Printer is on or off??

[honeydew]

Is there any way for a blind person, using only a keyboard
and a screen reader (Jaws), to find out if her printer has
been turned off (or on)???

Using Windows Vista Home Basic.

Thanks,
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Bill Yanaire, ESQ]

Is there any way for a blind person, using only a keyboard
and a screen reader (Jaws), to find out if her printer has
been turned off (or on)???

Using Windows Vista Home Basic.

Thanks,
(e-mail address removed)

Throw printer in tub of water. Take out printer. If you get
electrocuted, then printer is on.

 

[Saucy]

Hi.

All I could do was check how a printer was indicated on a copy of Windows
Vista Home Basic here, with Windows Narrator turned on.

Windows Narrator will inform the user that a printer status is either
"Ready" or "Off Line", but does not determine for the user whether the
device is electrically ON or OFF. You determine status by opening Printers,
then selecting the printer in question. Windows Narrator will read out the
printer's name, status, and number of documents in the queue.

As far as I can tell, it might be better to determine the electrical state
of the device at the device itself, with the blind person knowing by feel
the what the position of the device's toggle switch indicates.

Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.

Saucy

 

[Dave-UK]

Is there any way for a blind person, using only a keyboard
and a screen reader (Jaws), to find out if her printer has
been turned off (or on)???

Using Windows Vista Home Basic.

Thanks,
(e-mail address removed)

All I can think of is to unplug and then re-plug the usb lead to the printer.
If the printer is on then Vista will play a Device disconnect system sound.
If the printer is off then there will be no sound.
To avoid wearing out the printer's usb socket maybe get a usb
extension lead and unplug/plug the connectors in the lead.

This assumes the blind person can manipulate the leads.

Hopefully somebody will have a more elegant answer.

 

[Saucy]

I think the blind person will have to be able to determine whether the
electrics are on of off from the printer itself, by feeling the position of
the toggle switch - if it has one - or by pulling the plug. That would be
the only sure way, as far as I can tell. They should make sure only devices
with toggle switches are obtained. They should avoid devices with just push
buttons (which give no indication by feel of the device's electrical
state) - considerations to take into account when setting up computer
equipment for the blind.

But the poster really should contact a service organization that supports
the visually impaired.

In Canada, I think the poster might check with the C.N.I.B. :

http://www.cnib.ca

Perhaps they would have advice - as I'm sure these days, the blind are very
involved with computing and computers.

Saucy

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Here's what honeydew wrote on 9/09/09:

Is there any way for a blind person, using only a keyboard
and a screen reader (Jaws), to find out if her printer has
been turned off (or on)???

Using Windows Vista Home Basic.

Thanks,
(e-mail address removed)

I'll try to remember to ask my friend at lunch today if he knows this,
but my track record on asking him such questions is dismal

I like Saucy's ideas about power switches, but they do require a nearby
printer.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Here's what Gene E. Bloch wrote on 9/10/09:

Here's what honeydew wrote on 9/09/09:

I'll try to remember to ask my friend at lunch today if he knows this, but my
track record on asking him such questions is dismal

I like Saucy's ideas about power switches, but they do require a nearby
printer.

My friend is legally blind, but not totally without vision. He can
usually detect indicator lights or illuminated LCD screens - so if the
person you speak of can detect them, and the printer has one, that's a
possible trick.

His preference is to keep his printer plugged into a switched power
strip. When he turns the power strip on, he listens for the printer's
startup sounds. Silence implies printer not on.

He doesn't like momentary contact switches either, oddly enough.

Anyway, no one at lunch had a better idea, sorry.

 

[Saucy]

Windows Narrator will read aloud the status of the printer (Offline or
Ready) which is indicative of, but does not confirm its electrical state (ON
or OFF). To confirm that you'd need a something which gives your friend the
physical information he needs to determine that - either a toggle switch or
a light bright and big enough that correctly indicates the power state.
There's also the plugging and unplugging of the USB cord. Windows gives off
a ding dong when it detects a working USB device plugging in.

Your friend could have a link on the Desktop to the Printers folder for
quicker access, and a link to start Windows Narrator there too for a read on
device status.

Of course, the solution will be very specific to the equipment available,
available resources to aquire perhaps more accessible equipment, and your
friends needs and abilities.

You haven't mentioned if you contacted the CNIB or the equivalent
organization in the U.S. (or what country you are in), which I highly
recommend.

Saucy

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Intended for Honeydew, the OP...

Here's what Saucy wrote on 9/11/09:

Windows Narrator will read aloud the status of the printer (Offline or Ready)
which is indicative of, but does not confirm its electrical state (ON or
OFF). To confirm that you'd need a something which gives your friend the
physical information he needs to determine that - either a toggle switch or a
light bright and big enough that correctly indicates the power state. There's
also the plugging and unplugging of the USB cord. Windows gives off a ding
dong when it detects a working USB device plugging in.

Your friend could have a link on the Desktop to the Printers folder for
quicker access, and a link to start Windows Narrator there too for a read on
device status.