Rockbox.org home
release
dev builds
extras
themes manual
wiki
device status forums
mailing lists
IRC bugs
patches
dev guide



Rockbox mail archive

Subject: Re: Alternative UI for blind users?

Re: Alternative UI for blind users?

From: Mark <discardedswimwear_at_googlemail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 10:22:15 +0100

I think that one of the reasons that the scroll wheel can be tricky to use
for a blind user is that it is quite sensitive. In other words, you only
need to move your finger from, say, 3 o'clock to 3.30 o'clock on a clock
face to get one "move". It's quite easy to move two "moves",and easy to do
no moves.
My preferred solution would be to lengthen the rotation required for one
move. Thinking about how a finger moves on the wheel, I'd say that one
"move" should be somewhere between 45 degrees and 135 degrees.So if I move
my finger from 1 o'clock to 4 o'clock, that'd be one move

Although the idea of having a blind alternative user interface is a good
idea, the problem that I see is that it creates another whole segment of
code development which needs to be supported.
changing the "speed" of the wheel has the advantage of being one single
change that once implemented would enable us to use the same current
interface. This isn't based on some "we should have access to the same
interface as the sighted" line, just that by keeping it as simple as
possible means that we keep Rockbox as a single one-size-fits-most package.
Creating a second interface means that there will be two interfaces to
support, which means that there's at least twice as much work involved. I'm
only suggesting this approach because IMHO I don't think there's really that
much wrong with the current interface that a single change could fix. If
there's enough enthusiasm behind the alternative interface then great.This
is just my tuppence worth.

Mark


----- Original Message -----
From: "Aman Singer" <aman_at_asinger.net>
To: "'Glenn at home'" <GlennErvin_at_cableone.net>; "'Rockbox'"
<rockbox_at_cool.haxx.se>
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 1:16 AM
Subject: RE: Alternative UI for blind users?


> Hi, Glenn.
> The wheel on my video Ipod doesn't click at all. I do believe that
> there are some Ipods which have a wheel that does, but I don't know how
> that
> works as I've never used one of those. It might be an idea to make the
> wheel
> more sluggish, as it were, though but wouldn't just disabling the wheel be
> easier for the developers? Anyone care to comment?
> Aman
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rockbox-bounces_at_cool.haxx.se [mailto:rockbox-bounces_at_cool.haxx.se]
> On
> Behalf Of Glenn at home
> Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 11:02 PM
> To: Rockbox
> Subject: Re: Alternative UI for blind users?
>
> Or maybe another possibility, might be to have a setting in the menus,
> such
> that the user could set the wheel so that it has to be turned 2 or 3
> clicks
> for each change to occur, so the wheel would move the cursor more slowly.
> I have never tried an iPod, but it seems like something like this would be
> a
>
> desirable feature.
> Glenn
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Aman Singer" <aman_at_asinger.net>
> To: "'Rockbox'" <rockbox_at_cool.haxx.se>
> Sent: Sunday, May 07, 2006 7:50 PM
> Subject: Alternative UI for blind users?
>
>
> Hi, all.
> I don't know how difficult this would be to implement. I don't
> imagine it would be that hard, as it wouldn't require new drivers/codecs,
> but it might be difficult all the same. What I've been having some trouble
> with is using the Ipod's wheel as a blind person. I sometimes find myself
> overshooting my target and being forced to retreat. I know others have
> suggested a click every time the selection is moved, and this sounds like
> a
> good idea. However, I was thinking we could, if possible, have a mode
> invoked by pressing a few buttons simultaneously. In this mode, the wheel
> would be disabled, and the buttons on the wheel would act as they did on
> the
> Archos recorders. The down button would move down through directories and
> menus. The up button would do the opposite. The right button would act as
> a
> select/play button and the left button would act as a back button. The
> round
> button in the middle of the wheel could be left as it is. The menu could
> be
> accessed by holding one button for a time or by the use of two buttons
> together, as could other generally used functions. To avoid people asking
> "why doesn't my wheel work?", a message could come up every time the wheel
> was used "you are in wheel-disabled mode. To return to normal mode press
> [whatever the buttons you need to press may be]".
> This would have several distinct advantages for blind users, users
> who's motor coordination isn't the best, users with MS or some other
> disease
> that hampers feeling in the fingers, users who are using the Ipod through
> a
> thin case or, generally, users who want forceful feedback to selection
> requests. The wheel would be eliminated from the equation, which would
> make
> all such uses easier, at least for new users. In the same way, brushing
> the
> wheel, which I've done once or twice, won't be a problem and won't change
> the selection. Do any of the developers think this would be doable and
> desirable?
> Aman
>
>
>
Received on 2006-05-10

Page template was last modified "Tue Sep 7 00:00:02 2021" The Rockbox Crew -- Privacy Policy