On-screen keyboards
Step-by-step instructions for the on-screen keyboard in Gnome
Instructions
Step 1 for Gnome versions before 2.1:
- Click on the ' Applications ' menu and then click on ' Preferences ' or press ' Alt ' + ' F1 ' and then use the ' down ' arrow key to highlight ' Preferences ' .
Step 1 for Gnome versions 2.1 or newer:
- Click on the ' System' menu and then click on ' Preferences ' or press ' Alt ' + ' F1' to access the application menu and then press the ' right ' arrow until ' System' menu is highlighted and then press the ' down ' arrow until ' Preferences ' is highlighted.
- Click on or hover the mouse over 'Accessibility' and then click on 'Assistive Technology support' or use the ' right' arrow key to highlight 'Accessibility' and then the ' right ' arrow key again to bring up the ' Accessibility ' sub menu and then press the ' down ' arrow until 'Assistive Technology support' is selected and then press ' Enter '. See Fig 1.

Fig 1
- This will open the ' Assistive Technology Preferences ' property box (see Fig 2).

Fig 2
- If is not already checked, click on the checkbox next to ' Enable assistive technologies' or press ' Tab' until it is highlighted and press the ' Spacebar' to check it.
- Click on the ' On-screen keyboard' checkbox or press ' Tab' until it is highlighted and press the ' Spacebar' to check it as shown in Fig 2.
- Click ''Close' or press ' Enter' to return to the Gnome desktop.
- You will need to ' logoff ' and then ' log-in' again for the screen reader to start.
Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings cannot be changed due to local IT policies - contact your local IT support for further help.
