January 1999
Table of Contents
In this Article
Review
Five Finger Typist
Review
Half-QWERTY
by Dianna Fong-Lee
Photo Above : Half-QWERTY keyboard fromThe Matias Corporation
A trained 10-finger touch typist who uses correct fingering to access the standard QWERTY keyboard, may achieve speeds of up to 40 words per minute or greater. Not surprisingly, untrained hunt-and-peck typists, who search around the keyboard to locate a key, and then peck at the keyboard with single digits on each hand, type at a slower rate. For an individual who has functional use of one hand only, alternative keyboards or redefining keyboard layouts may enhance rate of output significantly.
Alternative keyboards
Those keyboards designed for one-handed typists are typically smaller
and contain less keys. One example is a chording keyboard which involves
pressing different key combinations simultaneously to produce a character;
much like playing several notes together on a piano to produce a musical
chord. Compact or miniature keyboards may also be a viable option for
a one-handed typist since keys are closely spaced together to reduce key
travel time. There are even keyboards that have non-standard arrangements
so there is an even distribution of the workload on the fingers. Good
motor coordination is necessary as quick movements and multiple key presses
on smaller keys are often required.
Software solutions
Redefining or changing the standard QWERTY keyboard layout by use of software
and the computer operating system is a more transparent solution and does
not require purchasing another keyboard. The Dvorak one-handed keyboard
layout was designed for typing with only the right or left hand. Typically
higher frequency letters are placed under the first finger of the hand,
and lower frequency letters are placed away from the home row, and are
typed with fingers that have less strength and mobility. Removable key
caps or labels applied to the standard keyboard are used to match the
alternative keyboard layout. The Dvorak one-handed keyboard layout may
be downloaded from www.microsoft.com
for a Windows based system or www.acs.oakland.edu/oak.html
for Macintosh computers.
Cognitive demands need to be carefully considered as coded access methods or alternative keyboard layouts may require a significant amount of training for successful use. The need to easily reverse a software technique or connect/disconnect keyboards in the case of a shared computer is also important to assess. Keep in mind the risk of developing repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) with 5-finger typing. If you reduce finger travel that should correlate with a reduced incidence of RSIs; however, more stress and strain may be incurred on fingers that are involved in awkward and simultaneous key combinations. Currently, there is no conclusive research to support a positive or negative relationship between RSI and use of alternative keyboards or redefined keyboard layouts.
The products reviewed in this issue are software solutions appropriate when one hand is non-functional and the functional hand has normal strength and range of motion. Half-QWERTY (Matias Corp.) is a unique software technique that allows a 5-finger typist to type using only half the keyboard. Five Finger Typist (Softdawn) is a typing tutorial for individuals who wish to use the standard QWERTY keyboard with only five fingers.
Half-QWERTY
The Matias Corporation
Suite 1204, 600 Rexdale Boulevard
Rexdale, ON M9W 6T4
1 (888) 663-4263
http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/matias
$529.00 in Ontario
$492.20 (elsewhere in Canada)
These price includes taxes and shipping fees
Half-QWERTY is a programme that enables one-handed typists to access a standard keyboard with 5-finger typing instead of 10-finger touch typing. This is achieved by having the user position their hand on the keyboard as they would with 10-finger typing.
Keys on the side of the typing hand are selected as before. The keys on the other side of the keyboard are selected by using the spacebar as a modifier key. Depressing the spacebar and releasing it as before will produce a space character, but when the spacebar is depressed and held down the keys on the opposite side of the keyboard are mapped in a mirror image onto the keys of the functional hand. For example, a left handed typist would place their fingers on the A,S,D,F keys. They would have access to all the keys on the left side of the keyboard as usual. To type a key that would normally be selected with the right hand the typist would depress the spacebar and select the opposite key on the left (e.g., holding down the spacebar and depressing the D key would produce a K).
Half-QWERTY is available for MS-DOS, MS-WINDOWS, and Macintosh computers. No extra hardware is needed to operate this programme. Special keyboard labels come with the software and can be placed on the standard keyboard to identify the possible key modifications. As well, a special half keyboard is available, which is more compact and portable.
Compared to the other one-handed typing methods on the market, Half-QWERTY is better suited to persons who are already 10 finger touch typists. However, this is not a difficult technique to learn for someone who is not a 10-finger touch typist if they have intact cognitive and sensory skills. To become effective at using Half-QWERTY would take approximately the same practice time as learning 10 finger touch typing.
In determining if your client could benefit from using this programme, the following should be considered: the client’s medical history, the clientís functional status (consider physical and cognitive skills), the client’s history of computer use, and the clientís writing needs.
As with 10-finger typing, Half-QWERTY presents a risk for developing repetitive strain injury (RSI). Due to the continuous use of just one hand and the awkward hand positions required to make many key combinations, it is suggested that the risk is even greater with this one-handed method. Therefore, this would not be a safe method for someone who has a history of RSI and/or someone who has a lot of typing to do at one time. If a fast typing rate is important to your client there may be other access methods that will allow for faster typing speeds, for example voice recognition.
The visual demands of this software are low. It has been suggested that a user who is blind could use Half-QWERTY in conjunction with a Braille display. This would enable the user to type with one hand while proof-reading what they have written with the other hand.
Overall, Half-QWERTY may be useful for a one-handed or visually impaired typist, however it requires a certain level of cognitive and physical functioning, and the risk of injury may outweigh the benefits of a faster typing rate.
Review by Jacqueline Chin, B.Sc.H, O.T.(C)
Grand River Hospital
Freeport Augmentative Communication & Technology Service
Kitchener, Ontario.
Five Finger Typist
SoftDawn Software $99.00
P.O. Box 206, Brunswick East
3068, Australia
61-394894298.
Canadian distributor is TASH Inc.
1 (800) 463-5685
Five Finger Typist is a programme that teaches basic touch typing with either the right or left hand by presenting 21 lessons that drill a learner in all the alphanumeric keys. It is claimed that by following the programme that "even a novice can become a master typist". This is probably accurate, but unfortunately, Five Finger Typist retains all the fun of the traditional classroom approach to typing instruction and has failed to heed the lessons learned with such vigour by its mass-market peers.
Five Finger Typist is available in Macintosh and Windows 3.1 and 95 versions. Its small manual is straightforward and clear, and within minutes of turning on the computer, a novice can be using the programme effectively. A home position is illustrated using simple black and white animation, and the learner is encouraged to follow the on-screen hand movements through the structured drills. A chart tracks typing accuracy, so progress can be checked as lessons are completed. It is also possible to print out a copy of each lesson for a review of progress.
However, the programme focuses on letter number repetition, never meaningfully progressing to whole words or sentences. The only immediate feedback that Five Finger Typist provides is a feature that prevents the learner from progressing to the next level until the drill is rendered perfectly. It is up to the user to attempt to determine where the errors have occurred. The programme’s statistics chart does not indicate error patterns either, merely giving an indication of the number of errors committed and the overall level of accuracy. The programme is also unable to generate information regarding the speed with which the drills are completed.
The typing drills are in small type that is hard to track across the screen, and often spaces are difficult to distinguish, causing an increased rate of errors that are hard to locate. The small type may preclude persons who have visual problems or difficulty tracking in a horizontal plane from successfully using the programme. In addition, the animated hand, while mildly entertaining initially, soon becomes a distraction, and makes the task of visually tracking across the screen even more daunting. It is not possible to modify the programmeís interface to meet specialized needs.
This programme has no bells and whistles. There is no colour, no sound and no fun. Five Finger Typist presents a limited number of drills that will provide a foundation for the one-handed typist to build upon. The lack of polish and features limits its appeal to all but the most dedicated users. The small type and distracting animation further restricts its value clinically, preventing those with visual problems or who have a reduced attention span from employing it with ease. The cost may also be a barrier, relative to other mass-market typing tutors.
It is strongly recommended that prospective users download a demonstration version at http://www.ozemail. com.au/-softdawn/software/fft.html and test it prior to purchase to determine if it will be an effective tool to teach the rudiments of on-handed typiung, or simply a source of frustration. Although its market niche is small and thus, the impetus for further development is limited, Five Finger Typist is anachronistic, and is sorely in need of updating that will incorporate the features that make other typing programs functional and fun.
Review by Andrea P. Dyrkacz, M.Div, O.T.(C)
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Clinic, West Park Hospital,
Toronto, Ontario
Comments on these solutions and others, please e-mail wpc@istar.ca, title your message tech update.
Coming in March — reviews of on-screen keyboards
January 1999 Table of Contents
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