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Configuring System Options
Among the things you can configure in Chrome are some basic system settings, found on the System tab of the Settings page. These include your current time zone, touchpad sensitivity, language displayed, the behavior of selected keys, and features to enhance accessibility.
Changing Your Time Zone
Chrome determines the current date and time over the Internet. However, it might not know your exact location—especially when you’re traveling. Fortunately, it’s easy to change the time zone displayed in Chrome.
Click the Customize and Control (wrench) button and select Settings.
When the Settings page appears, select the System tab.
- Go to the Date and Time section, pull down the Time Zone list, and select your current time zone.
- By default, Chrome uses a standard AM/PM clock. If you’d rather use a 24-hour military clock, check the Use 24-Hour Clock box.
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Managing Touchpad Sensitivity
In Chapter 2, “Getting to Know Your Chromebook,” you learned how to adjust the sensitivity of your Chromebook’s touchpad. That setting is found in the Touchpad section of the System tab. Revisit Chapter 2 to learn how to configure this option.
Customizing Languages and Input Methods
By default, Chromebooks shipped in the U.S. display all menus and dialog boxes in English. If you speak another language, however, you can change this, and have Chrome display in a more familiar language.
You can also change the input method used for your Chromebook’s keyboard. By default, Chrome uses a standard U.S. keyboard. You can opt instead to have your Chromebook mimic an international keyboard, extended keyboard, Dvoark keyboard, or Colemak keyboard.
Click the Customize and Control (wrench) button and select Settings.
When the Settings page appears, select the System tab.
- Go to the Language section and click the Customize Languages and Input button.
When the Languages and Input tab appears, click the Add button in the Languages section to add another display language. When the next dialog box appears, click the language you wish to use.
- To change the keyboard input method, select another option from the Input Method section.
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Changing Search, Ctrl, and Alt Key Behavior
As previously noted, the Chromebook keyboard does not include some familiar keys, such as the Caps Lock key. You can, however, reconfigure how the Search, Ctrl, and Alt key work in Chrome—and thus turn these keys into other keys that you might be missing.
Specifically, you can modify these keys as follows:
- Search. Change to Ctrl, Alt, Caps Lock, or disable.
- Ctrl. Change to Search, Alt, or disable.
- Alt. Change to Search, Ctrl, or disable.
Click the Customize and Control (wrench) button and select Settings.
When the Settings page appears, select the System tab.
- Go to the Language section and click the Modifier Keys button.
When the next dialog box appears, pull down the list for the key you wish to modify and make a new selection.
- Click the Close button.
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Enabling Accessibility Features
If you have vision problems, using any operating system or web browser is difficult. Fortunately, Chrome includes several accessibility features that help you to find your way around the Chrome interface.
When you enable Chrome’s accessibility features, the first thing you notice is that the login screen speaks. Chrome speaks the username and password prompts to help you log in.
In addition, Chrome includes the ChromeVox screenreader, which provides spoken feedback for all user actions. For example, when ChromeVox is activated, all of Chrome’s menus talk, and opening a web page produces a combination of spoken feedback and auditory cues. ChromeVox also includes a set of keyboard commands you can use to navigate Chrome menus and web pages.
Click the Customize and Control (wrench) button and select Settings.
When the Settings page appears, select the System page.
- Go to the Accessibility section and check the Enable Accessibility Features box.
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