Who needs to master the Windows® keyboard interface?
People need choices in how they operate a PC. A well-designed computer system allows users to interact with software in different ways. Ideally, the mouse and keyboard interfaces should be equally easy to learn and use. Unfortunately, operating Windows® by keyboard is less straightforward than by pointing and clicking. Nevertheless, some people have no choice but to learn mouseless techniques. For example: • Individuals who are totally blind cannot see the mouse pointer, and therefore cannot use a mouse. Most blind individuals use a standard keyboard in conjunction with “screen reader” software. A screen reader translates information into synthetic speech, and can handle any information that can be represented as text, including menus, word processing documents, and hypertext links on web pages. Screen reader users need to know two sets of keyboard commands: those built into Windows® and Windows®-based applications, and those that drive the screen reader. • People who are deaf and blin
