Functions for high level mathematical study

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Hi I'm Kim, an Assistive Technologist working with disabled children and young adults.

forgoodnesssake

Hi, My 19 year old son with quad CP and poor hand fucntion has always used Intellikeys (now not made anymore, but we have a stockpile!) to access his computer both at home and school.  He now has an offer to do BSc maths at Newcastle University but we have found that there is no way to get backslash or vertical bar using Intellikeys.  Something in the driver is not recognising it even though you can get it on overlay maker.  Do you know of any ways round this or any alternative keyboards?  We have looked extensivley but can find no others that have larger keys and all the necessary functions for high level mathematical study.  Things like Helpikeys do not have function keys, and some of the larger keyboards then have tiny function keys!!  Thanks

Harp

Hi, I am registed as blind and have issues with coordination issues.  I have seen many keyborads with larger keys with larger writing on, larger wring on normal size keys.  I tend to find that specialist euipment assuems that you can only do basic stuff.  I know that there are 1 handed keyboards which when I was at RNIB vocational college, had a 1 handed keyboard and it was designed for you.

I use normal keyboard but made sure i can use it, The price for specialist keybaords go from £20 to over £100

Harp

Keyboards been around for many years so you think that by now specialist keyboards should be cheaper.  It be good if organixations work together to produce adptable keyboards for each person needs.  That wahy it should bring down the cost  so more people will buy them. It is not disabled can use them. when you get older, your movement or sight might not be as good so they benenfit from a specialist keyboard

Markmywords

Hello @forgoodnesssake ,

I assume you are referring to a Windows PC.

If so then every character, including ones that don't have a keyboard key, have a number code assigned to them.

To get a backslash " \ " ;
1) Hold down the Alt key
2) On the number pad only type 092 reasonably quickly
3) Release the Alt key and the character will be written

Bar (or Pipe) is code 124.

To look up other codes, use a word processor program and choose "insert symbol."
All the characters are there and if you click on one its code number will be shown. You can just copy and paste from there but the shortcut code method will work in almost any software that has a text box.

A "cheat sheet" of the special characters will see your son through. This can include the Greek symbols he is likely to need too.

alexbarker2020

@forgoodnesssake Hi! I wonder if it might be worth using a scientific calculator that has a backslash on it?  It is feasible to remap keys so you could find a larger keyboard and then remap a key that isn't used very often if at all . Have  a look at this page for more info http://lifehacker.com/5883003/the-best-key-remapper-for-windows.  I also think the solution from @Markmywords is quite useful, if slightly clunky!

forgoodnesssake

HI, thanks both.  Possibly i didn't make it clear that the reason my son uses Intellikeys is that he has very poor fine motor (hand) control and so he needs biggish keys and a keyguard.  Every keystroke is effortful and time consuming so we want to keep them to a minimum.  Spare or little used keys are in very short supply but my OH has sort of found a way to rejig one using autohotkey, but it means son has to do without another (hopefully very little used) symbol!
Scientific calculator is another issue actually in that finding and online one with enough functions that is also accessible to him has not proved easy! 

Markmywords

If the problem is extra buttons then an extra USB Gameboard might work. Check this one out plus the alternatives at the bottom.

The keys on a gameboard are fully customisable and not just as one character but as a sequence of keys if required.

There are various calculator programs for Windows which might help.

Harp

Hi here is a link to keyboards which can be made suit for each person. There is a CP keyboard
http://www.maltron.com/

Also found this which is cheaper but not sure it what you want

https://techsilver.co.uk/product/big-button-keyboard-large-keys/?gclid=CjwKEAjwoLfHBRD_jLW93remyAQSJABIygGpZwFZzKm27igdv9O9KdiIvPYjEMz6PFlT7IkWAbnpkRoCdxzw_wcB

forgoodnesssake

Hi, thanks again.  Just looking at the Maltron thing now.  Expensive though!  Need a loan and even that is £120 for 4 weeks!  Trying to find out if the keys will be big enough and whether it can be made drool-proof!  Son needs a delay on keys to minimise miss-hits but that can be done via software

alexbarker2020

@forgoodnesssake To be honest Maltrons are good but but the expense does put an awful lot of people off.

Harp

Hi I know Maltrons are good but this is why some these organisations should work together to bring down the costs for specialist equipment. I know someone who uses a Maltron keyboard cus he mainly use one hand and he is blind. If you going to use the keyboard a lot, he said it it is worth buying it

Filmac

Hello,
You might want to get in touch with MK Prosopsis.  I've recently found out they are still selling Intellikeys and may be able to support it.
As you said you should be able to get all keyboard functions sent from Intellikeys.
Hope they can help oyu:
http://www.mkprosopsis.com    (Greek, but open in Chrome browser and click translate!)
[email protected]

forgoodnesssake

Thanks, we have stocked up on Intellikeys form ebay!

Filmac

Hi,
Great that you have stockpiled Intellikeys, I didn't think you needed another!
I just thought they might be able to help with programming up the relevant keys.

forgoodnesssake

thanks