I need to stay calm and just keep trying to get through these >>>> recomended setting cahanges. >>>> >>>> Thanks again for your help. >>>> >>>> Very best wishes. >>>> >>>> Andy. >>>> From Scotland with Love. >>>> >>>> >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: Anne Robertson <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2017 4:58 PM >>>>> Subject: Re: Can I get my mackbook to be a little more patience when >>>>> waiting for a command >>>>> >>>>> Hello Andy, >>>>> >>>>> Your Mac shouldn’t be going back to the desktop all the time. Where are >>>>> you trying to make the changes? Perhaps you’re touching something such as >>>>> the trackpad without realising it. >>>>> >>>>> Cheers, >>>>> >>>>> Anne >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> On 9 Apr 2017, at 15:11, Andy <[email protected] >>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi all. >>>>>> >>>>>> I've purchased the book Janet Ingber - Everything You Need to Know >>>>>> to Use the Mac and this is in txt format on my computer and JAWS is >>>>>> reading out the chapters for me. >>>>>> >>>>>> I'm at a section titled Configuring Your Mac to Work Well with >>>>>> VoiceOver. This highlights several changes that I should make to help >>>>>> using the Mac more fun. >>>>>> >>>>>> Trouble is that when I hold down the VO keys and M and then turn to my >>>>>> JAWS computer for the next bit and return, it's too late, my Mac has >>>>>> gone to the desktop, rather than wait for my response. >>>>>> >>>>>> Is there a way to ask my Mac to give me a little more time when it's >>>>>> waiting for a command from me? >>>>>> >>>>>> Any advice would be very welcome. >>>>>> >>>>>> Very best wishes. >>>>>> >>>>>> Andy. >>>>>> From Scotland with Love. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> The following information is important for all members of the Mac >>>>>> Visionaries list. >>>>>> >>>>>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >>>>>> if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the >>>>>> owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>>>>> >>>>>> Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark >>>>>> at: [email protected] >>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]> and your owner is >>>>>> Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at [email protected] >>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>>> >>>>>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>>>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> >>>>>> --- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>>> an email to [email protected] >>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries>. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> The following information is important for all members of the Mac >>>>> Visionaries list. >>>>> >>>>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >>>>> if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the >>>>> owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>>>> >>>>> Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. 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You can reach mark at: >>>> [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]> and your owner is Cara >>>> Quinn - you can reach Cara at [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]> >>>> >>>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> >>>> --- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>> email to [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries >>>> <https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries>. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> The following information is important for all members of the Mac >>>> Visionaries list. >>>> >>>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >>>> if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the >>>> owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list >>>> itself. >>>> >>>> Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: >>>> [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]> and your owner is Cara >>>> Quinn - you can reach Cara at [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]> >>>> >>>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> >>>> --- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>> email to [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries >>>> <https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries>. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. >>> >>> -- >>> The following information is important for all members of the Mac >>> Visionaries list. >>> >>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >>> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners >>> or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>> >>> Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: >>> [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]> and your owner is Cara >>> Quinn - you can reach Cara at [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]> >>> >>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries >>> <https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries>. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. >> >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the Mac >> Visionaries list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: >> [email protected] and your owner is Cara Quinn - you >> can reach Cara at [email protected] >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries >> <https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries>. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >> <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. > > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the Mac Visionaries > list. > > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if > you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or > moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. > > Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: > [email protected] and your owner is Cara Quinn - you > can reach Cara at [email protected] > > The archives for this list can be searched at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>. > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries > <https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries>. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout > <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. -- The following information is important for all members of the Mac Visionaries list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: [email protected] and your owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at [email protected] The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
