Shortcuts and accessibility devices

• May 30, 2021 - 13:53

I've been looking into devices to make it easier to interact with computers and specific programs. Recently I'e looked at Scroll Wheels - and now I'm looking at Pen Tablets. Currently I'm using a Huion H1060P with side buttons. It'll take some configuring, but it definitely looks as though it can help.

I found this page about shortcuts in general - https://shortcutworld.com/
and also this one which is specifically about MuseScore -
https://shortcutworld.com/MuseScore/mac/MuseScore_Shortcuts/MuseScore/m… [MacOS]

https://shortcutworld.com/MuseScore/win/MuseScore_Shortcuts [Win PC]

I don't know if the site has details of Linux shortcuts for MuseScore. It does for some other programs.

Knowing about the shortcuts is only part of the battle though. Some may have to be remembered, others put on a cheat sheet, and some configured into devices such as the pen tablets - including buttons - which I'm currently working with.

This information may be useful to some round here.


Comments

In the MuseScore Cafe a couple of days back Marc mentioned Stream Deck - https://www.elgato.com/en/stream-deck from Elgato. This exists in several forms - I think three hardware devices, with 6, 15, and 32 programmable keys respectively, and also a software tool which works on a mobile device - either iOS or Android.

Marc also mentioned Notation Express, which seems to provide a pre-configured set of shortcuts which might work with music notation software, though this would still need a keypad or virtual keypad to provide the appropriate functionality. https://www.nycmusicservices.com/notation-express/

I am now experimenting in addition with a left handed mouse - even though I'm not naturally left handed, which I'm coupling with the Huion pen tablet which I use with my right hand. My LH mouse is a Jelly Comb unit which contains rechargeable battery and should also work with Bluetooth.

I really would like to get a version of Stream Deck working first as it looks as though it might be very useful. Perhaps I'll download the iOS version and use either a phone or a tablet to control my screen(s).

For me this started off as an investigation to relieve RSI - though I was specifically aiming to help some others who are currently suffering from using keyboards.

Regarding the pen tablet, it comes which a glove which I had disregarded - but I found after using the pen to control the computer for about an hour, my hand was becoming sticky and dragging across the tablet, so that is presumably a problem that the glove is intended to ameliorate.

Primarily the pen tablets seem to be aimed at graphics artists, but they don't have a monopoly on possible applications, and it does seem that they might be useful for others.

In reply to by dave2020X

I had some arm/wrist issues back in the 90's when I was working at HP, and the site occupational therapist was able to suggest a number of changes, from height of chair/keyboard monitor to position of mouse to strategies for reducing motion between keyboard and mouse. While these made a noticeable difference for sure, I would say that for me, moving away from the desktop setup and instead using a laptop exclusively, focusing on keyboard control for as much as possible and using the integrated touchpad when I do need a pointing device, is quite comfortable and better overall than the best I ever managed for a desktop setup. I suspect that going back to an external device to need to move my hand to would not be as good. But every case is different. Especially if one is working in a context where you don't need to type much or at all (eg, working in graphics programs) and can thus leave your hands on the external device, I could see that working very well. Tougher perhaps in a hybrid content like music notation. Anyhow, good luck!

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