On-Screen Keyboards

Millions of disabled individuals use on-screen keyboards every day. An on-screen keyboard is an application that resides on top of other windows, which allows keyboard input to be passed directly from the on-screen keyboard application to the window below. There are many different designs of on-screen keyboards, each having their own specific features and functionality.

Microsoft Windows On-screen Keyboard
On-screen Keyboard is an accessibility utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen, that allows people with physical impairments to type data by using a pointing device or joystick. On-screen Keyboard can also be used as a typing tutor.



Features:

• Audible click on key press
• Scanning mode
• Hover mode (dwell clicking)
• Clicking mode - typing with the cursor
• Changing key font and size

Cons:

You can't resize the keyboard

Alternative On-screen Keyboards

Hot Virtual Keyboard speeds up screen typing by replacing Windows built-in on-screen Keyboard. Use a mouse, headmouse or eyemouse for typing with Hot Virtual Keyboard. Hot Virtual Keyboard enables users to type faster with less errors and more convenience. 
Improvements in the latest release include the support of up to 60 languages, the ability to download auto-complete dictionaries from within the program, the ability to change keyboard size in an instant, the ability to automatically fit the keyboard vertically or horizontally onto the screen. In addition, extra configuration settings are added to make the on-screen keyboard even more customizable.



Hot Virtual Keyboard has many features for users with physical disabilities:

• Fully customizable look and behavior. There are more than 60 different virtual on-screen keyboards supplied with Hot Virtual Keyboard.
• Programmable buttons for performing routine operations such as copying and pasting text.
• Keys to launch applications, open Web pages or run macros with a single tap.
• Word auto-complete to make typing faster and more accurate than ever.
• Support of multiple languages and keyboard layouts.
• Special “typing aid” functions.

WiViK on-screen keyboard. Also includes a built in word prediction program. The keyboards can apparently contain any keys you want, can be moved anywhere on the screen and can be any size.



WiViK is suitable for people of all ages who are unable to use a physical keyboard, such as those with spinal cord injuries, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy. Any pointing device or one through six discrete switches may be used as input. Select a key and WiViK sends it to a word processor, e-mail message, web page or other text-based application you may be using. Keyboards can contain any keys you want, can be moved anywhere on the screen and can be any size. It comes with WordQ, which uses advanced word prediction to suggest appropriate words to make typing with WiViK faster and to help with spelling.

Grid 2 and GridKeys
Grid 2 and Gridkeys has a mode providing on-screen keyboards for people who are unable to operate the computer using the regular keyboard. Mouse, mouse emulation or switch access can be used to access any computer program including the internet. Sample grids are provided for common functions for applications such as word processing, internet explorer, mouse control, calculator, media player and also sample chat displays for communication are included. The internet explorer display includes command buttons such as 'scan links' and 'scan frames'. Any displays can be customised for individual requirements.



Grid Keys Onscreen keyboard
Grid Keys is a computer control program that allows users of switches and pointing devices to use standard Windows programs without either the keyboard or mouse.

Grid Keys is closely related to Grid 2. If you only need Computer Control, then Grid Keys is sufficient. All thefeatures of Grid Keys are available in the Grid 2 plus many more: The Grid 2 also includes voice-output communication, environment control, eye gaze support and many other features.
Screenshot of Gridkeys being used with MS Word.



Click 'N' Type
FREE full featured on-screen virtual keyboard for anyone with a disability that prevents him or her from typing on a physical computer keyboard. Includes word prediction and completion and fully configurable including macros, AutoClick and Scanning Modes. Many language/keyboard packs available. Keyboard Designer and many user designed layouts included. Audible and visible feedback options, including Spoken Keys.

Clicker 5

Clicker is a writing support and multimedia tool for children of all abilities. At the top of the screen is a word processor called ‘Clicker Writer’. At the bottom of the screen is the ‘Clicker Grid’. This has ‘cells’ containing letters, words or phrases that you can click on, to send them into Clicker Writer – so children can write sentences without actually writing or using the keyboard. Clicker 5 comes with realistic British speech, so you can hear the words before you write. Simply click on any word with the right-hand mouse button (or Control-click on it if you’re using a Mac). Clicker Writer can also speak letters, words or sentences to you as you write.

Clicker 5 also comes with highly detailed pictures to illustrate common words, and you can use your own pictures too. You can have pictures in the Clicker Grid and click on them to send them into Clicker Writer, so you can write with pictures as well as words! Pictures can appear instantly in cells when you type into them. Pictures can also appear instantly as you type into Clicker Writer.




Follow the link for more information about Clicker 5

Info and images: Zygo Australia