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Chapter 5 Using Overlay Keyboards
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• Sticky Keys. Most programs have Sticky Keys for people who cannot hold down two keys at
once: the Shift or Control key is pressed first, then a letter key pressed next (see Chapter 3
Accessing the Keyboard for a full description of sticky keys).
• Mouse Pointer Control. Control of the mouse pointer is a very useful feature as many pupils
who have difficulty with a standard keyboard also have problems with a mouse.
• Auditory Feedback. The keys on an overlay keyboard do not move or click when pressed so
there is little feedback that a key has actually been activated. Most keyboards or programs give
an auditory beep to confirm when a key is pressed. This is helpful for users with visual
impairments, learning difficulties, or physical access problems.
• Digitised sound. Some programs let you use the keyboard to play back digitised recordings or
sound or speech.
• Speech Output. Programs which can generate synthetic speech, instead of, or as well as, text
can be useful to support literacy and writing or for interpersonal communication.
• Keyboard Response. Sometimes it is important to be able to adjust the response of the
keyboard (see Chapter 3 Accessing the Keyboard for a description of the various adjustments),
so the table shows which facilities are offered with each program.
• Print-out Overlay. Programs with facilities for creating and printing paper overlays ready to be
used with new overlay files can save considerable time and effort.
Table 5-2 Overlay Keyboard drivers
DRIVER SOFTWARE Overlay
Keyboard
Comment Price Guide Supplier
Acorn, Windows PC
Informax
Concept
Keyboards
Flexible software with good
emulation features.
£29 (free or
£4 if bought
with board)
SEMERC,
Inclusive
Technology
Mac
Intercept
Concept
Keyboards
Similar to Designer, but has multiple
‘layers’ e.g. lower & upper case
£30
Concept
Keyboard Co.
Windows PC
Concept Plus
Concept
Keyboards
For making and printing overlay files
and overlays.
£60 (£14 if
bought with
board)
AU
Enterprises
Windows PC
Concept Plus
Multimedia
Concept
Keyboards
Concept Plus with sound, speech,
video and a multimedia presentation
program
£95
AU
Enterprises
Mac, Windows PC
Intellikeys
Intellikeys
Authoring program for designing
multimedia activities and matching
overlays
free with
keyboard
(£239)
KCS, Semerc,
Inclusive
Technology
Mac, Windows PC
Overlay Maker
Intellikeys
Software for making custom overlays
for IntelliKeys.
£49
KCS, Semerc,
Inclusive
Technology
Mac, Windows PC
IntelliPics
Intellikeys
Software for creating multimedia
activities for IntelliKeys keyboard
£75
KCS, Semerc,
Inclusive
Technology
Mac
Discover/ Ke:nx
Discover:Board
Ke:nx On:Board
Key Largo
Very comprehensive emulation and
speech output features
Supplied
with board
(boards from
£350)
Don Johnston
Refer to the suppliers’ catalogues for further details