I have found a great way to make a Laptop more user friendly to VO users. I have had a problem of having to awkwardly maneuver my right hand above my left hand when typing VO commands requiring Control +Option along with any key not he left side of the Keyboard. For example, to execute the Command, Control-Option-Shift-D, to go tot he desktop, I would have to press the Control-Option-Shift with my left hand, while awkwardly moving my right hand above my left hand and pressing the "d" key to execute this command. For laptop Macs, we are left on the short side of the stick when it comes to navigating VO, since we only have a control key on th left hand side of the keyboard, follow by a option and then a command key. In the middle we have the spacebar, then tot he right of the spacebar we have another option key follow by another command key. As you might image this keyboard layout is crazy for VO user who frequently have to use the combination of Option-Control to execute most VO navigation commands, since there is no Control key not he Right side of the Keyboard. I attempted to map the Capslock key to the Option-Control key with Spark keys but the interface was confusing and not really intuitive, although I have to say that it would be great as a free version of text expander. After failing ot map the keys I remember somewhere on the internet I had read that under Keyboard preferences there is a option to modify keys. I decided to try this out and found that I could modify, or otherwise map, the Caps lock, Command, Control and option keys to either the Caps lock, command, option, control or no key. This meant that I could map my 13" MacBook pro laptop command keys to functionto perform a control function. Then I could map the Control key to the Command key. This would allow me to execute VO commands that also required a key to be presed from the left side of the keyboard with wase. However, there was still the problem that I did not have a command key on the right side of the Laptop since it was map as a control key, and that I would not be able to execute a command-w, or command-q, to close an application window or quit an application easily without having to move my hands awkwardly on my keyboard like I had done before I mapped the control key to my command keys. Then it hit me that I barely, and many of u can relate, barely use the caps lock key. I then decided to map the caps lock key to perform a command key operation. Now I I have the command key at the bottom left of the keyboard, tot he right of the function key, then the option key to its right, then the control ke to its right. I have the spacebar in the middle, follow by a option key to its right and a control key to its right. I then have the caps lock key functioning as a command key. this is also great for navigating on the web since I can easily press my Left hand side command-option-control in conjunctions with the right side of the keyboard to navigate webistes easily. I am also able to use my right hand option-control, and press the caps lock key, which acts as a command key, with my pinky finger and press the keys on the left side of the keyboard with my other fingers. Similar to using the jaws key byt this requires more keystroke pressing. I still ilk using quick nave to navigate the web but having accessibility to being able to jump to the next table, graphic, or different element or even being able to use the VO search function not he web with ease. I just wanted to let you guys know about this meted I have developed, and maybe others have to told. I am starting ot love the Mac everyday more and more. I also wanted to let you guys know that I am almost done with my tutorial. It just a starters guide but it has pictures, and step by step instructions on how to do things such as making the function keys do software operations, setting list view as the default view for the finder, being able to use the tab key to navigate between all forms controls in both safari and on the whole system. I also have describe every screen that I use to the user so that they better understand where they are navigating when using VO, which I think is an integral part of learning how to navigate a computer using a screen reader. Sincerely, Alfredo Holguinbut
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