WWAAC Browser Documentation 1

Developed from Help File by IDEAL Group, Inc. 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table-of-Contents 3

 

Overview.. 5 4

WWAAC Browser - Tour of the Settings. 5 5

The Settings. 6 6

SPEECH SUPPORT. 6 7

Navigation Functions. 7 8

Controlling the Next and Previous Speaking Buttons. 7 9

Default Speech Mode. 8 10

Available Speech Settings. 8 11

Default or Initial Speech Mode. 9 12

Other Available Speech Settings. 10 13

Identifying Embedded Links. 10 14

Voices. 11 15

ALTERNATIVE INPUT. 11 16

Access Options. 11 17

Standard Options. 12 18

Scanning Options. 12 19

Kind of Switches (Switch Interface) 13 20

Scan technique. 15 21

Switch and Highlight Controls. 15 22

Default Action on Select 16 23

Scan Type (Levels) 17 24

Limitations. 18 25

BROWSER WINDOW... 18 26

Ignore Mouse Clicks. 18 27

Warn About Partially Inaccessible Web Pages. 19 28

Navigation Field. 19 29

Preferred symbol set for www.wwaac.org. 19 30

Button Design. 19 31

VISUAL FOCUS. 19 32

Colors. 19 33

FAVORITES. 20 34

Favorites Page. 20 35

Editing Existing Sites on the Favorites Page. 20 36

Adding a Site to the Favorites Page. 21 37

Altering the Location of Sites on the Favorites Page. 21 38

Deleting Sites. 21 39

Number of Columns on the Favorites Page. 22 40

Set home page manually. 22 41

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS. 22 42

INTERNET OPTIONS. 23 43

Access to the Internet - Risks. 23 44

Further Information on Internet Safety. 24 45

WWAAC Browser - Functions. 24 46

WWAAC Layout Editor 31 47

Accessing the Layout Editor 31 48

Creating a Layout 32 49

1. Set your default settings. 32 50

2. Add buttons to any of the four toolbars. 32 51

3. Adjust the appearance of individual buttons. 33 52

4. Group the buttons and / or adjust the space between the buttons  34 53

5. Save your layout 35 54

6. Load your layout within the Browser 35 55

Settings. 36 56

SPEECH SUPPORT. 36 57

Navigation Functions. 36 58

Controlling the Next and Previous Speaking Buttons. 36 59

Default Speech Mode. 36 60

Available Speech Settings. 37 61

Default or Initial Speech Mode. 37 62

Other Available Speech Settings. 37 63

Identifying Embedded Links. 37 64

Voices. 38 65

ALTERNATIVE INPUT. 38 66

Standard Options. 38 67

Kind of Switches (Switch Interface) 38 68

Ignore Mouse Clicks. 39 69

Warn About Partially Inaccessible Web Pages. 39 70

Navigation Field. 39 71

Colors. 39 72

Editing Existing Sites on the Favorites Page. 39 73

Adding a Site to the Favorites Page. 40 74

Number of Columns on the Favorites Page. 40 75

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS. 40 76

 

 

Overview

The WWAAC browser sits on top of Internet Explorer.  It offers some additional functionality that has been designed to support Internet access by people who use AAC.  However, many of the functions will be useful for a much broader spectrum of people with disabilities. 77

Key functionality includes: 78

·         Integrated text-to-speech support that is controllable by end users 79

·         Graphical favorites page to support browsing 80

·         Layout Editor to support customization 81

·         Concept Coding aware (this relates to the truly innovative part of the WWAAC project – see http://dewey.computing.dundee.ac.uk/ccf for more information 82

·         Summary function 83

·         Support for alternative access 84

·         Support for selection sets (created within Symbol for Windows), which can be used to input data into online fields 85

For a complete list of the functions available, go to Browser Functions.  86

WWAAC Browser - Tour of the Settings

There are a number of areas where the browser can be customized for use by people with different accessing needs.  The settings have been divided into: 87

·         Speech Support 88

·         Alternative Input 89

·         Browser Window 90

·         Visual Focus 91

·         Favorites 92

·         Keyboard Shortcuts 93

Comments for item 93

Steve Jacobs  03-13-2007 08:04 PM ET (US) This is a test comment.

·         Internet Options 94

The Settings

The secret to using the WWAAC browser successfully is to be familiar with the settings to enable customization to meet the needs of individuals. 95

To access the Settings Menu, press Alt and F1. 96

You will see the following dialogue box: 97

 

 98

 

After making changes, you can use Save As to save an individual’s settings as an .ini file.   99

SPEECH SUPPORT

This is how you adjust the text-to-speech functionality of the browser. 100

The WWAAC browser supports two modes of text-to-speech support: speak section-by-section and start / stop reading.   101

Many of the speech support settings enable you to control how the speak section-by-section buttons operate.    102

In the Layout Editor, the speak next section button is designated sel_next, the speak previous section button is sel_prev, and the start/stop reading button is speak.   103

See the Layout Editor help pages for more information 104

Navigation Functions

Say button function  105

A tick next to Say button function when using TAB-key allows an individual to listen to a description of each button’s function by pressing the TAB key.  You can adjust this description in the Layout Editor. 106

 

 107

Controlling the Next and Previous Speaking Buttons

Repeat on direction change enables you to control how the next and previous speaking buttons operate in relation to each other.   108

 

 109

 

There are four options in the drop down box: Down to Up Only, Up to Down Only, Both and None.  110

To try(!) and explain these different options, an example is used.  The numbers 1 &2 refer to two consecutive paragraphs numbered 1 and 2 to demonstrate how the next and previous buttons would move through the text using the different settings.  All explanations assume that we have just listened to paragraph 1 and are now ready to move onto paragraph 2: 111

Down to Up Only: when you press the next button, you hear the next paragraph (2).  When you press the previous button, it repeats the paragraph you have just listened to (2).  When you press the previous button again, it then moves back to the previous paragraph (1). 112

Up to Down Only: when you press the next button, you hear the next paragraph (2).  When you press the previous button, you hear the previous paragraph (1).  However, when you press the next button after doing this, it first repeats that paragraph (1).  When you press it again, you hear the next paragraph (2). 113

Both: when you press the next button, you hear the next paragraph (2).  When you press the previous button, you hear that paragraph again (2).  When you press it again, you hear the previous paragraph (1).  If you then go on to press the next button, you will hear that paragraph again (1). On the next press of the next button, you will hear the next paragraph (2). 114

None: next always moves you to the next paragraph (2) and previous always moves you to the previous paragraph (1). 115

Default Speech Mode

Using the next and previous speaking buttons, you can read paragraph-by-paragraph, sentence-by-sentence or word-by-word.  Paragraph is the most commonly used setting. 116

Initial Speech Mode controls the default setting for the next and previous buttons.  Four options are available in the drop down box: Paragraph, Sentence, Word and None.    117

 

 118

Available Speech Settings

Underneath Initial Speech Mode you will see four tick boxes: None, Word, Sentence and Paragraph.  These set the options for the speech mode button.  [This button is designated speech in the Layout Editor.]  119

The speech mode button enables an individual to independently control the function of their next and previous speaking buttons.   If there are ticks next to word and paragraph, for example, the speech mode button will scroll through the options of reading word-by-word and paragraph-by-paragraph.   120

 

 121

 

There are four options in the drop down box: Down to Up Only, Up to Down Only, Both and None.  122

To try(!) and explain these different options, an example is used.  The numbers 1 &2 refer to two consecutive paragraphs numbered 1 and 2 to demonstrate how the next and previous buttons would move through the text using the different settings.  All explanations assume that we have just listened to paragraph 1 and are now ready to move onto paragraph 2: 123

Down to Up Only: when you press the next button, you hear the next paragraph (2).  When you press the previous button, it repeats the paragraph you have just listened to (2).  When you press the previous button again, it then moves back to the previous paragraph (1). 124

Up to Down Only: when you press the next button, you hear the next paragraph (2).  When you press the previous button, you hear the previous paragraph (1).  However, when you press the next button after doing this, it first repeats that paragraph (1).  When you press it again, you hear the next paragraph (2). 125

Both: when you press the next button, you hear the next paragraph (2).  When you press the previous button, you hear that paragraph again (2).  When you press it again, you hear the previous paragraph (1).  If you then go on to press the next button, you will hear that paragraph again (1). On the next press of the next button, you will hear the next paragraph (2). 126

None: next always moves you to the next paragraph (2) and previous always moves you to the previous paragraph (1). 127

Default or Initial Speech Mode

 

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There are four possible settings for the initial or default speech mode None, Word, Sentence and Paragraph.   129

Other Available Speech Settings

Underneath Initial Speech Mode you will see four tick boxes: None, Word, Sentence and Paragraph.  These set the options for the speech mode button.  [This button is designated speech in the Layout Editor.]  130

The speech mode button enables an individual to independently control the function of their next and previous speaking buttons.   If there are ticks next to word and paragraph, for example, the speech mode button will scroll through the options of reading word-by-word and paragraph-by-paragraph.   131

 

 132

Identifying Embedded Links

When sentence contains link is followed by two tick boxes:  Say additional Link and Play sound.  This optional setting controls if / how the browser alerts an individual to the presence of an embedded link within a text selection.   133

If a tick is put next to Say additional Link, the browser will speak the word “Link” using the feedback voice at the start of a section of text containing an embedded link.  If a tick is put next to Play sound, the browser will play the windows default sound.   134

 

 135

Voices

To choose the voices to be used by the Browser and alter parameters such as rate, press Settings.  Microsoft Sapi voices can be downloaded with the browser from www.wwaac.org. 136

The Browser software can make use of two different voices. The voice For reading is used by the integrated screen reader.  The voice For buttons and links is used when reading button functions using the TAB-key, or to signal the presence of an embedded link by saying the word “link” if that option is selected. 137

ALTERNATIVE INPUT

These settings affect how an individual physically controls the browser. 138

Input should be set to Standard if the Browser is to be controlled using a mouse.   It should also be set to Standard if the Browser is to be controlled via alternative software such as Clicker, The Grid or SAW.     139

If the Browser is to be controlled using switches and its own switch interface, input should be set to Scanning Options. 140

Access Options

Pressing Options will lead to one of two different menus depending upon whether Standard or Scanning is selected. 141

 

 142

Standard Options

There are two parameters that can be altered: Tremor delay time and Debounce time.  Both parameters are measured in milliseconds. 143

Tremor delay time tells the software to ignore any number of repeated mouse presses that occur within a specified time after the previous press.   144

Debounce time tells the software to ignore any mouse press(es) after the initial press until the time frame set has passed.     145

 

 146

Scanning Options

There are a number of settings available to assist individuals who may be accessing the browser using switches.  To view these options, first select Scanning, and then select Options.     147

Note: these settings were not designed for the WWAAC browser software – they were borrowed from another more complex application to minimize programming time within the project.  This means that some options are not relevant to the WWAAC browser. 148

 

 149

Kind of Switches (Switch Interface)

A drop down box enables you to tell the WWAAC browser software how the switch(es) is connected to the computer.  Options include:  Switches on printer port, Joystick buttons, Switches on serial port, Keys from keyboard and Mouse buttons.   150

If you select Switches on printer port, Joystick buttons or Switches on Serial port you will also need to give further information about which port is being used.  If in doubt, try ‘1’: 151

 152

If you are using Switches on Serial Port, you should also press Advanced, and click on the name of the interface you are using.  (If you have a Semerc 2 box, click on Crick Serial Switch.)  This will configure the settings appropriately. 153

 

 154

 

If you are using Keys from keyboard, you will need to tell the software what keys you will use to control the browser.  To do this, position the cursor in the box to the left of Key 1 and then Key 2, and press the key on the keyboard that is to be used.  For example: 155

 

 156

 

Scan technique

There are four options available in the Scan technique drop down box: 1 Switch auto scan, 1 Switch user scan, 2 Switch single step and 2 Switch user scan. 157

 

 158

 

Switch auto scan: The computer will automatically scan the options available.  The individual presses their switch when the desired target is highlighted. 159

Switch user scan:  The individual presses and holds their switch until the desired target is highlighted.  The individual then releases their switch to make the selection. 160

Switch single step:  The individual allocates one switch as a ‘scan switch’ and the other switch as a ‘select switch’.  The individual presses their scan switch repeatedly to move through the options until the desired target is highlighted.  The individual uses their select switch to choose the highlighted target. 161

Switch user scan: The individual allocates one switch as a ‘scan switch’ and one switch as a ‘select switch’.  While the individual presses and holds their scan switch, the computer scans through the options available.  Once the desired target is highlighted, the individual releases their scan switch.  The individual then presses their select switch to confirm their choice of the highlighted target. 162

Switch and Highlight Controls

Four options are available to fine tune the behavior of the highlight and switch(es) when scanning:  Step time, Restart extra scan time, Tremor delay time and Debounce time. 163

 

 164

 

Step time:  Step time (or scan speed) controls how fast the computer will scan through the options available.  This control is relevant for all Scan technique settings except 2 Switch single step where the individual controls the speed of the scan using their ‘scan switch’.  Step time is measured in milliseconds, so a setting of 2000, for example, means that the computer will scan through options at a rate of one option each 2 seconds.  165

Restart extra scan time:  This setting enables you to set a pause on the first item being scanned.  It is measured as a percentage of the Step time set, and so again is relevant for all Scan technique settings except 2 Switch single step.  For example, if the Step time is set to 2000ms and Restart extra scan time is set to 100%, this will give a pause of 4 seconds on the first item scanned after a switch press.  If in doubt, it is recommended that this is set to zero, as some individuals find the interruption to the scanning rhythm more of a hindrance than a help. 166

Tremor delay time:  This tells the software to ignore any number of repeated switch presses that occur within the specified time after the previous switch press. 167

Debounce time:  This tells the software to ignore any switch presses that occur after the initial switch press until the time set has passed.      168

Default Action on Select

These options control where the highlight goes after an item has been selected.  Six options are available in the Default action on select drop down box: Stay at currently active point, Home, Go out, Go out then home, Go outmost, and Go outmost and in again.  However, within the WWAAC browser, the latter three options actually perform the same function.   169

The recommended default action is Go out. 170

Stay at currently active point:  After an item on a toolbar has been selected, the highlight remains around the item and the scan resumes from that item. [Unless the function selected changes the page, e.g. go to favorites, as this resets the scan, causing the highlight to surround the first toolbar] 171

Home:  After an item on a toolbar has been selected, the highlight returns to the first item on that toolbar.  [Unless the function selected changes the page, e.g. go to favorites, as this resets the scan, causing the highlight to surround the first toolbar] 172

Go out:  After an item on a toolbar has been selected, the highlight surrounds that toolbar and the scan resumes from that toolbar. 173

Go out then home, Go outmost, Go outmost and in again:  After an item on a toolbar has been selected, the highlight surrounds the first toolbar in the scan sequence (usually down the left hand side) and the scan resumes from the first toolbar.   174

Scan Type (Levels)

The layout of the browser means that it is not possible to make use of familiar scan strategies such as ‘row-column’ or ‘column-row’ scanning, as the functions are not arranged in a grid.   175

Instead, buttons are placed on up to 4 grey toolbars that are positioned around the active window: down the left hand side, down the right hand side, along the top, and along the bottom.  The Browser scans each toolbar in turn, and then, after a switch press or release, scans the buttons within the toolbar.  The scanning of the toolbars is referred to as Level 0.  The scanning of the buttons on a toolbar is referred to as Level 1.  Although Levels 0, 1, 2, 3 & 4 appear within this dialogue box, only settings for Levels 0 and 1 are relevant for the WWAAC browser. 176

 

 177

 

Level 0 is set to Linear scan by default.  It is recommended that Level 1 is also set to Linear scan.  The other settings are not relevant within the WWAAC browser. 178

Max rounds under Level 0 allows you to control how many times the computer will scan round the toolbars.   179

Max rounds under Level 1 allows you to control how many times the computer will scan round the individual items once a group has been selected.  It is recommended that Max rounds under Level 1 is set to 3 or less.  This is because it can be irritating for an individual who has accidentally selected a group to have to wait while individual items are scanned again and again before the highlight moves onto the desired group of items. 180

Limitations

It is not possible to set a simple linear scan between buttons on different toolbars.  It is also not possible to control the order in which the toolbars are scanned.    181

BROWSER WINDOW

The browser window can be customized in a number of different ways: 182

Ignore Mouse Clicks

The tick box next to Ignore mouse clicks on WebPages will normally be left empty.  If it is ticked, the browser will only register mouse clicks on its toolbars.  No mouse clicks will be registered on the webpage itself. 183

Warn About Partially Inaccessible Web Pages

If the tick box next to Warn about partially inaccessible web pages is ticked, a dialogue box will appear when an individual navigates to a web page that contains elements that the browser is unable to interact with.  This can include Flash. 184

Navigation Field

The tick box next to Display navigation field allows you to select whether or not you see a field showing the url of the web page you are on. 185

Preferred symbol set for www.wwaac.org

This is a feature that was used during the research phase of the project.  For individuals who have Symbol for Windows symbol sets stored on their computer, it is possible to choose what symbol set will be displayed when they are viewing some concept coding demonstrator pages at www.wwaac.org. 186

Button Design

The drop down box next to Filename contains a list of possible layouts for the browser’s toolbars.  These layouts are stored as tundra files.   187

It is possible, and probably advisable, to create your own layout or edit an existing one.  This is done by selecting Edit or New.  These buttons will open up the Layout Editor.  See help pages entitled Layout Editor for more information. 188

VISUAL FOCUS

The visual focus is the indication of which control button is currently selectable with a switch.  This is indicated by a change of color. 189

Colors

It is possible to choose the color of the Selection frame and the Speech frame.  The Selection frame surrounds the whole text selection.  The Speech frame surrounds the word that is currently being read.   190

In scan mode, the selection frame also surrounds the group of buttons being scanned and the speech frame also surrounds individual buttons. 191

The sliding scale next to Frame width allows you to set the width of both frames. It is a graduated scale ranging from 0 to 8. 192

FAVORITES

In most cases, it will probably be useful to have the navigation field displayed.  Even if an individual is exclusively navigating to pages from their favorite’s page and / or by following links on a page, a facilitator working with the individual may want to be able to easily type in a new url into this field.  If the individual is able to enter some urls independently, it will be important for this field to be displayed.  However, in some cases it may be a visual distraction. The graphical favorites page is the key to independent web browsing for many using the WWAAC web browser.  These settings allow you to customize the appearance of this page. 193

Favorites Page

To customize the Favorites page, press ‘Edit’.  You will see a list of Internet sites that are currently on the favorites page.  For example: 194

 

 195

Editing Existing Sites on the Favorites Page

When the name of a website is highlighted, its current representational image is displayed on the left, along with its url (e.g. http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/).   196

Press ‘Edit’ to adjust the properties of the highlighted site.  197

 

 198

 

Name to display is the Label you want to give the site on the favorites page.  In addition, this is what an individual will hear when they use text-to-speech support on the favorites page.   199

Link to page is the url that will be visited when the site is selected from the favorites page.  If you are entering a new url, don’t forget to precede it with “http://”. 200

Link to image displays the location of the graphic that will be displayed on the favorites page.  To change this, click Browse and select a new image. 201

Press OK to return to the Edit Favorites dialogue box. 202

Adding a Site to the Favorites Page

Pressing New will enable you to add a site to the favorites page manually.  You will need to type a label next to Name to display, the url of the site next to Link to page, and identify an image next to Link to image.  Ensure that you have saved an image onto your computer that you can select to be the representational image for the site on the favorites page.  203

Altering the Location of Sites on the Favorites Page

Move Up and Move Down can be used to alter the location of the highlighted site on the favorites page. 204

Deleting Sites

Pressing Delete will remove the highlighted site from the favorites page. 205

Number of Columns on the Favorites Page

Number of columns allows you to choose how many columns are displayed on the favorites page. This can range from 1 to 9. 206

Set home page manually

By default, the home page is the favorites page.  If the tick box next to Set home page manually is ticked, an alternative home page can be set.  If this is done, the 'go to favorites button' (designated fav in the Layout Editor) will still take you to the favorites page, but the 'go to home button' (designated home in the Layout Editor) will now take you this alternative home page. 207

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

This menu option is only relevant for individuals who will be controlling the browser using keyboard shortcuts because of driving the Browser using an alternative application such as Clicker, The Grid, or SAW. 208

 

 209

 

On the left hand side of this dialogue box is a list of most functions that the Browser can perform (see Browser Functions pages for an explanation of each function).  If you are going to be using keyboard shortcuts to control the browser (e.g. from Clicker, SAW, The Grid etc.), you need to first identify what functions you require.  Then highlight each of these functions in turn, clicking the blue right arrow to add them to your list of Enabled Shortcuts.  To remove a function from the list of Enabled Shortcuts, highlight it on this right hand list, and click the blue left arrow. 210

Pressing Advanced opens an additional dialogue box.  On the right hand side are all the browser’s functions (See the Browser Functions pages for a description of each function).  When a particular function is highlighted, its keyboard shortcut is displayed on the left.  It can also be changed.    211

INTERNET OPTIONS

This option links into standard Internet Explorer options concerning security etc.  Depending upon the version of Windows you are running, you should see a dialogue box that looks something like this: 212

 

 213

Access to the Internet - Risks

Access to the Internet offers huge benefits, but does expose us all to a number of risks that we should be aware of.  Risks include: 214

·         Exposure to information that is not controlled for accuracy 215

·         Exposure to material that might be considered offensive or upsetting 216

·         Exposure to strangers in chat rooms 217

·         Exposure to E-commerce 218

·         A risk of ‘computer viruses’ (installation and regular updating of anti-virus software is recommended)  219

·         Potential for others to access files on your computer (installation of a Firewall is recommended) 220

Further Information on Internet Safety

The Department of Education and Skills (DfES) has an online resource for parents and children where you can find information on Internet safety issues and the actions that can be taken to reduce risks. There is also a 10 min safety presentation on this website highlighting key issues and giving practical advice. Visit www.parentsonline.gov.uk/safety. 221

Childnet has online resources and leaflets for young people and parents. Visit www.childnet-int.org. 222

NCH is a children’s charity campaigning for safe and equal IT access.  They offer safety advice for parents. Visit www.nch.org.uk/itok 223

The University of Central Lancashire operate a website (For Kids by Kids Online) which aims to provide young people with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to use the internet safely. Visit www.fkbko.co.uk 224

The Home Office publish a booklet entitled ‘Keep your child safe on the internet’ which provides information and guidance on internet safety issues intended for parents and careers.  This can be downloaded from the website http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk!ef/.  To view this site most successfully within the WWAAC browser, go to the ‘text only’ version of the site. 225

WWAAC Browser - Functions

There are a wide range of functions available for the WWAAC browser.  However, it is unlikely that an individual would want to use every single one.  The Layout Editor can be used to produce toolbars that contain functions relevant for an individual.  Alternatively, for individuals seeking to control the browser from other applications such as SAW, Clicker and The Grid, the Keyboard Shortcuts menu within the Settings Menu can be used to enable, identify and change keyboard shortcuts for particular functions. 226

Each function is described in the table below.  Each function has two different labels, as a different naming convention was used within the Layout Editor from that used when giving the list of Keyboard Shortcuts in the Settings Menu.  227

 ‘Core’ browser functions are marked with an asterisk. ‘Core’ browser functions that also support access are marked with two asterisks.  However, the absolute minimum number of functions that can be used to control the browser is probably two for a competent pointer user (go to favorites [fav] and speak next [sel_next]) and four for an individual who requires access support (go to favorites [fav], speak next [sel_next], next link [sel_nextlink] and go to link [sel_gotolink]). 228

 

WWAAC Layout Editor

The content and layout of the buttons and the structure of the browser layout can be edited with the Layout editor 345

Accessing the Layout Editor

To edit an existing layout or create a new layout for the browser you can either load up the layout editor application, or access it from the browser via settings, browser window and ‘New’ or ‘Edit’. 346

If you load up the layout editor separately, go to File and select ‘New’.  A dialogue box will appear asking what type of layout you want to create.  Select ‘Browser’ from the list and then select ‘OK’. 347

Creating a Layout

There are 6 stages to creating a new layout. 348

1. Set your default settings

Note: Check that the default tab is selected 349

 

 350

 

Set a default background color for the buttons.  The color of individual buttons can be changed. 351

Set the height and width of your buttons.  Large buttons will be easier to see and access with a pointer, but will leave less room for the web page.  A width of ‘20’ and a height of ‘30’ might be a good starting point. 352

Set the default size (height) and color of the font.  You can also choose whether it is bold and / or italic.   353

Select the Image Set you want to use.  ‘Color’ is recommended over ‘Default’, as these icons tend to be clearer.  Note, it is possible to import your own icons for individual buttons, but this is quite complicated. 354

Choose the Image position in relation to the text label.  The options are: left, right, top, bottom, or centre.  Top is most often used. 355

2. Add buttons to any of the four toolbars

These are top, left, bottom and right. 356

Highlight a desired function from the list (see ‘Functions pages’ for an explanation of each function). 357

Use the blue arrows to place the button to the top, left, bottom or right toolbar: 358

 

 359

 

Continue until you have added all your desired functions.   360

Tips: 361

·         You can change the toolbar on which the button is placed by highlighting the button function, and choosing a different arrow. 362

·         You do not need to make use of all four toolbars.  The browser will only display those toolbars that have buttons on them. 363

·         It is not possible to change the background color of the toolbars at the current time. 364

3. Adjust the appearance of individual buttons

Ensure the Button tab is selected. 365

 

 366

 

Either click directly on the button you wish to adjust, or highlight its function on the list. 367

You can then adjust some or all of the following: 368

Label: this is the writing that will appear on the button 369

Speech: this is what will be spoken if the browser is set to ‘Say’ button function when using TAB-key in the speech settings. 370

Background: if this is ticked, you can alter the color of the button 371

Size: if this is ticked, you can alter the size of the button 372

Font: if this is ticked, you can alter the font on the button 373

Tip: 374

Color coding related functions can help with learning.  For example, all speaking buttons could be green, all navigational buttons yellow, and all buttons to do with links could be blue. 375

4. Group the buttons and / or adjust the space between the buttons

Ensure the Position tab is selected. 376

 

 377

 

Position:  You can reposition buttons to the left or right within the horizontal toolbars using the blue arrows next to ‘Move button’.  You can reposition buttons higher or lower within the vertical toolbars using the blue arrows next to ‘Move button’.  378

Spacing:  You can change the spacing to the left and right of buttons on the horizontal toolbars using the minus and plus keys.  You can change the spacing above and below buttons on the vertical toolbars using the minus and plus keys. 379

Tips: 380

·         Increasing the amount of space between buttons can help to increase accuracy for those with poor pointer control. 381

·         Increasing space between groups of buttons performing different functions can help to differentiate these. 382

5. Save your layout

Under ‘File’, save the layout you have designed as a tundra file. 383

By default, this will be stored under Program Files/WWAAC/Tundra  384

6. Load your layout within the Browser

Exit the Layout  Editor and Return to the Browser software 385

Press Alt + F1 to activate Settings 386

Open Browser Window 387

Click on the green refresh button to add your new tundra file to the list of available tundra files. 388

 

 389

 

Then click on the drop down arrow and select your new file 390

Press ‘OK’ and OK’ to close the Settings Menu 391

You can now use your new layout. 392

Settings

This would be useful if there are a number of individuals with different needs who are using the WWAAC Browser on one computer.  To access an individual’s personalized settings file, click on Load. 393

SPEECH SUPPORT

Different modes of speaking are suitable for different individuals.  For those with some comprehension difficulties, being able to listen to sections of text at their own pace, with time in between to process, and the option to listen to a text section again using the previous button, can be very helpful.   Others may prefer to start the screen reader and then stop it at a point where they have listened to enough.  Pressing the button again will then restart the speech from the point at which it was stopped.  This latter option is much more similar to a conventional screen reader.  Some individuals may want to have both modes available to them. 394

Navigation Functions

This auditory support can help individuals who are unable to see / perceive the icons or text on a button.  This feature can also be useful when learning how to operate the software, as individuals can remind themselves what a particular button does before selecting it.   395

Controlling the Next and Previous Speaking Buttons

If an individual is likely to want or need to listen to a particular section of text several times, a setting such as Down to Up Only, Up to Down Only, or Both could be useful. If an individual would not necessarily want or need to listen to a section of text more than once in succession, but might want to set the section of text they have just listened to in context by going back and listening again to a previous section of text, None is likely to be the most appropriate setting. Crystal clear?!  Experiment to find out what suits you!  If in doubt, None is probably a good default setting. 396

Default Speech Mode

Individuals differ in the amount of text they are able to process at any one time.  For some, listening to a whole paragraph will be too confusing, and they will prefer to listen to an individual sentence.  Others may want to listen word-by-word.  However, the word-by-word setting is not often used as the default text section as an individual may lose the flow of the text.  None would be used if an individual predominantly read the contents of a web page and only occasionally required the support of text to speech. 397

Available Speech Settings

If an individual is likely to want or need to listen to a particular section of text several times, a setting such as Down to Up Only, Up to Down Only, or Both could be useful. If an individual would not necessarily want or need to listen to a section of text more than once in succession, but might want to set the section of text they have just listened to in context by going back and listening again to a previous section of text, None is likely to be the most appropriate setting. Crystal clear?!  Experiment to find out what suits you!  If in doubt, None is probably a good default setting. 398

Default or Initial Speech Mode

Individuals differ in the amount of text they are able to process at any one time.  For some, listening to a whole paragraph will be too confusing, and they will prefer to listen to an individual sentence.  Others may want to listen word-by-word.  However, the word-by-word setting is not often used as the default text section as an individual may lose the flow of the text.  None would be used if an individual predominantly read the contents of a web page and only occasionally required the support of text to speech. 399

Other Available Speech Settings

The level of complexity of the written language used on web pages varies greatly.  The speech mode button allows an individual to change how they listen to text according to its complexity.  For example, it may be that on most web pages, an individual is happy to read paragraph-by-paragraph.  However, if they come across some very complex text, they may want to read this sentence-by-sentence, or even word-by-word.   400

Identifying Embedded Links

Many sentences on web pages contain embedded links.  For readers, these are often signaled by an underline.  Individuals who are using the integrated screen reader to support their perception or understanding of text may benefit from having an additional auditory signal to the presence of an embedded link.  The choice of using a sound and / or the word “link” is really down to personal preference.   401

Voices

A separate voice may make it clearer to an individual that they are listening to information about a button function rather than information on a web page. Similarly, a distinct voice saying the word “Link” will differentiate the signal of am embedded link from instances where the word “link” is actually present in the text on the web page. 402

ALTERNATIVE INPUT

There are a number of applications available such as Clicker, The Grid, SAW etc.  that can drive other applications such as the WWAAC Browser using keyboard shortcuts.  These applications are likely to offer much more sensitive control for people using switches to control a computer.  To configure such software, go to the Keyboard Shortcuts settings.  However, for individuals who have not got access to such software, the WWAAC Browser has its own switch interface to enable rudimentary control by switch users. 403

Standard Options

Tremor delay time is designed to prevent an individual with a tremor inadvertently activating a function a number of times.   For example, if an individual has a tremor, and a tremor delay time is set to 500 milliseconds, any repeated mouse presses that occur within 500 milliseconds of each other will be ignored.  However, if one of the presses within the tremor occurred 600 milliseconds after the last press, this would be registered by the software. 404

Debounce time is designed to help individuals who inadvertently ‘bounce’ when activating a mouse key.  The software will not register any mouse presses that happen within the set period of time from the initial press.   405

In reality, these settings will need to be experimented with as we can rarely measure such actions to the millisecond! 406

Additional settings can be modified using Window’s Mouse Settings.  These can be found in the Control Panel.   407

Kind of Switches (Switch Interface)

There is a wide range of switch interfaces in use.  If you are using a Crick, Joybox or Joycable without loading their software (recommended) use the Joystick buttons setting.  However, if you have installed their software, use the Keys from keyboard setting.  If you are using a Don Johnson switch interface, use the Keys from keyboard setting.  If you are using a Semerc 2 use the Switches on Serial port setting. 408

Ignore Mouse Clicks

This option was devised for individuals who access the browser using a head mouse or other form of pointer with dwell select.  By selecting this option, the entire webpage becomes a resting place. 409

Warn About Partially Inaccessible Web Pages

If this option is ticked, the individual will receive a warning that the browser may not function as expected on that page in the form of a pop up.  This can reduce frustration.  It might be useful to tick this box initially, and then as the individual becomes more familiar with the type of pages that cause problems, this could be unticked.  Some individuals may find it annoying to have this pop up appear. 410

Navigation Field

In most cases, it will probably be useful to have the navigation field displayed.  Even if an individual is exclusively navigating to pages from their favorites page and / or by following links on a page, a facilitator working with the individual may want to be able to easily type in a new url into this field.  If the individual is able to enter some urls independently, it will be important for this field to be displayed.  However, in some cases it may be a visual distraction. 411

Colors

The frames are intended to help individuals understand what text is being read and where they are on the web page.  If they are unnecessary or distracting, the width can be set to zero.  Color options are present as the background color of web pages varies, and some individuals perceive certain color combinations more clearly.  You may want to experiment with different color combinations to ensure optimal clarity.   412

Editing Existing Sites on the Favorites Page

For many individuals, the graphical favorites page will be their main navigational tool.  It is important that it is kept up-to-date with interesting sites.  If an individual adds their own site to their favorites page using the add to favorites button (designated addfav in the Layout Editor), the browser takes a screen shot of the page and uses this thumbnail as the representational image.  This is not always very clear, and it may be that the facilitator can find a more meaningful image or symbol.  A facilitator may also want to simplify or adjust the page’s label, as sometimes the default label can be unclear.   413

Adding a Site to the Favorites Page

A facilitator may want to change the order in which sites appear on the favorites page to ensure that the most popular sites are more easily accessible and visible at the top of the page. 414

Number of Columns on the Favorites Page

It is helpful to avoid having scroll bars along the bottom of the screen on the favorite’s page.  On most computers, 3 columns work well.  However, some screen resolutions result in a setting of 2 columns being clearer 415

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

Keyboard shortcuts enable control of the browser from other applications such as Clicker, SAW, and The Grid etc.   416

Tip: if you are controlling the browser through an alternative application, select tundra file under Filename in the Browser Window settings. 417