Re: muting
Dan Miner
I was going to say something very similar. I would add the fn modifier is usually processed way before NVDA sees it and thus "lost" to further inspection and action. A person can test these keys but you have to be slow and careful and test your speech responsiveness during each key test. Even then, purely visual changes will likely go unnoticed for anyone further alone the spectrum of low partial vision. This can be especially true on Bluetooth keyboards when you put your keyboard into pairing mode with this testing method. *smile*
Dan
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Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: nvda@nvda.groups.io <nvda@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of Gene
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2021 5:34 AM
To: nvda@nvda.groups.io
Subject: Re: [nvda] muting
NVDA won't tell you what combinations of fn key plus another key do and I don't know if the commands are carried out when you issue the commands when in the key describer. Since fn keys in combination with other keys never announce what action is being taken either with input help on or off and since what they do varies from computer to computer, I think it is a very bad idea to experiment with them. You need specific information about your computer.
Does input help describe keys like audio commands? Of course, it describes standard keys and commands but I don't have commands such as audio commands on keyboards I use.
Gene
-----Original Message-----
From: Quentin Christensen
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2021 1:17 AM
To: nvda@nvda.groups.io
Subject: Re: [nvda] muting
Fn is a key found on most laptops and some desktop keyboards - it's
basically a modifier key you hold down and press another key to perform an
action (which a full size desktop computer probably has either a key or a
button for). The most common is the F1 - F12 function keys often perform
other duties such as adjusting brightness, volume or disabling a trackpad
mouse on a laptop. On some keyboards you actually have to press Fn+function
key to perform the regular function, which is frustrating - you can normally
toggle that, but exactly how varies from keyboard to keyboard.
In terms of figuring out what keys do, if you press NVDA+1 (the 1 on the
number row, above q) it puts NVDA in Input Help mode. Any key you press
while in this mode won't do anything, but NVDA will tell you what it is, so
it can be a way to find your way around a new keyboard without sighted help.
If you normally use F7 to mute NVDA, that's not an NVDA keystroke, but it's
likely that is the key to mute your computer's sound. The keystroke to mute
NVDA is NVDA+s, but if F7 works, that's achieves what you need. If it's not
working right now, it might be that you've accidentally toggled your
function key Fn lock.
On Fri, Jan 15, 2021 at 5:55 PM Neil Campbell <nrcampbell@...>
wrote:
Hello Brian
I have used F7 to toggle speech off and on before, but did not turn it off
with F7 on this occasion, and F7 would not turn it back on. What is “Fn”?
I have a new keyboard which came with a new desk top computer, and there are
additional keys which I don’t know the function of. I will have to get a
sighted person to tell me what they are.
Neil
From: nvda@nvda.groups.io [mailto:nvda@nvda.groups.io] On Behalf Of Brian
Vogel
Sent: Monday, 11 January 2021 2:45 AM
To: nvda@nvda.groups.io
Subject: Re: [nvda] muting
Neil,
Mute is typically done through a dedicated key on some media
keyboards, or through F6 or F7 (when used as media keys) on many laptops and
some desktop keyboards. All it takes to trigger a mute by accident is Fn+F6
(or F7) and often Fn+F6 (or F7) will toggle it back off.
This is another of those instances where make and model
information as well as whether any media keys function is enabled (and for a
screen reader user I'd very, very strongly suspect it's not unless the
machine is brand new and untweaked yet). Some makers do highly
unconventional things as far as what function keys correspond to what media
functions.
Gene's advice about using sndvol and getting a cheap external
USB soundcard are both things to try and do.
--
Brian - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 20H2, Build 19042
The depths of denial one can be pushed to by outside forces of disapproval
can make you not even recognize yourself to yourself.
~ Brian Vogel
--
Quentin Christensen
Training and Support Manager
Web: www.nvaccess.org
Training: https://www.nvaccess.org/shop/
Certification: https://certification.nvaccess.org/
User group: https://nvda.groups.io/g/nvda
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NVAccess
Twitter: @NVAccess
From: nvda@nvda.groups.io <nvda@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of Gene
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2021 5:34 AM
To: nvda@nvda.groups.io
Subject: Re: [nvda] muting
NVDA won't tell you what combinations of fn key plus another key do and I don't know if the commands are carried out when you issue the commands when in the key describer. Since fn keys in combination with other keys never announce what action is being taken either with input help on or off and since what they do varies from computer to computer, I think it is a very bad idea to experiment with them. You need specific information about your computer.
Does input help describe keys like audio commands? Of course, it describes standard keys and commands but I don't have commands such as audio commands on keyboards I use.
Gene
-----Original Message-----
From: Quentin Christensen
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2021 1:17 AM
To: nvda@nvda.groups.io
Subject: Re: [nvda] muting
Fn is a key found on most laptops and some desktop keyboards - it's
basically a modifier key you hold down and press another key to perform an
action (which a full size desktop computer probably has either a key or a
button for). The most common is the F1 - F12 function keys often perform
other duties such as adjusting brightness, volume or disabling a trackpad
mouse on a laptop. On some keyboards you actually have to press Fn+function
key to perform the regular function, which is frustrating - you can normally
toggle that, but exactly how varies from keyboard to keyboard.
In terms of figuring out what keys do, if you press NVDA+1 (the 1 on the
number row, above q) it puts NVDA in Input Help mode. Any key you press
while in this mode won't do anything, but NVDA will tell you what it is, so
it can be a way to find your way around a new keyboard without sighted help.
If you normally use F7 to mute NVDA, that's not an NVDA keystroke, but it's
likely that is the key to mute your computer's sound. The keystroke to mute
NVDA is NVDA+s, but if F7 works, that's achieves what you need. If it's not
working right now, it might be that you've accidentally toggled your
function key Fn lock.
On Fri, Jan 15, 2021 at 5:55 PM Neil Campbell <nrcampbell@...>
wrote:
Hello Brian
I have used F7 to toggle speech off and on before, but did not turn it off
with F7 on this occasion, and F7 would not turn it back on. What is “Fn”?
I have a new keyboard which came with a new desk top computer, and there are
additional keys which I don’t know the function of. I will have to get a
sighted person to tell me what they are.
Neil
From: nvda@nvda.groups.io [mailto:nvda@nvda.groups.io] On Behalf Of Brian
Vogel
Sent: Monday, 11 January 2021 2:45 AM
To: nvda@nvda.groups.io
Subject: Re: [nvda] muting
Neil,
Mute is typically done through a dedicated key on some media
keyboards, or through F6 or F7 (when used as media keys) on many laptops and
some desktop keyboards. All it takes to trigger a mute by accident is Fn+F6
(or F7) and often Fn+F6 (or F7) will toggle it back off.
This is another of those instances where make and model
information as well as whether any media keys function is enabled (and for a
screen reader user I'd very, very strongly suspect it's not unless the
machine is brand new and untweaked yet). Some makers do highly
unconventional things as far as what function keys correspond to what media
functions.
Gene's advice about using sndvol and getting a cheap external
USB soundcard are both things to try and do.
--
Brian - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 20H2, Build 19042
The depths of denial one can be pushed to by outside forces of disapproval
can make you not even recognize yourself to yourself.
~ Brian Vogel
--
Quentin Christensen
Training and Support Manager
Web: www.nvaccess.org
Training: https://www.nvaccess.org/shop/
Certification: https://certification.nvaccess.org/
User group: https://nvda.groups.io/g/nvda
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NVAccess
Twitter: @NVAccess