An onscreen keyboard is a program installed onto the computer that displays the image or graphical picture of a standard keyboard on the computer screen. A mouse, joystick, switch, electronic pointing device, head stick or trackball is then used to select the keys on the screen. Whatever keys are typed on the virtual keyboard are sent to another program, such as word, e-mail or the internet, which allows the user to operate the computer entirely with the mouse or pointing device. This program is designed for computer users who have severe physical disabilities such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, stroke or similar disabilities.
A study evaluating three types of onscreen keyboards showed that the QWERTY keyboard resulted in the fastest overall input times and was the most preferred arrangement overall.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
There are various ways in which the onscreen keyboard can be operated, such as:
- Scan option:
- the letters and numbers on the onscreen keyboard are scanned through requiring the operator to click only one button when the appropriate letter or number is selected
- designed for people who cannot move a pointing device
- Trackball:
- symmetrical in design where the ball is operated by the fingers, or asymmetrical where the ball is operated with the thumb
- designed to reduce strain and improve comfort and precision
- Joystick:
- handheld, accurate, proportional control pivoting about one end
- similar to the joystick found on motorised wheelchairs
- recent miniature joysticks have been developed for users with precise motor movements and hand coordination
- Touchpad:
- input device used to move the cursor on the screen through the motion of the fingers on a flat sensored pad.
In order to speed up the typing process advanced word prediction is often a feature included which enables an increased typing speed by predicting the word or phrase being typed, much like predictive text on most mobile phones.
Keyboards can often be customised to the users preferences using a function called configurable layout. It is also configurable in terms of colour, picture and help text.
References
Novitatech 2009, On Screen, Novita Children’s Services, Adelaide, viewed 31 May 2010, http://www.novitatech.org.au/product.asp?p=247&id=2473&start=1&c=0.
Sears, A. 1991, Improving touch screen keyboards: design issues and a comparison with other devices, Interacting with Computers, vol. 3, pp. 253-269.
Quill, L. & Biers, W. 1993, On-screen keyboards: which arrangements should be used?, Ergonomics Abstracts, vol. 2, pp.1142-1146.