Overview

Students with significant or multiple impairments may require a customized system for better computer control. Often these methods can integrate with other technologies such as mobility or communication systems to make them more efficient. Originally developed for business or military operations, many of these "specialized" technologies can be effective applications for persons with disabilities. They require less effort to control, allowing the student to focus on the activity at hand.

Customized computer options look to replace the standard keyboard and mouse. Several combine both standard methods into a totally new one. We will discuss several alternatives including:

Keyboard/Overlay Systems

Onscreen Keyboards

Head Pointing Systems

Programmable Keyboards

Keyboards are available that can be programmed for the customized use of an individual student. These specialized keyboards can be configured for any key, mouse command and macro use. They frequently are flat membrane keyboards that can be fully reconfigured in a variety of ways. Students are most successful when they can

1. Perceive and understand visual key labels, and
2. Coordinate their movements to
3. Locate and directly select (with hand/foot or pointing stick) keys of various sizes.

Overlays can be purchased or designed. They can be as simple as one or two keys or as complex as 120 keys. You can customize the number and size of the keys. Key labels can be pictures, text, or a combination of both. The new configuration results in the creation of a keyboard overlay -- a new layout of the keys for the software activity that is integrated into or fits over the keyboard.

As these keyboards can be customized, redesigned and reconfigured, they often require special software interfaces. After the keyboards are connected, use software to design, make and run the customized overlays. The following are examples of expanded keyboards successfully used in elementary classrooms.

Examples

IntelliKeys (IntelliTools, Inc.)
This keyboard comes with six standard overlays but can be fully customized with Overlay Maker, a related software program. The user loads the overlay file and places the customized overlay on IntelliKeys.

Discover:Board (Madentec)
This keyboard comes with five standard overlays that include keyboard and mouse commands. The talking keyboard includes many different overlay setups to choose from, including communication, beginning to advanced writing, math and drawing programs. It also includes Discover:Create software for editing existing setups or creating customized overlays.

Pre-Made Overlays

Standard overlays that come with the keyboards may not provide the customization that a student needs. Pre-made overlays are available that work with popular software programs that you may be using in your classroom. Others are available that provide educational activities for students when used with a word processor. Several sources are available.

For IntelliKeys

Instant Access Overlays for IntelliKeys (Intellitools)
These full-color overlays come with a setup file on a disk - just load it into your computer, put on the overlay and go! You don't have to own Overlay Maker to use these. These overlays are designed for use with popular Edmark and Learning Co. programs (Living Books).	Thinkin' Things Overlay (IntelliTools) for Thinkin' Things 1 (Edmark)

IntelliTools Activity Exchange
Overlay Maker users share the overlays and activities they have designed. The various activities include both Mac and Windows files designed for users from birth through adulthood. Players allow you to run an activity without running the program used to create it. (To edit or customize an activity, however, you need the actual software). They are available for downloading through the Activity Exchange on the IntelliTools website.

IntelliShare
A forum for exchanging ideas and activities and asking questions to get the most out of IntelliTools products. Includes a discussion board, Tip & Tricks with downloadable activities.

Special Education Technology Center (SET-BC)
This site includes a variety of overlays and IntelliPics files for downloading. Sample overlays used in schools to address IEP goals are provided according to subject.

Access Package for the Blind: Washington State School for the Blind
(Look for accessible software downloads.) This site offers Brailled overlays for Edmark products. Print the overlays, laminate, then Braille label and tactualize them.

Program for the Visually Impaired (Dawson Creek, BC)
This group suggests using IntelliKeys tactile overlays created with a thermoform machine. The tactile images are placed on IntelliKeys and auditory feedback is added, bringing the overlay to life.

Custom Overlays

Considerations

If you wish to design and create your own overlays for Intellikeys or other keyboards, there are two primary considerations: the User and the Activity.

The User

Several factors should be considered, including the student's:

• Age -- the overlay should be age appropriate in its design.
• Motor Ability - How a student accesses the device depends on both his gross and fine motor skills. Consider the accuracy of arm, hand and finger movements. Remember that altering the key repeat rate or adding a keyguard may improve his accuracy and efficiency.
• Visual Ability - A student's visual abilities and acuity will influence the size, location and labeling of the keys. Will the student require auditory output to identify the key when it is pressed? Also, consider the student's eye-hand coordination. Is he able to look down at a keyboard and then back up at the monitor?

  HINT: Positioning the keyboard at an angle closer to the monitor may help the student to minimize shifting of visual planes.

• Cognitive Functioning -- Keyboard design can positively affect the success of students with cognitive impairments. Fewer but larger keys, reduces distraction and increases success rates. Pictured labels from screen areas copied from a printed "screen shot" provide an exact duplication. Using labeled pictures helps to link word-picture associations and provides a more direct way to interact with software programs.

The Activity

Overlays are designed for specific software applications or for classroom activities using Talking Word Processors or other interactive classroom applications such as IntelliPics, IntelliTalk II or Inspiration.

Software Overlays. You can design keyboard overlays that depict only the necessary keys and mouse command. By removing unnecessary key choices, software control is less distracting.

Modified IntelliKeys Number Overlay for Math Software
This overlay works with any software program that requires using the number keys. It also includes arrow key functions and mouse drag and click functions.

When designing an overlay for "point and click" software, you must identify "hot spots" or "markers" on the screen to be accessed by related keys. ClickIt! is a program that works with IntelliKeys overlays; Design software is included with Discover:Board to provide this feature. It allows a student to touch an overlay to direct the pointer to a certain area on the screen and "click" on it.

Activity Overlays for Writing. These are designed to create activities for a student. They are usually used with talking word processors so the student can hear and see reactions to the key press. You can develop spelling, literacy and math activities or worksheets and add basic communication items for students with communication needs.

IntelliKeys with Overlay Maker files
Activity: Associate words/sounds with pictures
When used with a talking word processor, a student presses a picture key on this overlay, and then the computer identifies the graphic and types out "airplane". The student then looks for the matching word key, presses it, and looks to the screen to see if the words match. Students can also edit their work.

Activity: Word Building
Gradually build on letter identification beginning with only the letters of the student's name in an overlay template.

Activity: Sentence Building
Build a sentence word by word. For example, "My Mom is sad," or "My dog is big."

Design Features

When creating an overlay for an individual student/activity, consider the following options:

• The size and number of keys can be designed to provide larger and/or fewer key areas for students to select from.
• The layout design of the overlay can be arranged in any pattern that meets the student's needs. All keys can be to one side, to the top or bottom to make it easier for the student to reach or see. Some may have the alphabet on one side of the board with software command keys (print, save, home, delete) on the other side. The background colors can help visual organization.
• Key labels can include actual screen areas, letters, pictures or words, depending on the student's abilities.
• The key content can be customized for each key to act as a single character, a string of characters or computer commands. For example, you can program a single key area to send a printer command to the computer or to re-read a sentence.

Onscreen Keyboards

An onscreen keyboard displays a picture of a keyboard on the computer screen. It can be one solution for students able to control a mouse or pointing device, who need to see the keyboard directly on the screen. The student moves the pointer (with a mouse, touch screen, trackball, head pointing device, etc.) to the letter/command of choice and then clicks to select it.

Some programs arrange the keys in alphabetical order. Others allow the student to design her own layout or allow the student to type words or give multiple commands by activating a single "key". The onscreen keyboard can do everything the standard keyboard/mouse does. Onscreen keyboards can often be moved or re-sized. Frequently they offer other features such as speech output or word prediction.

Dwell selection - Suppose a student can control the mouse, but has trouble clicking it. Dwell selection allows him to leave the pointer on a key for a certain period of time, at which point it is automatically selected.

Examples

Here are some examples of onscreen keyboards. Some include speech output, which identifies the key when selected.

Discover: Screen (Madentec)
TThis program is fully customizable and can include keys, words, mouse commands and macros. It also includes speech output when a key is selected. (Mac and Win)

REACH Onscreen Keyboard (Applied Human Factors, Inc.)
The Reach onscreen keyboard comes with over 100 different layout options and an assortment of Assistive technology options including: single switch scanning, text-to-speech, and word prediction (plus dictionary). Its "Smart Key" technology is an add-on program that incorporates next-letter prediction into the onscreen keyboard function. (Windows Only)

For example, load the onscreen alphabet keyboard:

If you start to type "lucky", when the letter "L" is typed, not only does REACH start predicting the word you are typing (word prediction starts predicting words that begin with "L"), but Smart Keys starts predicting the next letter.

SPT Keyboard 2002 (Simply Powerful)
This colorful onscreen keyboard can be customized for several students and works from any area of the screen. It can type symbols, special symbols and foreign keyboard layouts.

ScreenDoors 2000 (Madentec)
ScreenDoors 2000 acts just like a real keyboard typing directly into any application. The student simply points to a key and clicks, which acts as a keystroke; or she can use the dwell feature. It includes a list of predicted words that anticipate what you are typing to help speed entry. This software was licensed by Microsoft and forms the basis for the Microsoft On-Screen Keyboard included in every copy of Microsoft Windows 2000. (Windows)

WIVIK (Prentke-Romich)
Features of this Onscreen keyboard include the ability to create custom keyboards, macros, and successive quartering and enlargement of keyboards for persons with poor pointing skills or low vision. In addition, WiViK2 REP provides rate enhancement features such as word prediction and abbreviation expansion. Multiple dictionaries can be created and easily edited. This onscreen keyboard also comes with a scanning option. (Windows)

Magic Cursor^TM (Madentec)
Magic Cursor 2000 is onscreen mouse command software for people who can't perform all mouse functions. The student does need to be able to point and wait: Magic Cursor automatically takes care of the rest. Instead of clicking the mouse button, simply dwell over the item you want to select. After a preset amount of time, Magic Cursor will automatically perform the click for you.

Free Onscreen Keyboards
Keystrokes 2 (Shareware for Mac)
Milosoft's Virtual Keyboard (Free download - Windows)
NoKeys Virtual Keyboard (Shareware - Windows 95/98/NT)
Click-N-Type (Free - Windows 95 and higher) includes the Speed Keyboard option that changes the alphabetic key layout based on the frequency of letter usage.

Head Pointing Systems

Optical Head Pointing systems are useful for students who are unable to use their hands to control the cursor on the screen or to use the keyboard. For the user to control the movement of the cursor with his head movements, he must be able to 1) watch and follow the pointer, 2) control the movement of his/her head in small increments, and 3) understand basic computer navigation.

A small interface box on top of the monitor reads and interprets the head movements as mouse movements. Using this capability with an onscreen keyboard, the system can completely replace a regular keyboard.

A student can "click" by activating a single switch or by using dwell selection software. However, a "dwell selection" is available that allows you to leave the pointer on a key for a certain period to automatically select it. Some systems offer full head/mouse movement as well as directional (joystick-like) movement of the pointer.

Examples

Head Master Plus (Prentke Romich Co. )
HeadMaster Plus is a head pointing system that provides full mouse control for students who cannot use their hands but have good head control. Moving your head moves the cursor on the screen. Activating the puff switch or other external switch makes selections. On-screen keyboards allow for word processing and other text entry. (Mac, Windows)

Head Master 2000 (Prentke Romich Co. )
HeadMaster 2000 is the smallest, lightest, most accurate mouse emulator offered by Prentke Romich Co. Move your head and the cursor moves on the screen. Use the sip-puff switch or an external switch to make right and left mouse button clicks on an onscreen keyboard such as WIVIK. (Windows)

Head Mouse (Origin Instruments Corporation)
This system includes a wireless optical sensor device that translates head movements into directly proportional movements of the computer mouse pointer. Combined with onscreen keyboards, it tracks a tiny and disposable target placed on the forehead or glasses. One version is for desktop computers, the other for laptops. (Mac, Windows)

Tracker 2000 (Madentec)
This head-pointing device sits on top of the computer. It controls the cursor on the screen by tracking a tiny 'dot' worn on the forehead. (Windows)

Magic Cursor™ (Madentec)
For people who can't click the mouse button, Magic Cursor 2000 performs all mouse button functions. The student needs to be able to point and wait: Magic Cursor automatically takes care of the rest. Instead of clicking the mouse button, simply dwell over the item you want to select. After a preset amount of time, Magic Cursor will automatically perform the click for you.

The Point (Alphalab)
This device has two parts: a small camera, placed on the top of your computer monitor or a laptop computer, and a processor unit, placed anywhere you like. It offers both dot and dot-less control.

NaturalPoint TrackIR (Natural Point)
This product provides precise cursor control through simple head movement, allowing hands to remain on the keyboard, or at the side.Natural Point also provides the TrackIR GX hands-free game controller for videogames.

Case Study: Eric

Eric attends fifth grade in his neighborhood school. He enjoys playing computer games with his friends and his favorite subject is Social Studies. Eric uses a powered wheelchair to get around and controls it with a chin switch mounted on a horizontal bar. For computer activities he has several options.

Mouse Control - In using the Internet and playing computer games where he needs mouse commands for navigation and game control, he wears the Head Mouse dot on his forehead to move the cursor and a second chin switch to "click".

In the Control Panel/Mouse Options, he keeps the mouse tails feature on to locate and follow the pointer more easier.

Switch/Click Use - When Eric moves the pointer to where he wants on the screen, he clicks by pushing out his chin to activate the switch to "click".

For writing activities, Eric now uses speech recognition software (Dragon Naturally Speaking) that includes speech macros for efficiency. He sometimes switches off to his "older" writing system - the Head Mouse with the WIVIK onscreen keyboard. This can make editing more direct. The font of the word processor is enlarged, as are the screen windows and the menu bars. He can be fully independent on either of these combined systems. He now has better choices!

There are several options and combinations of options for students with significant and/or multiple disabilities to participate independently in computer activities. Consider combining these systems with low-tech strategies or for students with visual impairments.