Unable to find out the status of NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK and SCROLL LOCK keys

While typing we might turn on the CAPS LOCK key by mistake and go unnoticed about the same. Yes, it is true to many of us. During typing some thing, we might be reading the information from a printed document and not looking at the screen or the keyboard.

In such a situation, we might go unnoticed if we press the CAPSLOCK key by mistake. As a result, we have to rectify our mistake by changing the text to lower case. At that time, we feel can we instruct the computer to generate an alert to indicate change in the status of CAPS LOCK and other such keys.

Well, visual indication is provided when we press NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK and SCROLL LOCK keys On/Off. When Num lock, Caps lock and Scroll lock key is turned on, light is displayed on the keyboard indicating that the key is turned on. On the other hand, the light turns off when Num lock, Caps lock and Scroll lock key is turned off.

Visual indication of the state of Num lock key, Caps lock key and Scroll lock key is good for sighted users but is not enough when an individual is not looking at the screen. In addition, how would an individual with visual disability know, if either of those keys are turned on?

Windows XP comes with an interesting feature known as ToggleKeys. ToggleKeys option generates an audio alert along with visual alert each time the Num lock, Caps lock and the Scroll lock key is pressed. When ToggleKeys option is turned on, the computer will generate a high-pitch sound when the Num lock, Caps lock and Scroll lock key is turned on and a low-pitch sound when Num lock, Caps lock and Scroll lock key is turned off.

ToggleKeys option is beneficial for people with visual disabilities and also for people with cognitive disabilities. In addition, it is also helpful for senior citizens as well as those who are not looking at the screen while typing.

In this document we’ ll discuss how to:

• Page 1: Activate ToggleKeys
• Page 2: Use keyboard shortcut to turn on ToggleKeys