Alternative Keyboards and Keyboard Adaptations
This section contains information about alternative keyboards, keyguards, keyboard gloves and keytops .
Alternative keyboards come in diverse shapes and sizes. Keyboards may be designed for single-handed use and may be smaller, or they may be differently contoured, or have alternative layout to optimise typing speed. For example, the Dvorak keyboard provides options for two-handed, right-hand and left-hand only typists. Appropriate software supports the new key arrangement.
Other examples of alternative keyboards include:
- reduced size or contracted keyboards which reduce the range of movement required to reach all keys on a standard keyboard
- enlarged or expanded keyboards which provide a larger surface area for locating or targeting keys, where the size of the keys may be enlarged, or keys may be grouped or organised differently in order to facilitate access
- modified contoured keyboards may help to reduce user fatigue, facilitate access to keys and increase typing speed by reorganising keys to suit the users needs
- Braille keyboards that allow the user to type using Braille keys instead of standard letters. Software controls the cursor, screen reader and printed hard copy, also in Braille
- single-handed keyboards designed for those typing with one hand only
- concept keyboards (sometimes known as overlay keyboards) that utilise symbols or pictures to supplement standard keyboard access
- chording keyboards which consist of five or more keys where a combination of two or more keys are selected to type each letter or carry out keyboard functions. These keyboards are available in both one-handed and two-handed versions
- virtual keyboards or on-screen keyboards which appear on the computer screen and are accessed using a mouse or pointing device.
Keyguards are plastic or steel overlays which are fitted over a keyboard to facilitate the accurate selection of keys by isolating and selecting a key and providing support to the users hand while typing. They help the user avoid unintentional keystrokes, reduce frustration and increase speed by increasing accuracy of typing when limited by fine motor accuracy, tremor or muscle fatigue. They can be easily removed if required.
Keyguards can be purchased on their own but with so many keyboards now on the market, it can be difficult to find a perfect match. Keyguards are often available when buying a keyboard and it is usually cheaper if they are purchased together but some companies can make them to order if required. It is strongly recommended that keyguards are purchased with keyboards rather than attempting retrospective fitting.
A keyboard glove is a soft plastic see-through keyboard cover which can protect the keyboard from spills, dust or drooling. They are attached using Velcro and are easily removed for cleaning and are highly adaptable as well. Unused keys can be blanked out using blank stickers and the most used keys can be highlighted using high contrast, large print stickers. Keyboard gloves are also available for laptop computers.
Keytops can offer a simple solution for people with a visual impairment or learning difficulty who have problems seeing the standard keys. These large print, high contrast stickers are simply stuck on top of the existing standard keys and are available in both upper and lower case and different high contrast colour combinations. Rather than the letter just covering the upper left corner of the key, the letter now fills all the space available on the key and is centred.
