My cat Mira is ideal, and has by no means performed something mistaken. She additionally loves strolling on laptop computer keys—each my MacBook and my spouse Kathy’s Windows PC.
You would possibly assume that strolling on laptops is an instance of Mira doing one thing mistaken. She disagrees. And, in any case, we have each discovered so much about how our computer systems work due to this. Each time she walks throughout our keyboards she triggers some new, complicated keyboard shortcut. I’m wondering how she did it, however then I discover out the keyboard shortcut by Googling round. Here is what I discovered.
Mira Hides Necessary Issues
A number of instances Mira has walked throughout my keyboard and brought on most of my home windows to vanish. This sends me right into a panic—is my work gone?—till I click on a dock icon and notice every thing continues to be there. What occurred?
It could possibly be a couple of issues. On the Mac the keyboard shortcut Command-Possibility-H hides all home windows besides the present one. Or perhaps Mira switched digital desktops in Mission Management—that is performed with Management–Left/Proper arrow keyand will make it appear to be all of my home windows are gone.
Mira’s pulled this trick off on a PC too. Home windows–, (comma) hides all home windows whereas Home windows-Ctrl-Left/Proper arrow key switches digital desktops. So there’s all kinds of the way for Mira to induce nervousness whereas additionally instructing us extra about how our computer systems work. Pretty.
Mira Takes a Screenshot
I take screenshots on my Mac always, so it wasn’t a lot of a shock for me when Mira managed to set off Command-Shift-4 to set off taking a screenshot of a selected space on my display.
However I did not notice I might do the identical factor on a PC: Home windows+Shift+S is the keyboard shortcut for that, apparently. Now I do know this, and I will use it on a regular basis.
Mira Toggles the Dock, By some means
I often like to cover the dock on my Mac, however Mira apparently disagrees. As soon as she walked over the keyboard and it stopped being hidden. Apparently she pressed Command-Possibility-Dwhich toggles whether or not the bar is hidden or not.
I might think about this being much more complicated when you’re the form of one who by no means hides the dock—the place did it go? Some would possibly like having the ability to rapidly toggle this, although, so I am glad Mira confirmed me find out how to do it.
Mira Teaches Me About Accessibility
Typically Mira will stroll over Kathy’s laptop computer and the keyboard not works. Truthfully, I’ve researched this one extensively, and I’ve no thought how Mira pulled that off.
However there are a bunch of keyboard shortcuts that change how typing works in Home windows. Urgent the Shift key 5 instances on Home windows, for instance, permits Sticky Keysan accessibility function that adjustments how modifier keys like Management, Alt, and Shift work. With this function on, urgent Shift applies the Shift key as if it is held down, which might lead to you typing in all caps. It is helpful for individuals who cannot press a number of keys directly, however complicated when enabled by a cat. Tapping Shift a second time turns off Shift lock, and you may disable the function by tapping Shift one other 5 instances.
One other accessibility function triggers when Mira sits on the best shift key for 5 seconds—FilterKeys. This function, meant for folks with hand tremors, causes the system to disregard brief and repeat key presses. It is a helpful function, and I am glad it is there, nevertheless it’s a complicated factor to activate by accident.
It’s all the time enjoyable to comprehend your pc can do one thing you didn’t realize it might, even when the best way you be taught it’s a little bit complicated. So I’m grateful to Mira, in a approach, for displaying me these keyboard shortcuts. However I’m additionally working to coach her to cease strolling and sitting on my laptop computer. Perhaps sometime.
