diff --git a/README b/README
index df40e46e..6b4c2b17 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -24,5 +24,10 @@ F3     Friends zoom level
 F4     Mesh zoom level
 F5     Show the frame
 F6     Open a terminal activity
+F7	   Toggle chat visibility
+F8     Color mode (DCON)
+F9     Black and white mode (DCON)
+F10    Decrease brightness (DCON)
+F11    Increase brightness (DCON)     	   
 F12    Open the log viewer
 Ctrl+S Activate sketch mode in chat
diff --git a/shell/view/Shell.py b/shell/view/Shell.py
index 401c935d..7daade72 100644
--- a/shell/view/Shell.py
+++ b/shell/view/Shell.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from view.ActivityHost import ActivityHost
 from sugar.activity import ActivityFactory
 from sugar.activity import Activity
 from view.frame.Frame import Frame
+from view.dconmanager import DCONManager
 from _sugar import KeyGrabber
 import sugar
 
@@ -49,6 +50,8 @@ class Shell(gobject.GObject):
 
 		style.load_stylesheet(view.stylesheet)
 
+		self._dcon_manager = DCONManager()
+
 		self._key_grabber = KeyGrabber()
 		self._key_grabber.connect('key-pressed',
 								  self.__global_key_pressed_cb)
@@ -60,7 +63,11 @@ class Shell(gobject.GObject):
 		self._key_grabber.grab('F4')
 		self._key_grabber.grab('F5')
 		self._key_grabber.grab('F6')
+		self._key_grabber.grab('F7')
+		self._key_grabber.grab('F8')
 		self._key_grabber.grab('F9')
+		self._key_grabber.grab('F10')
+		self._key_grabber.grab('F11')
 
 		self._home_window = HomeWindow(self)
 		self._home_window.show()
@@ -87,8 +94,16 @@ class Shell(gobject.GObject):
 			self._frame.notify_key_press()
 		elif key == 'F6':
 			self.start_activity('org.sugar.Terminal')
-		elif key == 'F9':
+		elif key == 'F7':
 			self.toggle_chat_visibility()
+		elif key == 'F8':
+			self._dcon_manager.set_mode(DCONManager.COLOR_MODE)
+		elif key == 'F9':
+			self._dcon_manager.set_mode(DCONManager.BLACK_AND_WHITE_MODE)
+		elif key == 'F10':
+			self._dcon_manager.decrease_brightness()
+		elif key == 'F11':
+			self._dcon_manager.increase_brightness()
 
 	def __global_key_released_cb(self, grabber, key):
 		if key == 'F5':
diff --git a/shell/view/dconmanager.py b/shell/view/dconmanager.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2cf40b51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shell/view/dconmanager.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2006, Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+
+import dbus
+
+DCON_MANAGER_INTERFACE = 'org.laptop.DCONManager'
+DCON_MANAGER_SERVICE = 'org.laptop.DCONManager'
+DCON_MANAGER_OBJECT_PATH = '/org/laptop/DCONManager'
+
+class DCONManager(object):
+	COLOR_MODE = 0
+	BLACK_AND_WHITE_MODE = 1
+
+	def __init__(self):
+		bus = dbus.SystemBus()
+		proxy = bus.get_object(DCON_MANAGER_SERVICE, DCON_MANAGER_OBJECT_PATH)
+		self._service = dbus.Interface(proxy, DCON_MANAGER_INTERFACE)
+
+	def set_mode(self, mode):
+		self._service.set_mode(mode)
+
+	def increase_brightness(self):
+		level = self._service.get_backlight_level()
+		if level >= 0:
+			self._service.set_backlight_level(level + 1)
+
+	def decrease_brightness(self):
+		level = self._service.get_backlight_level()
+		if level >= 0:
+			self._service.set_backlight_level(level - 1)