Wanted - a keyboard for seniors.

hako · Guru

Wanted - a keyboard for seniors.

dorian · Guru

Type your reply into NotePad and save the text on a regular basis. Paste the URL of the thread into NotePad as well.

When you have finished typing, just copy and paste your text into your next post.

I always keep a "scratchpad.txt" file open for this purpose. It protects me from data loss if my computer crashes or if the power goes out. It's also a convenient way to jot down important information, or things to do.

Windows should have Accessibility Options that allow you to redefine certain aspects of your keyboard. In my mother's case I redefined the left Ctrl and Alt keys so that they functioned like Shift keys. She was always hitting the wrong key and messing up her word processor.

-- Edited by dorian on Saturday 4th of January 2014 09:02:55 PM

Cloak · Guru

Have you tried voice to text?

It's fun until it goes rong wring ring WRONG.....

But don't sneeze.

hako · Guru

Dorian and Cloak - you might have missed my point (which probably wasn't real sharp) - I really think that someone should produce/design a keyboard that is simpler - we have an ageing population which are generally speaking computer literate...but with advancing age comes less dexterity, less vision and maybe less tolerance. There are tricks/fixes that can make sure you do not lose what you have typed, but that is not change of design.
I'M pretty skinny,6'4" and 80KG yet my fingers sometimes cover 2 keys at the one time. I wear bifocals which seem OK, but with age comes a slowing of the focus mechanism our eyes have been equipped with - the result is from screen to keyboard you must pause whilst your eyes refocus......screen and keyboard at the same distance would fix that.
I retired 13 years ago from the Bur of Met - we'd had computers for about 10 years before I retired so they were 'old hat'. Back then I commented that all our keyboards and towers were the same bland colours/materials...grey basically. So I made a timber case for the tower and the same for the keyboard. It looked great and was always commented on, but I guess that after I left and new PCs came in that it all ended up in the skip.

Anything PC (not politically correct!!) related seems designed for those under 50, or even 20. There is nothing designed for the older types......and the irritating bit is that we designed and enabled what people now say we are past using - get with it Dad!

It's easy to talk about it, and complain and say why isn't something being done, but nothing will be done till we get off our bums.

To that end I'll pursue the search for a geriatric keyboard.

EDIT...just GOOGLED 'keyboard for seniors' and look what came up: (yes,I got off my bum)

http://www.touchbrite.com/

Regards

-- Edited by hako on Saturday 4th of January 2014 09:39:38 PM

Cloak · Guru

I see that keyboard in touchbrite but those big keys will punch in a larger font surly and I'll need a bigger screen.....

hahaha

-- Edited by Cloak on Saturday 4th of January 2014 10:08:09 PM

oldbobsbus · Guru

PUT YOUR GLASSES ON BEFORE STARTING TO TYPE..

Dougwe · Chief one feather

When does it arrive Denis?? Give us an update after you have used it.

I am waiting on a Bluetooth keyboard for my iPad to arrive by snail mail. I didn't want to go down that road but sick of the "Space Bar". Very touchy, well lack of touch really.

dorian · Guru

Nice find! At US$50, the price is OK, too.

BTW, I always wanted one of these:
www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/287

It's an original rotary phone that has been modified to be a mobile phone.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

try this one

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/large-key-computer-keyboard

spida · Guru

Maybe if we didn't have to have 2 lots of numbers then they could make the QWERTY keys bigger. I have a Toshiba satellite with a 'flat' keyboard and am always hitting the wrong keys.

dorian · Guru

_wombat_ wrote:
try this one
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/large-key-computer-keyboard

I notice that most are "large print" rather than "large key". Something to watch out for ...

D and D · Guru

Beware, by the time you add in P&P costs, currency conversions and fees it costs more than $150

barina · Guru

I have one of the yellow with black letters as shown on the ebay link....got it through some coupon deal ages ago and I love it, easy to see in dim lighting...

hako · Guru

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.....whilst available options are BIGGER, they do not delete the superfluous keys which is what I'd like removed.
Actually, and idea just occurred to me - I could prise up the keys I never use and glue them SOLID. Then when my fingers hit them they would not disrupt what I am typing.
One of my grandkids actually did that to his Dad's work laptop and lost the keys. They thought it was funny but I'd have.....
I do wear my glasses too, when I can find one of the 6 pairs I have.
I'll keep searching.

Good Luck.

cultana · Senior Member

Why not just label all unwanted keys SM in some bright colour.
SM = Senior"s Moment. biggrin

Beyond that, can't help as my compute and keyboard has attached operator with builtin SM. High tech stuff here.

dorian · Guru

www.randyrants.com/2006/07/sharpkeys_211.html

"SharpKeys is a Registry hack that is used to make certain keys on a keyboard act like other keys. For example, if you accidentally hit Caps Lock often, you could use this utility to map Caps Lock to a Shift key or even turn it off completely. This official release includes support for up to 104 mappings, an extensive list of available keys, and a 'Type Key' option to help when managing mappings. As it relies on internal support within Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Vista you must be running one of these OS's for this Registry hack to work."

dorian · Guru

www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/KeyTweak.shtml

"KeyTweak is a lightweight but powerful tool that enables you to easily reconfigure your keyboard."

www.inchwest.com/mapkeyboard.htm

"MapKeyboard is a free program to remap your keyboard. Using MapKeyboard, you can alter any key on your keyboard to function as a different one or altogether disable it as well."

"Officially supports all editions of Windows 8/7, Windows 2008 and Windows Vista."

The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator:
msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964665.aspx

"The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) extends the international functionality of Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 systems by allowing users to:

- Create new keyboard layouts from scratch
- Base a new layout on an existing one
- Modify an existing keyboard layout and build a new layout from it"

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

D and D wrote:
Beware, by the time you add in P&P costs, currency conversions and fees it costs more than $150

the one I listed on eBay is free shipping

not sure if this key will help biggrin

-- Edited by _wombat_ on Monday 6th of January 2014 09:24:15 AM

hako · Guru

Thanks for all the replies - I'll download the MapKeyboard that Dorian suggests - thanks - if I can disable some keys it might fix my problem.

Regards

The dog lady · Guru

A lot of the laptops don't have the numeric pad to the right. I suppose if your computer use has been limited or only for recreation then you may not want this. But I should imagine that I can't be the only retiree who has worked with computers since the early '80s and can touch-type with a laptop keyboard. Plus I particularly wanted the numeric pad because I can use that without looking at it at all (in fact I am more likely to hit a wrong key if I look at it while operating).

So,,,,, I don't think that anyone is going to change the standard anytime soon and the program that disables unwanted keys might be the best you can get hmm

dorian · Guru

The dog lady wrote:
So,,,,, I don't think that anyone is going to change the standard anytime soon ...

Someone tried very hard ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak_Simplified_Keyboard

Sheba · Guru

I was sure I had posted this ages ago, but couldn't find the relevant info. 'till today.

Mail order mob Bright Life Australia sells one with keys "up to 4 times larger." They are Green with Black letters. "Suitable for PC & Mac."

$ 19.95 each.

www.brightlife.com.au

Cheers,

Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Friday 10th of January 2014 07:35:43 PM

The dog lady · Guru

dorian wrote:
The dog lady wrote:
So,,,,, I don't think that anyone is going to change the standard anytime soon ...
Someone tried very hard ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak_Simplified_Keyboard

Interesting........but still not all that common.

hako · Guru

Well it's arrived - my new youbeaut yellow and black keyboard for seniors....and it works straight out of the box!
When I opened the package to show the wife she said wow, a bright yellow keyboard for a dim person hmm ......but with a smile.

So, it it better than the old? - yes, the letters are clearer, bigger and on a contrasting background. They also seem to be non-slip probably due to the letters actually 'raised' on the key.

Got it for under $19 at this site:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/310823116266?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

ps...thanks Sheba for putting me on this one.