#System google chrome os how to#
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#System google chrome os mac#

Aside from this, a list of ChromeVox keyboard commands is available where you can arrow through dozens of ChromeVox commands and their current key assignments. While this is useful, we were unable to find a way to press specific key combinations to learn their function. Getting past this quibble, the tutorial includes information on navigating through webpage s, changing the voice, moving through tables, and other commonly used keyboard shortcuts.Д¬hromeVox includes a Keyboard Explorer, which allows you to learn the layout of your keyboard. For this reason, it may be a better idea to read the online tutorial on another machine.

#System google chrome os how to#

I say 'mostly thoughtful' because the first screen did not self-voice, and it would be quite difficult to know how to read the tutorial without being told first. Getting HelpДЄfter completing the setup, you are presented with a mostly thoughtful ChromeVox tutorial.

#System google chrome os update#

Unfortunately, no speech output was given to indicate that the update occurred.

#System google chrome os download#

Once you complete the setup process, the machine is supposed to locate and download the latest version of Chrome so your computer will automatically be up-to-date. This also extends to accessibility functions in ChromeVox, so settings like speech rate, for example, will be remembered across machines. One could essentially walk up to any Chrome machine, log in with their user name and password, and use it as if it were their own device. Google has chosen this approach so that users can save and retrieve their settings across devices. If you have a Gmail e-mail address, however, you already have a Google account and can use this to log in.

Chrome saves all of your settings and user information to a Google account, and you can create one if you don't have one already. The setup guides the user through selecting a language and keyboard type, connecting to a wireless network, and signing into a Google account.

One thing we immediately noticed about Chrome is its relatively fast boot time, clocking in at about eight seconds on our model. We were able to successfully turn on speech and go through the setup process independently. ChromeVox includes a global shortcut for starting and stopping speech output: Ctrl + Alt + Z. The first time you start up a device running the Chrome OS, you are guided through several setup screens. The on/off button is on the front left side of the unit and includes raised markings for easy location. We performed all of our testing without a monitor attached, an advantage sometimes enjoyed by desktop computer users who are blind. No keyboard, mouse, or monitor is included, so you'll need to connect these if you wish to use them. Weighing in at a bit under three pounds, it includes six USB ports (including two on the front), several video output options (including HDMI), and a combination headphone and microphone jack.

#System google chrome os mac#

With a length and width of just over 7 inches and about an inch in thickness, its size is barely smaller than a Mac Mini. The Chromebox is a slender piece of equipment that easily fits on a shelf, bookcase, or television stand. Our testing was done using Chrome OS version 26, the latest available as of the time of this article.

#System google chrome os portable#

While our experiences were gathered using the desktop model, a portable Chromebook would render similar results. We put a Samsung Chromebox model through its paces to see if Chrome and the screen reader are ready for prime time.

To make it all sing in terms of access, every Chrome machine includes a program called ChromeVox, Google's take on a screen reader. Because of this, Chrome machines include relatively limited computing power, similar that of a netbook computer's. Rather than loading programs locally on the machine, the Chrome OS is web-based, meaning that just about all functions are performed from the browser, whether you are using Gmail to read your e-mail messages, YouTube to watch a video, or Google Docs to write and collaborate on a project. Google aims to upset this balance of power with its Chrome operating system, a somewhat radical departure from what most computer users are accustomed to.Д¬hromebook, Google's take on the laptop computer, and the Chromebox, a small desktop unit about the size of a cable box, are starting to gain in popularity, especially in the education market. This was a good situation for the accessibility community since both of the major players can be paired with screen reading and magnification solutions to perform everyday tasks. For the past two decades, Windows and Mac computers have largely dominated the consumer computing landscape.