innovations : the ‘Heart’ key and even better

We want to take the mystery out of computing, simplify computer use and adapt the computer to the needs and abilities of the user, rather than the other way round ! That’s our raison d’être.

So we’re using the Aciah-Linux system, in which we’ve set up some ‘magic scripts’, and we’re continuing along this path as needs are expressed, particularly by the elderly and disabled. Here’s where we stand :

Our Aciah-Linux system consists of :

• a simple menu, the Aciah-Menu, which is launched by pressing the Heart key,
• twelve intuitive shortcuts
• eight magic scripts
• six to eight keyboard keys adapted to your needs.
• four small icons
• three specific software programs

See the Aciah-Linux videos

Arobase
Close windows with Alt + F4 or simply with F4
Unzip
Attachments
Disable screen reader
Alt + Home to go to the root of the tree,
Alt + F to go to the File menu,
Toggle focus mode / navigation mode
Right-click or context menu

All this is in the latest version, released on 29 décember 2024.

Here are a few ideas.

The Aciah-Linux system

The Aciah-Linux system is based on the Linux-Mint xfce distribution and includes many disability compensation tools. We are gradually adding to it as needs are expressed. It’s not for businesses, but for the millions of people who want a simple, intuitive, virus-free system that can keep their computers running for a long time, without having to renew their hardware frequently.

Installing Aciah-Linux

The Aciah-Menu and the Heart Key

The Aciah-Menu is a simplified menu providing quick, permanent access to the most frequently used software. It can be modified at will.

The Aciah-Menu can be opened by pressing the Heart key, which for us is the CTRL_Right key to the right of the Spacebar.

We were able to create this Aciah-Menu using information we found on the Internet. This Aciah-Menu is very easy to use...

Twelve intuitive shortcuts

We’ve created easy-to-remember shortcuts to the most frequently used programs. The letters used are in lower case,

The menu is launched with the Heart key, which is usually the CTRL_Right key.

• Tap the Heart key, lift your finger, then tap the L key to read messages,
• Tap the Heart key, lift your finger, then tap the E key to write a message,
• Tap the Heart button, lift your finger, then tap the i button to go online.
• Tap the Heart key, lift your finger, then tap the u key to go to the locator,
• Tap the Heart key, lift your finger, then tap the D key to dictate a text,
• Tap the Heart key, lift your finger, then tap the C key to go to the personal folder,
• Tap the Heart key, lift your finger, then tap the T key to launch the word processor,
• Tap the Heart key, lift your finger, then tap the O key to launch the Orca screen reader,
• Tap the Heart key, lift your finger, then tap the R key to repair the screen reader,
• Tap the Heart button, lift your finger, then tap the V button to change the volume,
• Tap the Heart button, lift your finger, then tap the W button to connect via Wi-Fi.
• Tap the Heart key, lift your finger, then tap the Q key to quit and close the computer.

You can do thirteen to the dozen, because you can hear explanations by launching the menu and hitting the x key to get a memento !

Eight magic scripts

• Close a window with a single keystroke : F4.
• Read and obtain text with a single keystroke : F8,
• Uncompress, with a single keystroke : F10
• Go to the file menu with the F1 key
• Save attachments in the mailbox, using the menu and the key : J.
• Launch a scan, using the menu and the key : S,
• Save a Libre Office document, using the menu and the key : A
• and the TabControl extension for Thunderbird, which lets you quickly return to ‘Incoming Mail’.

The keyboard keys

Without touching the keyboard, but by modifying the programs, we were able to change the way the keyboard keys work.

• arobase, as a single key,
• A single key to use the insert + s shortcut to deactivate the screen reader.
• A single key to switch to focus mode when the screen reader is active.
• A single key to mute the sound, because some keyboards don’t have this function,
• A single key to use the Alt + Home shortcut, which takes you to the root of the tree,
• A single key to use the Alt + F shortcut, which takes you to the file menu,
• The Point / Semicolon key has been inverted to allow you to make a point without using the Shift key.
• The Point key on the numeric keypad always makes a point, even when the numeric keypad is deactivated.

Finally, we’ve adapted the keyboard to the needs of the visually impaired. And all these changes are reversible, depending on the needs of the user.

Four little icons

Our Aciah-Linux system aims to simplify computer use. That’s why we’ve also created little icons on the desktop for : @ , € , copy and paste. They can be used in touch mode if the screen allows.

Three specific software applications

The Digital4Better company has created three specific software programmes for us :

• Cookeys, for learning to type without looking at your fingers
• Milkcheque, for writing cheques even if you’re blind
• Malo, an open-source reading machine for mobile phones

Max created the TabControl extension for Thunderbird for us.
The inventor of ‘Voice to Text’ created keyboard shortcuts at our request.
Our community developers, Pierre, JeanYves, Gérard, etc., are constantly working to improve and innovate.