danj1@ihlpz.att.com (Daniel Jacobson) (03/30/91)
Index Number: 14582 [Note from Bill Mcgarry: See next article] Hello. Has anybody got ideas for using mainframe UNIX or computers in general for a disabled person with use of only the right hand? I am thinking of recommending a terminal with two "control" keys (e.g., the Teletype 4425) instead of the usual one. [Turning to editors:] Also making heavy use of GNU Emacs numerical keypad programmability, but then again perhaps running it in VI emulation to avoid the old control-key finger stretch. [Also perhaps having a control key prefix character, just like ESC means "Meta-" ...] The mouse also seems important. Of course there's the possibility of just using plain VI, however I have not met the person yet and am not yet aware of their future customization needs. -- Dan_Jacobson@ATT.COM Naperville IL USA +1 708 979 6364
wtm@bunker.shel.isc-br.com (Bill McGarry) (03/30/91)
Index Number: 14583 danj1@ihlpz.att.com (Daniel Jacobson) writes: > Hello. Has anybody got ideas for using mainframe UNIX or computers in > general for a disabled person with use of only the right hand? There is a program called "hsh" which allows someone running Unix to use the control and shift keys with only one finger. The program was written by Ole Bjorn Hessen. A copy of the source (in C), makefile and man page will be sent to you tonight. If you're interested in similar utilities for the PC, just let me know. There are several programs which I have here which will help. Anyone else who is interested please let me know. Bill McGarry 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
lance@motcsd.csd.mot.com (lance.norskog) (04/03/91)
Index Number: 14598 Dan_Jacobson@ATT.COM writes: >Hello. Has anybody got ideas for using mainframe UNIX or computers in >general for a disabled person with use of only the right hand? ... > [ also asks about text editors ] I think I'm getting Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, so I'm building myself a chord keyboard. This consists of 5 buttons on a flat mounting, one for each digit. I'm adding a space bar. I'm mounting it in a 5"x7"x1" project box. I'm interfacing it all to an IBM PC. With an IBM PC parallel port, pull an open switch to ground and a closed switch to 5V. Run all 6 switches through a 7405 hex open-collector inverter, wire-NOR all the outputs, and you get a switch-down interrupt line on the parallel port. (The interrupt handler has to poll until a switch goes up. You can avoid this inefficiency with many chips instead of one: debounce the switch inputs, sample&hold all switch-downs, any interrupt on any switch-up. I'm too lazy to do all this design & wiring.) Now for graphics input: Get a Konami Nintendo-compatible ZapGun Helmet ($40). The Nintendo ZapGun is a light pen with a narrow lens in the barrel. The Konami Helmet puts the lens in a monocle, and a binary switch in a microphone. Any noise closes the switch. You also get stereo headphones. You should be able to interface the light pen to real, IBM-compatible Hercules, CGA, and EGA display adapters. One VGA chip manufacturer, Cirrus (Fremont, CA) claims to support light pens. I'm researching this one. You won't be able to draw free-hand with such a head-mouse, but you should be able to select screen buttons. An alternative for graphics input is something underfoot, if the disabled person has use of the peds. The IBM joystick card gives your 4 switch inputs and 4 resistor A-D inputs. Dr. Douglas Englebart, inventor of the chord keyboard, mouse, WIMP interface, and many other things, claimed in a recent seminar that the chord keyboard group ran a big experiment to determine the difficulty of learning a chord keyboard. They hired a bunch of office temps and carefully did the whole experimental-control group protocol. One group got special hands-on training, the other group got written instructions and were left alone. Both groups were keying away madly in 2 hours, and the experiment was a washout. Chord keyboards are easy. Dr. Englebart sat there chording with his left hand, mousing with his right, and talking simultaneously, showing off a really slick hypertext system his group wrote 25 years ago. It was very impressive. Good luck, Lance Norskog
schwartz@nynexst.com (Steven Schwartz) (04/10/91)
Index Number: 14659 The first idea that comes to mind is foot pedals for chords, i.e. SHIFT, CTRL, META. Previous studies have shown that foot-shifting, as opposed to finger-shifting, does not increase work efficiency for the average person. For the disabled, it could be a tremendous help. - -- S. H. Schwartz schwartz@nynexst.com Expert Systems Laboratory 914-683-2960 NYNEX Science and Technology Center White Plains NY 10604