Re: Operating systems at war?

On 30 Apr 2008 VinceH <spam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
In article <4f97d67dcejohn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
John Cartmell <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
In article <xoNRj.1297$WA5.886@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Rob Kendrick <nntp@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

[Rob was actually referring to Gnome judging by the quoting, but I'm
going to refer to Windows because it's what I know, both from a
programming and using basis]

What I've already mentioned in this thread - manipulation of
*windows*, not the contents of filers.

Why? - and How? With the RISC OS GUI how/when would it help?

Being able to whiz around the contents of a window or dialogue and
control things from the keyboard is a great help because it's a time
saver if the alternative is to keep moving back between keyboard and
mouse.

There's also the issue of accessibility. We are all living longer and
if you want to still be using computers when you are older, with
failing eyesite and dexterity issues, a keyboard is essential as you
may not be able to see a mouse pointer or control a mouse sufficently
well.

With Windows, when a programmer designs a window or dialogue, he can
set any object within that window as a 'tab stop', which means it can
be reached from the keyboard (using the tab key) and then manipulated
with other keys. *Any* object - not just the writeable fields and
default action buttons.

I don't think I've ever read the terminology used to describe this,
so it may use something different, but think of it like the input
focus that we have on RISC OS. On Windows, as well as the window
having the input focus, one control within that window will have it -
indicated by a dotted line around the control. Press tab, and the
*next* control is highlighted that way. Press tab again, and the next
is highlighted, and so on. Press tab from the last control, and the
first is highlighted.

Yes its an input focus, so there is a always current position on the
screen which can receive keyboard commands to activate the control or
move to between controls, and is the reference point for audio
descritions from Screen Reader programs which can allow you to use
a computer very productively with no vision at all.

---druck

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