Re: Another idea for Magnification

[JGJones <mailinglist gwallgofi com>]

I agree with your points, we shouldn't need big powerful hardwares to 
provide accessibility.

However I felt I should point out that for low end machines sold today - 
ie with just Intel graphics - is more than capable of running Compiz 
Fusion very well without lag (the hardware requirements of Compiz is 
surprisingly low).

I've got a Macbook - which have Intel 945 graphics and it run Compiz 
Fusion smoothly.

However I can appericate your points about having the same thing without 
needing Compiz. However for Gnome - wasn't Metacity - the default window 
manager of Gnome was going to get compositing included which could help 
there?

Richard Powell wrote:
> 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
> > >