(Not sure how Discorse’s algorithm determines how my topic might be similar to other topics that don’t mention magnifier but okay…)
Here’s a video that I have uploaded recently. This is another one of the feature requests for KDE Magnifier and I’m sure this will prove useful for those with visual disabilities.
(Unfortunately, the forum won’t let me add a link in my post. If anyone could visit Odysee and perform a search for my name (@graysonpeddie), there should be a video about the fixed magnifier screen overlays. I’m so sorry about that for those who have to search, but the forum is telling me to go pond sand… (sigh))
So basically, what the video is talking about is about how magnified screen overlays can enlarge certain parts of the screen and stay fixed at the location. The fixed magnified screen overlay feature is similar to that of ZoomText’s Freeze View.
As much as I don’t want to break this to everyone, my concern is in regards to assistive technology-related software patents, so I’m wondering how KDE developers and end-users might suggest how we can go about implementing fixed magnified screen overlays without infringing in any implementation made by Freedom Scientific. Open source assistive technologies such as screen readers and screen magnifiers are far too important to me as an accessibility advocate and I would love to see this happen. Probably it won’t be implemented in KDE 6.6 if given time, but perhaps KDE Plasma 6.7 or 6.8 if I’m being realistic here.
I wanted to go ahead and add my video demonstration to my thread so that people with motor disabilities do not have to go through all the hoops to get to my video.
As mentioned, this is a video about demonstrating why I want to have a fixed magnified screen overlay in KDE.
i assume you are aware of the meta++ and meta=- zoom features of the plasma desktop
there are configuration options under settings > desktop effects where you can add or modify keybinds to
but also there in desktop effects is an alternate option called Magnifier that instead of zooming the entire desktop you just have predefined viewer area that follows where you point the mouse.
don’t know if this would suit you use case, but just wanted to point it out.
Yes, I’m already aware of that. Thank you for reminding me of that. However, the Magnifier region cannot be fixed to the screen. The magnified region moves with the mouse pointer. The magnifier region will move as I move my mouse left and right in the game such as The Talos Principle 2. Basically, the magnifier region is not a “freeze view” as indicated in ZoomText.
I’m not sure if the developers have made feature requests on behalf of me, but I will definitely register my account over at the bug-tracking site when I’m out of work. I did not know that I can file 2 feature requests (scroll at screen edge feature and fixed magnifier screen overlay feature) in their site even though the feature requests/wishlists are not bugs in code.
Thank you for the suggestion.
And of course, I might do a “mock let’s play” (basically, it’s a video commentary for a game) for The Talos Principle 2 showing a “mock” screen overlay in action. I can then add screenshots to help everyone understand what I’m trying to accomplish such as with keyboard shortcuts for turning on/off the fixed overlays.
The way KDE Plasma’s Zoom and Magnifier features work is not friendly for visually impaired users. The Zoom and Magnifier functions should be implemented as a single unified tool. This tool should support the following three viewing modes:
Full screen view
Lens view
Docked view
Plasma currently supports only the first two modes and does not have the third one. The Magnifier tool in Windows supports all three modes.
Windows also has dedicated shortcuts to open each view mode:
Full screen view: Ctrl + Alt + F
Lens view: Ctrl + Alt + L
Docked view: Ctrl + Alt + D
Pressing Windows + = on Windows opens the Magnifier in the most recently used view mode and zoom level. Pressing Windows + = again increases the zoom level.
The future KDE magnifier tool should support these shortcuts as well.
This new magnifier tool also needs to allow users to choose whether it starts automatically with the operating system.
Whenever a user launches the Magnifier tool, a Magnifier toolbar should appear on the screen so that users who do not know or cannot use keyboard shortcuts can switch between the different view modes and adjust the zoom level.
For users who regularly need the magnifier, they also need to be able to use it on the login screen. However, on the login screen, they currently cannot use the Zoom or Magnifier features. The new KDE Magnifier tool should be usable on the login screen.
Good point about the magnifier window, but I found it to be annoying when Alt+Tabbing between applications. Windows does not have the ability to minimize the magnifier window to the system tray. However, can we please not let the thread go off-course? We can create a separate feature request thread for having a magnifier window show up and allow users to zoom in and out by using a mouse regardless of which application we use.
Thank you for letting me know. I kind of thought that by doing a video demonstration, I can be of help to all KDE developers. I won’t link the feature requests from KDE Bug Tracker in here.
For the video demonstration, I’m just doing this in order to get my point across.
After doing some searches to find a way to resolve the issue of LibreOffice Writer not being fully compatible with Windows Magnifier (the magnified screen cannot move in sync with the movement of the text cursor), I have become more pessimistic about the prospects of KDE developers being able to do something to improve Plasma’s accessibility for visually impaired users. LibreOffice Writer is not part of Plasma, but the accessibility issue I encountered with it for visually impaired users made me think of Plasma’s Zoom and Magnifier features.
The earliest post I found mentioning LibreOffice Writer’s incompatibility with Windows Magnifier dates back to 2010. Fifteen years have passed, yet the issue still has not been resolved. The limitations and difficulties with Plasma’s Zoom and Magnifier features are not new. They should have been addressed long ago if the developers were truly concerned about improving accessibility for users with disabilities.
There are not many visually impaired people using KDE Plasma. Plasma developers likely have good eyesight, or if they do have vision issues, they are not severe enough to require relying on a magnifier to use their operating system. These reasons may have contributed to the developers not paying enough attention and lacking the motivation to improve Plasma’s accessibility for visually impaired users.
I understand your frustration about long-standing accessibility issues. The LibreOffice/Windows Magnifier problem you describe is exactly why I’m advocating for KDE to take accessibility seriously.
That’s exactly why I’m focusing on this specific magnifier overlay feature - it’s a concrete improvement we can implement relatively quickly. Could we discuss the broader accessibility challenges in a separate thread so we can keep this one focused on the overlay implementation?
If you’d like to start a broader discussion about KDE accessibility challenges and developer awareness, I’d be happy to participate there too. It’s an important conversation that deserves its own space.
