# Using the Assistive Technologies

The GNOME Desktop contains the following applications to enable users with a physical disability to use the desktop:

- On-Screen Keyboard

- Screen Reader and Magnifier

Before you can use the On-Screen Keyboard and Screen Reader and Magnifier on Solaris systems, you must follow the steps outlined in of this guide.

## On-Screen Keyboard

The On-Screen Keyboard application displays virtual keyboards on your desktop. You can use the standard mouse pointer or alternative pointing device to operate the virtual keyboards. On-Screen Keyboard displays the following types of keyboards:

- Compose keyboards that enable you to compose text. To type alphanumeric characters, you select the characters on the compose keyboard.

- Dynamic keyboards that On-Screen Keyboard generates to reflect the applications that are currently running on the desktop. For example, On-Screen Keyboard generates keyboards that contain keys to represent the applications that are running on your desktop or the menus that are contained in an application.

To start On-Screen Keyboard, choose Applications Accessibility On-Screen Keyboard. For more information about the On-Screen Keyboard application, see the Help for On-Screen Keyboard.

### Maximizing Application Windows for On-Screen Keyboard Users

If you are an On-Screen Keyboard user, you cannot use any application in Full Screen mode because the application window obscures the On-Screen Keyboard display.

To resize the window for use with the On-Screen Keyboard application, perform the following steps:

1. Do not enable the Full Screen mode in the application.

2. Give focus to the application window.

3. Press F10 to maximize the application.

## Screen Reader and Magnifier

The Screen Reader and Magnifier application enables users with limited vision, or no vision, to use the GNOME Desktop and associated applications. Screen Reader and Magnifier provides the following functionality:

- Screen reader

  The screen reader enables non-visual access to standard applications in the GNOME Desktop, using speech and Braille output.

- Magnifier

  The magnifier provides automated focus tracking and fullscreen magnification to aid low-vision users.

To start Screen Reader and Magnifier, choose Applications Accessibility Screen Reader and Magnifier. For more information about the application, see the online Help for Screen Reader and Magnifier.

## Disabling the Screensaver

Before you use On-Screen Keyboard or Screen Reader and Magnifier, you must disable the screensaver. To disable the screensaver, perform the following steps:

1. Choose System Preferences Screensaver.

2. Deselect the Activate screensaver when session is idle checkbox.