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I switched from windows to macOS, which I’ve been using as my daily driver for the last year or so. Using the touchpad (or maybe the Magic Mouse) is basically a

by JoBrad 4y ago

I switched from windows to macOS, which I’ve been using as my daily driver for the last year or so. Using the touchpad (or maybe the Magic Mouse) is basically a requirement to use “vanilla” macOS. Yes, you can install additional programs to help with window management, etc., but in my experience macOS is absolutely horrible when it comes to accessibility, from this standpoint. Maybe it’s better for colors, TTS, etc.?

extra88 4y ago
Did you enable Full Keyboard Access and learn how to use it?
- JoBrad 4y ago
  I’ll check it out. But this seems to approach accessibility as a feature to be turned on or off. Most of what it enables, based on Apple docs, is not just enabled in Windows and many Linux window managers I’ve used, but it’s something that developers actively utilize.
  - extra88 4y ago
    That's not where macOS came from. For Windows and Linux, "in the beginning was the command line" but not for Macs. There's plenty one can do in macOS and its native applications with a keyboard by default, those that need more can enable "Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls." Those that need even more enable Full Keyboard Access. These settings aren't on be default because Apple has decided they'd just get in the way and/or confuse people who use the keyboard but rely on it less. In Safari specifically, by default pressing Tab doesn't focus links as it does in every other browser because most people use a cursor to activate links, not the keyboard. There also tend to be a lot more links than what Tab does focus, form inputs. Macs try to have just enough accessibility features enabled by default that anyone who needs more can get to the setting to turn it on. Something I just learned Macs have that other OS/hardware doesn't is audible feedback for the blind to login when a Mac is turned on while full disk encryption is enabled. I'm not claiming Apple gets everything right or that their approach is the best, I'm just trying to describe the basics of what's there and the outlook driving the choices.
dagmx 4y ago
I’m not sure what walls you might have been hitting but macOS is completely useable with speech direction. I had to quite recently add better accessibility support to an app I worked on and I was basically navigating the entire system with voice control and keyboard hotkeys. Voice control in particular is really handy with the number and grid overlays for providing commands.

by JoBrad 4y ago

extra88 4y ago

Did you enable Full Keyboard Access and learn how to use it?

JoBrad 4y ago
I’ll check it out. But this seems to approach accessibility as a feature to be turned on or off. Most of what it enables, based on Apple docs, is not just enabled in Windows and many Linux window managers I’ve used, but it’s something that developers actively utilize.
- extra88 4y ago
  That's not where macOS came from. For Windows and Linux, "in the beginning was the command line" but not for Macs. There's plenty one can do in macOS and its native applications with a keyboard by default, those that need more can enable "Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls." Those that need even more enable Full Keyboard Access. These settings aren't on be default because Apple has decided they'd just get in the way and/or confuse people who use the keyboard but rely on it less. In Safari specifically, by default pressing Tab doesn't focus links as it does in every other browser because most people use a cursor to activate links, not the keyboard. There also tend to be a lot more links than what Tab does focus, form inputs. Macs try to have just enough accessibility features enabled by default that anyone who needs more can get to the setting to turn it on. Something I just learned Macs have that other OS/hardware doesn't is audible feedback for the blind to login when a Mac is turned on while full disk encryption is enabled. I'm not claiming Apple gets everything right or that their approach is the best, I'm just trying to describe the basics of what's there and the outlook driving the choices.

dagmx 4y ago

I’m not sure what walls you might have been hitting but macOS is completely useable with speech direction. I had to quite recently add better accessibility support to an app I worked on and I was basically navigating the entire system with voice control and keyboard hotkeys. Voice control in particular is really handy with the number and grid overlays for providing commands.