SOFTWARE DREAMS THROUGH A LOOKING GLASS

DO IT YOURSELF VISUAL AND TACTILE ADAPTATIONS TO THE STANDARD KEYBOARD

Text By SuperAdaptoid

INTRODUCTION

Assuming you can hear this text, we know you are not deaf. Assuming you can see this text, we know you are not blind. If you are hearing impaired [hard-of-hearing] we will try to speak clearly. If you are blind, we apologize for using captialized text which will drive some speech programs spell- crazy. If you are sight impaired [with low vision] we will use:
CAPITAL LETTERS, TO ATTRACT YOUR ATTENTION AND ENHANCE THE TEXT, BECAUSE THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOU.
REMEMBER THE EYE CHART ON YOUR DOCTOR'S WALL WAS DEVELOPED NEARLY A CENTURY AGO? WELL THE KEYBOARD YOU USE WAS ALSO IN DEVELOPMENT NEARLY A CENTURY AGO NEITHER EYE CHART OR KEYBOARD WERE MADE TO MEET MODERN COMPUTERS AND ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY.
THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IS WRITTEN TO INTRODUCE LOW VISION INDIVIDUALS TO THE WORLD OF ADAPTIVE COMPUTER ASSIST TECHNOLOGY. FIRST TIME "USERS" AS THEY EXPLORE THE WORLD THROUGH ADAPTIVE COMPUTING. AS THIS DISCUSSION WILL NOTE, THERE IS NEED FOR LOW COST "ADAPTATIONS" TO MAKE THE COMPUTER AN "ACCESSABE" TOOL FOR "ASSISTIVE" LIVING. MANY LOW COST ADAPTATIONS WILL NOT BE FOUND "READY-MADE" OR OFF-THE-SHELF IN ANY STORE. IT IS HOPED THAT THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS THIS ARTICLE WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS, DEVELOPERS, MANUFACTURERS, SUPPLIERS, AND OTHER ALLIED PROFESSIONALS.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR KEYBOARD
And Can You Find Your Keys?

WHEN SIGHT DECLINES, TOUCH FAILS, AND FINGERS WONDER.

WHEN YOU NO LONGER SEE THE KEY LETTERS
What To Do

AS SIGHT FAILS:

WE ARE GOING TO APPROACH LOW VISION TO BLINDNESS "PROGRESSIVELY". UNDERSTANDING FULLY THAT FOR MANY THE "TRIP" CAN BE A SHORT ONE.

THE FIRST STEP IS TO "ENHANCE" YOUR KEYBOARD VISUALLY. YOUR TWO OPTIONS ARE "SIZE" AND "COLOR". WE ARE GOING TO "TRANSFORM" YOUR STANDARD KEYBOARD INTO A "CUSTOM" ADAPTED KEYBOARD. WE WILL START WITH "LARGE LETTERS" AND "COLOR BANDED" KEY TOPS. DO NOT WAIT. DO IT NOW. WHILE YOU STILL HAVE THE SIGHT TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR FAVORITE OFFICE SUPPLY BUSINESS AND MAKE THE FOLLOWING PURCHASES:

... COLORED [Self Stick] DOTS [Key Top Size]. THESE ARE YOUR NEW "BANDED" KEY COLORS

... ENGINEER'S [Self Stick] BOLD [Capital Case] PLASIC LETTERS [Key Top Size]. THESE ARE YOUR NEW KEY LETTERS

SELECT THE "BRIGHTEST" COLORS AND THE "BOLDEST" LETTERS YOU CAN SEE AND STAND

... COLORS SHOULD "CLASH", NOT CONTRAST
... ENGINEERING LETTERS SHOULD STAND-OUT AGAINST THESE COLORS

PURCHASE A CAN OF OFFICE APPLIANCE CLEANER [To Clean Your Keyboard Surface]

PURCHASE A CAN OF COMPRESSED AIR [To Blow-Out The Keyboard Enterior]

ON YOUR WAY HOME FROM THE OFFICE SUPPLY ... STOP AT A VARIETY STORE AND PURCHASE:

... ONE BOTTLE OF "CLEAR" FINGERNAIL POLISH [To Coat And Seal The Key Tops]

NOW WHAT TO DO NEXT:

... DISCONNECT KEYBOARD FROM COMPUTER

... TURN KEYBOARD OVER [Keys Down] AND USE COMPRESSED AIR [To Blow-Out Enterior]

... RE-CONNECT THE KEYBOARD, TEST IT, THEN DISCONNECT AGAIN

... TURN KEYBOARD OVER [Keys Down] AND USE OFFICE APPLIANCE CLEANER [To Wash Exterior Key Surfaces]

... LET DRY [Keys Down]

... RE-CONNECT THE KEYBOARD, TEST IT, THEN DISCONNECT AGAIN

CONGRADULATIONS ... YOU NOW HAVE A "CLEAN" KEYBOARD !

... REMEMBER THE KEYBOARD SHOULD BE DISCONNECTED AGAIN

CHANCES ARE YOU ONLY FOUND TWO OR THREE "CLASHING" REALLY "VIVID" [Self Sticking] COLOR DOTS

TWO OR THREE COLORS WILL BE ENOUGH ... MORE THAN SIX WOULD BE TO MUCH !

... STARTING AT THE LEFT HAND COLUMN ... SELECT A COLOR ... AND APPLY DOTS TO KEYS 1, Q, A, Z. THIS IS THE FIRST COLOR BAND.

... REPEAT THE SAME COLOR AND APPLY DOTS TO KEYS 2, W, S, X. THIS COMPLETES THE FIRST COLOR BAND

SMOOTH DOWN THE COLOR DOTS ACROSS THE KEY TOP AND AROUND THE SIDES. A BLOW DRIER AND A LITTLE HEAT CAN HELP TO GET A GOOD "STICK"

... CONTINUE TO SELECT COLORS AND APPLY DOTS IN "BANDS" ACROSS THE KEYBOARD UNTIL THE ALPHA NUMERIC KEYS ARE COVERED

COLORING CONTROL KEYS, AND THE NUMBER PAD, SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY SINCE THEY ARE IN UNIQUE LOCATIONS AND COMBINATIONS. IT'S YOUR CHOICE

... CHECK EACH KEY [Top And Sides] FOR A SECURE FIT

... VERY CAREFULLY ... COAT TO SEAL EACH KEY TOP WITH "CLEAR" FINGERNAIL POLISH

... LET DRY ... A HAIR DRIER, AND A LITTLE HEAT, CAN HELP.

... RE-CONNECT THE KEYBOARD, TEST IT, FREE [Any Sticky Keys], THEN DISCONNECT AGAIN

... APPLY PLASTIC LETTERS TO KEY FACES [Use: Bold Capital Case]

... VERY CAREFULLY ... APPLY A SECOND COAT OF FINGERNAIL POLISH TO SEAL THE KEY TOP LETTER

... LET DRY ... SLOWLY FOR 12 HOURS

... RE-CONNECT THE KEYBOARD, TEST IT, FREE [Any Sticky Keys]

CONGRADULATIONS YOU DID IT !
Now What Else Can We Do ?

WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN THE "BIG LETTERS" ARE GONE,
THE "COLOR BANDS" ARE GOING,
THE FINGERS WONDER,
AND YOU THINK YOU LOST YOUR "TOUCH".

ENHANCE YOUR KEYBOARD TACTILELY

THE SECOND STEP IS TO ENHANCE YOUR KEYBOARD TACTILEY. IF YOU CAN NOT SEE IT, THEN CAN YOU FEEL IT ? OUR OPTIONS ARE TOUCH AND FEEL. NOT TOUCH AND GO ! EVEN THE TOUCH OF AN ELEPHANT IS BETTER THAN NO TOUCH AT ALL. BEFORE YOU FILE YOUR FINGERTIPS LIKE AN OLD TIME SAFE CRACKER ...

BACK WE GO AGAIN, SHOPPING AT YOUR FAVORITY VARIETY STORE TO PURCHASE:

... PLASTIC [Headed] PUSH-PINS.

... GOOP [Brand] GLUE.

... VELCRO [Self Stick] DOTS [Size Small].

... WIRE CUTTER [Electrical Type Side Cutter].

YOU STILL HAVE THE "CLEAR" FINGERNAIL POLISH?

NOW WHAT TO DO NEXT:

YOU STILL HAVE THE OFFICE APPLIANCE CLEANER?

... DISCONNECT THE KEYBOARD.

... CLEAN THE KEY TOPS.

... LET DRY.

STARTING AT THE LEFT COLUMN ... ATTACH THE SCATCHY VELCRO [Hook Side] UP.

... ON THE FIRST "COLOR BAND" ROW 1, Q, A, Z, AND THE SECOND ROW 2, W, S, X.

... "SKIP" THE NEXT "COLOR BAND" ROW ... AND REPEAT THE PROCESS ACROSS EVERY OTHER "COLOR BAND" ROW(s).

... PRESS FIRMLY AND CHECK EACH KEY TOP FOR FIT.

... VERY CAREFULLY ... COAT TO SEAL EACH KEY TOP WITH FINGERNAIL POLISH [Right Over The Velcro].

... LET DRY ... SLOWLY FOR TWELVE HOURS.

NOW FOR THE PUSH PINS ... TAKE THE WIRE CUTTERS AND CUT THE SHAFTS FROM THE PLASTIC PUSH-PIN [Heads].

... ATTACH PLASTIC PUSH-PIN HEADS AT THE CORNER EDGES OF THE ALPHA NUMERIC, CENTER CONTROL, AND NUMERIC KEY PADS. YOU ARE OUTLINING THE KEY SETS ON YOUR KEYBOARD BY ATTACHING "TOUCH TOWERS" JUST ABOVE THE KEY-SURFACE.

... USE GOOP [Brand] GLUE ... BECAUES IT IS FLEXABLE.

"TOUCH TOWERS" ARE NAVIGATION AIDES, TELLING YOU WHERE THE KEY SETS BEGIN AND END, WITHOUT SKIMMING YOUR FINGHERS ACROSS KEYS.

PUTTING MORE "TOUCH TOWERS" AT SPECIFIC PLACES IN LINE CAN ELIMINATE THE NECESSITY TO "COUNT KEYS" WITH YOUR FINGERTIPS.

"TOUCH TOWERS" REDUCE "TRIGGERING" MIS-KEYED ACCIDENTS, AND ARE FASTER !

... ATTACH "TOUCH TOWERS" DIRECTLY TO YOUR IMPORTANT KEYS ... SUCH AS: ESCAPE, BACKSPACE, SLASH, ALT, CONTROL. THE KEYS YOU WANT TO FIND QUICKLY.

... RE-CONNECT THE KEYBOARD, TEST IT, FREE ANY STICKY KEYS.

SOFTWARE DREAMS THROUGH A LOOKING GLASS

DO IT YOURSELF VISUAL AND TACTILE ADAPTATIONS TO THE STANDARD KEYBOARD

INTRODUCTION

DO YOU KNOW YOUR KEYBOARD
And Can You Find Your Keys?

WHEN SIGHT DECLINES, TOUCH FAILS, AND FINGERS WONDER.

WHEN YOU NO LONGER SEE THE KEY LETTERS
What To Do

AS SIGHT FAILS:

CONGRADULATIONS YOU DID IT !
Now What Else Can We Do ?

WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN THE "BIG LETTERS" ARE GONE,
THE "COLOR BANDS" ARE GOING,
THE FINGERS WONDER,
AND YOU THINK YOU LOST YOUR "TOUCH".

ENHANCE YOUR KEYBOARD TACTILELY

CONGRADULATIONS YOU DID IT AGAIN !
Now What Else Can You Do ?

Top | ACSP Home | SuperAdaptoid Column

SOFTWARE DREAMS THROUGH A LOOKING GLASS

DO IT YOURSELF VISUAL AND TACTILE ADAPTATIONS TO THE STANDARD KEYBOARD

INTRODUCTION

DO YOU KNOW YOUR KEYBOARD And Can You Find Your Keys?

WHEN SIGHT DECLINES, TOUCH FAILS, AND FINGERS WONDER.

WHEN YOU NO LONGER SEE THE KEY LETTERS What To Do

AS SIGHT FAILS:

CONGRADULATIONS YOU DID IT ! Now What Else Can We Do ?

WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN THE "BIG LETTERS" ARE GONE, THE "COLOR BANDS" ARE GOING, THE FINGERS WONDER, AND YOU THINK YOU LOST YOUR "TOUCH".

ENHANCE YOUR KEYBOARD TACTILELY

CONGRADULATIONS YOU DID IT AGAIN ! Now What Else Can You Do ?

Top | ACSP Home | SuperAdaptoid Column

DO YOU KNOW YOUR KEYBOARD
And Can You Find Your Keys?

WHEN YOU NO LONGER SEE THE KEY LETTERS
What To Do

CONGRADULATIONS YOU DID IT !
Now What Else Can We Do ?

WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN THE "BIG LETTERS" ARE GONE,
THE "COLOR BANDS" ARE GOING,
THE FINGERS WONDER,
AND YOU THINK YOU LOST YOUR "TOUCH".

CONGRADULATIONS YOU DID IT AGAIN !
Now What Else Can You Do ?