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Re: Another idea for Magnification

All,
I'm running Fedora 8 with the Compiz-Fusion 0.6.0-x packages. Unfortunately, I don't have the Magnifier plugin that you mention in Ubuntu. I was able to see a demo of this on a YouTube video and it appears to be exactly what I was describing.
I'm not suggesting a reinvention of the wheel or a duplication of effort but I would really love to see this same feature as part of GNOME. My reasons are primarily selfish in that I don't want to have to run Compiz-Fusion just to see my Linux desktop and partly non-selfish in that I don't see a need to have the same hardware requirements as Compiz-Fusion just for the visually impaired to be able to use a Linux box (easily). 

Richard Powell

JGJones wrote:
Sound like you've used the basic zoom plugin - which is a bit rubbish to be blunt...as it only zoom into a specific area of desktop but doesn't move. 

There are two plugins that's to do with magnification:
Advanced Desktop Zoom - like Desktop Zoom, but does move around with the mouse. However you see a part of the screen and so you'll have to move the mouse around to see more.
Magnifitor (this seem to be new as I had just upgraded to Ubuntu Hardy Heron and this shows up as an option now) - what this does is very similar to what someone mentioned earlier - compared to Windows' magnifior tool - once enabled, it shows a configuable window which moves with cursor around the screen. Inside this window (it have a black border around it) everything is magnified. Hope this description is clear - it's not like Windows in showing a fixed window at top of screen etc. 


On Tue, 2008-03-11 at 16:21 -0400, Richard Powell wrote:

All,
I essentially have two problems using Compiz-Fusion. First, it doesn't seem to recognize my keyboard/mouse of choice, i.e. it does recognize some of my other keyboard/mice. I use a KVM setup so I use a single keyboard and mouse and have spent a lot of time and money finding the one that works best for me. I really don't want to have to change if possible. Second, the "Desktop Zoom" feature is "static". In other words, it zooms in on a fixed, i.e. static, area. In trying to read text on a screen I need it to dynamically move as I scan the text. It's great in what it does but it does not lend itself to reading. 

Richard Powell

JGJones wrote:
> Just wondering...
>
> How is the Compiz's Zoom function for you? - I've mapped it to use the > <Super> (Win) key and so while I press the Windows key, and then > scroll the mouse wheel up - it'll zoom into around the cursor smoothly > as much as you want and the screen moves around with the cursor. 
>
> You can zoom in and out as much as you wish anytime by pressing the > assigned key and moving mousewheel up and down - this is actually the > same as to how OSX does their zoom function. 
>
> Obviously your suggestion is ideal for someone that can't use Compiz > for any reason though. 
>
> BUT the reason I suggest Compiz was that you could make use of extra > features to help make things easier to see...for example I notice > there's a Negative plugin (reverse colours on screen) which could help > make things clear when it's needed etc and finally another plugin > called ADD Helper - the purpose of this tool is to dim all other > windows in the background so that the active window you are working on > is the only one that's "lit up" and all others behind is dimmed. > Switch to another window and that lights up and the previous will dim. 
>
> Am aware that Compiz is not Gnome...but a lot of function could make > use of Compiz if supported no? 
>
> Richard Powell wrote:
>> All,
>>
>> I've been using GNOME for almost 10 years now. In 2003 I became >> legally blind (visually impaired). Since that time I have had to use >> a combination of tricks to allow me to see the screen well enough to >> use it. These "tricks" have included low resolution display setting, >> large monitors, extremely large font sizing and the use of a hand >> held magnifier. 
>>
>> I've read through some of the discussions on this mailing list and it >> looks like the team members have some ambitious goals. I truly hope >> that these goals can and will be met. However, as a visually >> impaired GNOME user I know what would make GNOME much easier to use >> that I don't believe is nearly as ambitious. Microsoft introduced a >> feature with their mice a few years back that has solved my problem >> entirely on a Windows machine (which ironically is not as easy to >> setup for the visually impaired as GNOME). It's called "Magnify". >> Unlike Logitech's "Zoom" feature, which is little more than a button >> mapping to the text sizing function of applications such as Mozilla, >> "Magnify" actually pops up a magnification window around that mouse >> cursor. This window can be adjusted for size and magnification level >> by simple mouse controls. What this does for me and the other people >> that I have introduced to this, is it allows me to not have to change >> all my display and font settings and more importantly I no longer >> have to hold a magnifier in one hand while trying to use the computer >> with my other hand. 
>>
>> I'm not sure what the effort level would be for this kind of task. I >> do know however that this feature has been the most useful feature to >> me (as a visually impaired person) since the introduction of the >> mouse itself. This may be a simpler solution that would solve the >> same issues that you are currently wrestling with. It's application >> independent and it's extremely flexible to the user. 
>>
>> Richard Powell
>> _______________________________________________
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>> gnome-accessibility-list gnome org <mailto:gnome-accessibility-list gnome org>
>> http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-accessibility-list
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