By Leslie Burkhardt, 28 February, 2014
Forum
Accessibility Advocacy
Potential Advantages of ABC-format On-Screen Keyboard Option for iOS Devices Especially for Use By People Who Were Never Touch-Keyboarders, and Have Become Visually Impaired in Their Later Years.
An "ABC" keyboard layout option (i.e., a keyboard where the three rows of letter keys are arranged in alphabetical order from "A" through "Z") could significantly expand accessibility to people with severe vision impairment, especially older adults who have acquired vision loss in their later years. Most people can readily recite their ABCs. This ability organizes the task of learning to read and write, and then continues to assist in the organization of written language throughout our lives.
Yet, even people like me, a 60+ words-per-minute touch keyboarder on a standard "QWERTY" keyboard, still would have some difficulty knowing, for instance, what letters are before and after the "K" on a QWERTY keyboard, although I would readily be able to know that "J" and "L" are before and after the letter "K" in the alphabet. Especially for people who are unfamiliar with a QWERTY keyboard, it is much more difficult to locate specific letters on a QWERTY keyboard when accessing the keyboard using Voiceover cues that are activated using just one finger-tip scanning around the keyboard to find the right key. It seems as if efficiency of learning and subsequent use for locating keys on an on-screen iOS keyboard would be greatly increased for some people with severe vision impairment if an ABC-layout option was available in the list of alternate keyboards within accessibility options.
The somewhat paradoxical dilemma of implementing this option is this:
In 2011, I posted this suggestion on AppleVis, the Apple-sponsored discussion forum for accessibility options for people who are blind, and, as expected, it received no response, either for or against. My belief is that people in the vision-impaired/blind community who are able to access and contribute to AppleVis are already very comfortable with willing to access and contribute to the AppleVis forum are already very comfortable with a QWERTY keyboard. The option of an ABC-layout is irrelevant to them, and so no one bothers to comment, and the suggestion went nowhere.
So, please, I am asking you to comment on this post, on the AppleVis website, either for or against. Consider for one moment that segment of the visually impaired population who may lack familiarity with QWERTY-layout keyboards, and give them at least a fighting chance to access these amazing iOS devices.
Thanks!
Comments
I think that is someone
I think that is someone learns the home row keys that such a key board is not necessary. it goes to show that this kind of key board can be learned an I have learned it successfully. with out any trouble or issues.
Besides, this layouts most common so why reinvent the wheel and fix something that is not broken?
Re: ABC-Format On-Screen Keyboard for iOS Devices
AppleVis is an Independent Website
A Good Idea with Major Downsides
Having this ABC keyboard as a
I Don't Know...
Advantages and disadvantages
My views on this ABC keyboard idea
Clare Pages view
I don't see
Good for Older users, or people with multiple disabilities
Dictation is subject to typing errors, also
You make some very good points, Tina: plus hersome keyboard info
Qualifications of instructors, & comprehensive A T evaluation
International keyboards, Thank you, Clare!
Beyond Accessibility
I know someone who cannot
I know someone who cannot afford a computer so they got an iPhone and do everything, and i mean everything from it. they did learn how to touch type though and they are doing very well at it.
On my computer now I can type about 68 wpm with a 95 percent accuracy. On the iOS typing keyboard I thick i can do about 7 or 8. I'm slowly speeding up because of practice and fleksy.
Take care.
great alternative
my thoughts
ATTN: AJ Lonkar, University
Accessible keyboard
Hi all,
I came across your conversation about an ABC keyboard. I am a designer at AssistiveWare. The last few months we have been working hard on making an accessible iOS keyboard named Keeble.
Keeble is an iOS keyboard that allows users with fine motor-challenges, switch users and users with vision impairments to type in any app. The keyboard offers word prediction, timing options, Select on Release, Select on Dwell, auditory feedback and other accessibility features.
Keeble is currently localized in English, French, Spanish and Dutch, and offers optimized layouts for simplified, advanced and scanning keyboards.
Use alternative access
- Prevent accidental selections with timing options
- Compensate for motor challenges with Select on Release and Select on Dwell
- Adjust key repeat delay and rate
- Use scanning-optimized keyboards: ABC and frequency of use
Receive auditory feedback
- Turn on keyboard clicks
- Use spoken cues as you move your finger across the keyboard
- Hear each key, word or sentence you type with Speak as you Type
Speed up typing
- Benefit from automatic capitalization
- Reduce typing effort with self-learning word prediction
- Choose between word completion, next-word prediction or multi-word prediction
- Define the number of suggestions and suggestion order
- Adjust the size of the prediction bar to your needs
Optimize for different users
- Use with beginning readers and select lowercase letters, ABC layout and colored vowels
- Customize for adults by allowing access to all characters and selecting QWERTY layout
- Select your preferred theme: Colored, Gray or Customized
User comfort
- Use Keeble in any app
- Benefit from 100% privacy with zero data collection
- Enjoy the large, school-friendly font
You can find more information about the keyboard on http://www.assistiveware.com/product/keeble.
I would love to hear what you think of this keyboard. The ABC layout won't work for everybody this is why we also included a QWERTY layout.
Best,
Hilde
Thank You for Developing This Product
This looks great for people with low vision! I'll let you know if I have a chance to try it out. I'm going to let the AT specialist at our agency know about it. Best wishes, Leslie B.