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Consider One Hand Typing
Before Adaptive Technology
by Lilly Walters, best selling author, and one hand typist.
I
have seven books in the marketplace. I
typed every word myself, and I use one hand on a NORMAL keyboard. I am filled with a great deal of smug pride when I see members of my work
team - who are all two handed - struggling with a task on the computer, and I am
able to walk right over and say, “Here, let me show you how.”
There
are four options for those with hand disabilities; although I don’t even like
to mention all of them because I feel strongly about using the standard
keyboard. If the user wishes to
become adept at using a keyboard, and possibly pursuing technology careers that
center around this important skill, consider one, or all of these:
· Standard keyboard.
- This is always the first option to
consider. This takes one strong
hand, and uses FGHJ as home base. The thumb operates the space bar. If possible,
the less able hand operates the mouse. This system allows the user to compete in
any mainstream environment. There
are two one handed manuals available in the market place, one for about $15 at
Amazon.com. There are also free
downloads of the first 39 pages of my book, The One Hand Typing
and Keyboarding Manual: With Personal Motivational Messages From Others Who Have
Overcome!, on my website, www.aboutonehandtyping.com.
· Adaptive devices.
There are many devices that can be
used to enter data into a computer, the most popular are the Half Keyboard, the
BAT, and the Maltron, which cost from $99 - $1000. My website has information about these devices as well.
· Alternative keyboard layouts.
Many have looked for alternatives to
the standard keyboard to ease the strain on the typist’s hands. The two most
well known are Dvoark, and Half-QWERTY. Both
are faster, and easier on the hands of the typist, but not necessarily smarter,
as they are not used in the regular workplace.
· Voice activation.
With voice recognition software, the
user speaks into a microphone, and the software transcribes the users words from
dictation. Voice activation will
soon be a great tool when used AFTER a good understanding of the standard
keyboard is learned. Just as the
student must learn to read, before they are allowed to use books on tapes as
their form of “reading,” the student must learn to keyboard, before they use
voice activation as their main data input device. Otherwise, the user will not able to operate in environments that use
only common equipment, i.e., the library, the workplace, at play with friends,
etc.
Before
the one handed person makes a decision which choice is best for them, ask:
Is the “good” hand strong? Can
it take the burden normally shared by two hands? If one hand has good usage, then, although harder on the hands, the
standard keyboard is perhaps the best choice. The issue is sell-ability in the job market.
Standard keyboards are more appealing to employers.
