Saitek Overlay Keyboard Who Might Use an Overlay Keyboard, physical, perceptual, Visual Impairment, visual impairment, Young and Early Learners, Young and early learners

Chapter 5 Using Overlay Keyboards

Who Might Use an Overlay Keyboard?

The main advantage of overlay keyboards is that dedicated overlays can be tailored to suit the individual user and a particular task, thereby simplifying and improving access and control. Their use is not confined to special needs: overlay keyboards are used as input devices for retail, stock control and automatic cash machines – wherever a limited set of options needs to be presented.

Physical / Perceptual Difficulties

Pupils with physical or perceptual difficulties who find it hard to press the small keys on a standard keyboard may be able to use overlay keyboards with overlays designed to suit their particular needs. For example, the keys can be made different sizes, spaced further apart and arranged in a helpful layout, say with common keys grouped together.

Visual Impairment

Pupils with visual impairment may benefit from overlays created in high contrast colours (e.g. yellow on black); with large letter sizes; or clear space around each key.

Young and Early Learners

Young and early learners who are unfamiliar with the standard ‘QWERTY’ layout may find the full keyboard confusing. Overlay keyboards with keys printed in a lower case or ‘primary handwriting’ font or arranged in alphabetic order (Figure 5-3) may be simpler and easier to use.

Figure 5-3 IntelliKeys alphabetic layout

Overlays can be created with layouts and functions matched to the target application. For example, the Discover:Board overlay shown below can be used to control the mouse pointer for ‘point-and-click’ programs.

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