Other methods

There are a myriad of reasons that it is good to know alternate means to work Windows.

Alan Cantor has a booklet available, and there is a lot of practical information in his FAQ and a section on macros.

To drive Windows from the keyboard, it is more important to internalize techniques than it is to memorize hotkeys. Once these techniques have been mastered, it is possible to perform almost all tasks in Windows - perhaps 98% - without a mouse.

• Individuals who are totally blind cannot see the mouse pointer, and therefore cannot use a mouse.
  
  
• People who are deaf and blind cannot use a mouse, either. Most deaf and blind individuals use a standard keyboard, but "read" the screen using a hardware device called a refreshable Braille display.
  
  
• Individuals who have low-vision may be able to discern an enlarged mouse pointer, but finding and identifying targets may be visually taxing. In many situations, pressing two or three keys is easier and more reliable than reaching for the mouse.
  
  
• Users with upper-body mobility impairments, including one-handed typists, toe-typists, and people with dystonia and cerebral palsy, may also find it awkward to point and click. The same is true for individuals who access PCs via mouthstick, headstick, or similar appliance.
  
  
• Pointing and clicking may be difficult for people with musculoskeletal injuries.
  
  
• People who have learning disabilities that affect hand-eye coordination may also find it easier to perform certain tasks by keyboard.
  
  
• When users develop temporary disabilities or are injured - for example, a broken arm, dislocated shoulder, or tennis elbow - the ability to use the mouse may be compromised, and a few keyboard techniques can be beneficial.
  
  
• Older users and children sometimes have difficulties controlling a mouse for certain tasks. Double-clicking is especially difficult for some individuals.
  

Finally, anyone who wants to work quickly and with fewer errors can benefit from knowing a few keyboard "tricks." Many tasks that require precise mouse movements and accurate clicking can be done by pressing one or two keys on the keyboard. For reasons of efficiency, speed, and directness, power users often prefer using the keyboard to the mouse.