wtm@bunker.shel.isc-br.com (Bill McGarry) (06/27/91)
Index Number: 16460 > A close friend of my family has ALS. She cannot speak, and she can > hardly move; her only means of communication with the world is to > slowly type out her words with one finger on an IBM keyboard -- they > appear on the computer's monitor so others may read them. > It's a normal QWERTY keyboard -- it's a shame that she should have to > type so much, because it's so difficult for her. It occurred to me > that there must be some simpler form of keyboard out there, and I'm > almost sure I've seen something better on television a long time ago > -- a setup whereby the person can type entire words with only one or > two keystrokes. There are four types of utilities that can help her here. 1. Sticky key utilities: These allow you to use the control/Alt/shift keys with only one finger. There are several different ones around but the best and most versatile one that I've found is called 1FINGER from Trace. This program will work on any type keyboard and also has other useful functions such as the ability to change the repeat delay. 2. Macro programs: These programs allow you to program certain keys or combination of keys to produce a longer set of letters. For example, you can program ALT-H to actually type out "I am hungry". There are several of these around. I have a shareware version called NEWKEY on my BBS. 3. Word Prediction: These will attempt to predict which word you are trying to type and will base the choice of words upon your past useage. There is a shareware version called Mind Reader and a demo of a commercial version from MSI on my BBS. 4. Command line editors: These programs will allow you to bring up past commands by using the arrow key rather than having to retype the entire command line. There are several different shareware versions such as ANARKEY around. All of these programs are available on the Handicap News BBS, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phone number is 1-203-337-1607. 300/1200/2400 baud. First time callers have full download privileges and there are no charges. Most of these utilties are also available via anonymous ftp on the SIMTEL20 archives (wsmr-simtel20.army.mil) at White Sands Missle Range in the PD1:<MISC.HANDICAP> directory. (The sticky key utilities will be in that directory, the word predictors, macro programs and command line programs will be in one of the utility directories.) You can also get these from SIMTEL20's mirror site, wuarchive.wustl.edu or you can get them via e-mail through one of the "trickle" servers (ask and I'll send/post information on the trickle servers). Or send me your address (this applies to anyone else who REALLY needs these) and I'll send you whatever programs that you need (let me know what kind of disk). > She's getting a voice synthesizer so people won't have to read her > monitor all the time, but I haven't seen it yet, and I'm not entirely > certain that I could gerryrig it to work with her computer (an IBM > PC clone). Try to find out which brand and type. I get the impression that it may be something like an Alltalk which is a stand-alone communication aid. But let us know since if there is any way to interface it, someone here will know it. > Her situation is made all the more difficult in that she can't puff or > sip, so she can't use any mouth-guided interface to communicate > through. She can only move her left hand enough to peck at the keys > (and, if it might be useful, she still has control of her eyes). There are devices which will track eye movement and translate these movement into key strokes and/or allow control of her environment (lights, tv, etc). Via e-mail, I am sending you several addresses and phone numbers to get you started. You should contact the IBM disability resource center at: IBM National Support Center for Persons with Disabilities P. O. Box 2150 Atlanta, GA 30055 (800) 426-2133 (404) 238-4806 (800) 284-9482 (TDD) They have several different guides including one just for resources for mobility impairments. I have their May 1990 version on line here but it's nearly 300K. Good luck to your friend and please keep us informed as to what hardware/software she ends up with and what works and doesn't work. Oh, almost forgot -- get her a modem and introduce her to the world of telecommunications where with the aid of the software/hardware above along with an off-line message reader, her physical impairments will not mean a thing. When you do, let me know where she lives and I'll send you a list of BBS's in her local area. Bill McGarry (203) 337-1518 UUCP: {oliveb, philabs, decvax, yale}!bunker!wtm INTERNET: wtm@bunker.shel.isc-br.com BITNET: l-hcap@ndsuvm1.bitnet fidonet: The Handicap News BBS (141/420) 1-203-337-1607 (300/1200/2400 baud, 24 hours) Compuserve: 73170,1064