How to completely customize the way you control Windows

Beyond the keyboard and mouse: Exploring alternative ways to interact with your Windows PC

While the keyboard and mouse are standard, they aren't the only way to interact with your Windows computer. Microsoft offers extensive customization options, allowing you to optimize your existing devices or integrate new ones for a potentially transformative computing experience.

Windows Settings: Mastering Your Hardware

Accessing Settings from the Start menu provides comprehensive OS control. The Devices section, in particular, lets you manage your hardware. Within Mouse, adjust cursor and scroll speed, or even reverse left and right-click functionality.

The Touchpad settings offer similar customization: alter cursor speed, adjust sensitivity, configure click behavior, and switch scrolling modes.

Typing settings under Devices allow enabling features like text suggestions, autocorrect, and automatic period insertion after double-spacing. Explore Windows shortcuts for faster application launching and switching. Access the on-screen keyboard with Win Ctrl O.

For cursor customization (mouse, touchpad, or pen), navigate to Ease of Access, then Cursor & Pointer. Adjust size, color, thickness, and touchscreen feedback.

Voice Control: Hands-Free Computing

Windows supports voice control. In Settings, go to Time & Language, then Speech. Click Get started under Microphone and follow the on-screen instructions to enable voice recognition. A wide range of commands, from scrolling to double-clicking, are supported. (See Microsoft's complete list for details.)

Third-Party Software: Expanding Your Options

If Windows' built-in options fall short, explore software bundled with your mouse or keyboard for advanced customization. This often includes mapping extra mouse buttons or controlling keyboard backlighting.

Create custom keyboard shortcuts using third-party utilities like WinHotKey for frequently used programs or functions.

Take it further with macros: automate sequences of mouse gestures and keystrokes triggered by custom shortcuts. Tools like the free TinyTask and StrokeIt (free for personal use) simplify macro creation and allow associating actions with mouse gestures.

Stylus users can benefit from Pen Tool ($26, free trial available) to remap stylus buttons and access features like undo and color picking.

Hardware Enhancements: Expanding Your Input

Beyond standard input, explore additional devices. While many cater to specific tasks (gaming, digital art), their utility extends beyond their primary function.

The Microsoft Surface Dial ($85) enhances navigation, tool setting adjustments, zooming, and volume control.

Digital artists might appreciate a graphics tablet like the Wacom One ($400), enabling drawing and sketching without direct touchscreen interaction. It can also serve as a secondary display.

Gamers and video editors could benefit from the Elgato Stream Deck ($150), providing a customizable dashboard for controlling Windows functions (muting, screenshots, application launching, video input switching, media playback).

Finally, a trackball like the Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball ($100) reduces wrist strain, offers extra configurable buttons, and provides precise scrolling and selection.

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