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Using Window's on-screen keyboard

Explains how to use the inbuilt Windows on-screen keyboard.

Introduction
Some people have a physical condition that means they find using a keyboard difficult. Many of them, however, may be able to use a mouse or mouse equivalent.

These people may find using an on-screen keyboard the best way to input information. An on-screen keyboard looks just like a picture of a keyboard on the screen.

Letters can be selected from the keyboard using a mouse, a single switch, or a joystick that is plugged into the serial, parallel or game port of the computer.

This page shows you how to start the Windows on-screen keyboard and explains how it works:

Using Window's On-Screen Keyboards

1. Open the 'Start' menu by clicking on the 'Start' button or by pressing the Windows logo key (located between the Ctrl and Alt keys on most keyboards) alternatively press 'Ctrl' + 'Esc'.
2. Click on 'All Programs' or alternatively press 'P' on the keyboard until 'All Programs' is highlighted and then 'Enter'.
3. Click on 'Accessories' or press 'A' on the keyboard until Accessories is highlighted and then press 'Enter'.
4. Click on 'Accessibility' or if you are using the keyboard, it will already be highlighted so just press 'Enter'.
5. Click on 'On-Screen Keyboard' or press 'O' and when 'On-Screen Keyboard' is highlighted, press 'Enter' on the keyboard.
6. Although the keyboard cannot be adjusted in size, there are two versions available: Standard with the minimum amount of keys on it as shown in Fig 1.
   
   
   Fig 1
   
   and enhanced, which includes the numeric keypad as shown in Fig 2.
   
   
   Fig 2

To switch between both types of keyboard:

1. Click the 'Keyboard' menu or press 'Alt' + 'K'.
2. Click on 'Standard Keyboard' , or press 'S' , to load the keyboard shown in Fig 1.
3. Click on 'Enhanced' keyboard, or press 'E', to load the keyboard shown in Fig 2.

Once you have chosen which type of keyboard you want the next step is to decide is how you want to use it.

Using the on-screen keyboard with your mouse
Load the on-screen keyboard using the previous instructions steps 1 to 5 listed under 'Using Window's on-screen keyboards' above.

Click on the letter (key) you want to 'type', If you have a word processor open you will see the letter appear on the page.

If you have any difficulties clicking the mouse button then you can hover the mouse over a key for a set time, after which the key is automatically pressed, to do this you need to change the settings as follows:

1. Click the 'Settings' menu or press 'Alt' + 'S'.
2. Click on 'Typing mode' or press 'Alt' + 'T' to display the typing mode dialog box (see Fig 3).
   
   
   Fig 3 -The Standard On-Screen Keyboard Hover Option.

1. Click on the 'Hover to Select' option, or press 'Alt' + 'H' to select it.
2. Click on the 'Minimum time to hover:' drop down box and select a time, or press 'Tab' until this drop down box is high lighted and then use the 'up' and 'down' arrow keys to select a time. When you have finished click 'OK' or press 'Enter'.

You can now type just by hovering the mouse cursor above the letter you want to press. After the cursor has hovered over the letter for the time specified the letter will be automatically clicked on.

Using the on-screen keyboard with a switch
The on-screen keyboard can be used entirely with a single switch. This works by row\column scanning (a highlight sweeps across and down the rows and columns and the switch is pressed to select the desired choice).

A switch will need to be bought separately and set up to emulate a chosen key on the keyboard (contact AbilityNet for more details).

To use the scanning feature:

1. Load the on-screen keyboard see steps 1 to 5 listed under 'Using Window's on-screen keyboards' above.
2. Click the 'Settings' menu or press 'Alt'+ 'S'.
3. Click on 'Typing mode' or press 'Alt' + 'T' to display the typing mode dialog box (see Fig 3 above ).
4. Click on the 'Joystick or key to select' radio button or press 'Alt' + 'J'.
5. Click on the 'Scan interval' drop down box and choose a time for the scan interval, or press 'Tab' until the drop down box is highlighted and then use the 'up' and 'down' arrow keys to choose the interval time.
6. Click the 'Advanced' button or press 'Alt' + 'A' to display the advanced options as shown in Fig 4.
   
   
   Fig 4
   
7. Click the 'Keyboard key' check box or press 'Alt' + 'K' to make sure the checkbox is checked.
8. Click in the drop down box to choose a key to initiate and control the scanning, or press 'Tab' until the drop down box is highlighted and use the 'up' and 'down' arrow keys to select an alternate key. The 'Spacebar' is a good one to use.
9. Click 'OK' or press 'Enter' to return to the 'Typing Options' dialog box.
10. Click 'OK' or press 'Enter' to return to the on-screen keyboard.
11. Press the key that you set up for scanning and the scanning box should appear and start scanning. When the scanning box is on the line you want to access, press the scanning key and the bar should stop on this row and start moving across the screen column by column. When the letter you want is highlighted, press the scanning key to 'type' that letter.

Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings cannot be changed due to local IT policies - contact your local IT support for further help.

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