by Lilly Walters, best selling author,and one hand typist.

Phone 626-335-8069, Fax 626-335-6127,

E-mail Lilly@aboutonehandtyping.com

The obvious solution: My father always told me to look for it. In

our world of exciting adaptive devices, and assistive technologies,

we enjoy the opportunity of suggesting our new 'equipment' FIRST.

Aren't they the obvious solution?

About 10 years ago we bought eight computers, and had them networked

together here is our home office (it's a big house). The poor young

technician trying to do the one hour installation was still trying to

get the power to connect at 5 pm. I remember him standing there,

sweat running down his face, upset, angry at life. My father walked

in and asked how it was going. The tech gritted his teeth and said,

"I can't get the power to to the computers! I have tried, and

retried all day!" My elderly father, a simple carpenter, who has

never turned on a computer in his life thought a minute, "Did you

check the fuse box?"

The tech's face turned blank, and he walked off. In 5 minutes the

network was up and running. The obvious solution.

But all too often, when suggesting a solution for those with a

disability, we jump ahead, instead of starting with the obvious. I

think we do a disservice to those who 'could' work with the tools

commonly in use, when we FIRST suggest the workplace adapt to them,

rather than making a try at adapting themselves to the workplace.

This happens often for those with a disability of the han

Rather than the extreme of adaptive devices and assistive

technologies, consider all four options for those who wish to become

adept at using a keyboard, and possibly pursuing technology careers

that center around this important skill. Using the standard keyboard;

one handed keyboards; alternative keyboard layouts; and voice

activation.

1) Use the Standard Keyboard and Standard Layout - One Hand QWERTY

QWERTY is the term used for the standard keyboard, used by 99% of the

English speaking world (see the keys on your keyboard starting at the

Q in the upper left corner.) With good use of either the right, or

left hand, (at least four fingers) the student CAN type on a standard

keyboard, with no overlays, assistance devices, or alternative

keyboard layouts. Many are able to type as fast, or faster than the

two handed typist (I do 50 - 80 wpm). One Hand QWERTY takes the one

strong hand, and has it use FGHJ as home base. The thumb operates the

space bar. This system allows the user to compete in any mainstream

environment. (There are two one handed manuals available in the

market place, $13.95 - $14.95, see Amazon.com or your bookstore)

NOTE: Young children should use a child size keyboard, these are

also helpful to many adults

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/littlefingers.html

2) Adaptive Devices (one handed keyboards, etc.)

There are many devices and alternative keyboards that can be used to

enter data into a computer. These replace a standard keyboard. The

most well known is the BAT Personal Keyboard, which uses a series of

"chords" to type. New on the market is the Half Keyboard, using a

system called Half QWERTY. ($99 - $1000 see

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/bat.html.

3) Alternative Keyboard Layouts

Legend has it that QWERTY was designed to be so difficult, that it

would slow the typist down, insuring the keys would not jam - this is

perhaps an urban legend. But certainly true is that as technology

advanced, and jamming was no longer an issue, many looked for

alternatives to QWERTY to ease the strain on the typist's hands. The

two most well known are Dvoark, and Half-QWERTY.

Half-QWERTY cuts the keyboard in half, using the left side of

the keyboard, each key represents two letters, instead of one.

The Dvoark system has layouts for two hands, just the right,

or just the left hand. It only takes 30 seconds to set up most

computers to the Dvoark system, which is a setting within most

computer operating systems.

Both of these layouts are faster, and easier on the hands of

the typist, but not necessarily smarter. (Dvoark is free,

Half-QWERTY, $395. For more, see

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/dvorak.html)

4) Voice Activation

Using voice recognition software, the user speaks into a microphone,

and the software transcribes the users words from the verbal

dictation. The user must first spend time "training" the software

to understand the users particular pronunciation. Voice Activation is

the wave of the future and a great tool when used AFTER a good

understanding of the standard keyboard is learned. Otherwise the user

is not able to operate in environments that use only common

equipment, i.e., the library, the workplace, at play with friends,

etc. Telling the one hand typist they can to use voice activation

instead of learning touch typing on a keyboard, is like telling

someone they do not need to learn to read, after all, there are

plenty of audio books on tape. In the big picture, this would be a

great disservice.

Before the one handed person makes a decision which choice is best

for them, ask:

1) Is the "good" hand strong? Can it take the burden normally shared

by two hands?

If one hand has good usage, then, although harder on the

hands, the standard ONE HAND QWERTY is perhaps the best choice for

two reasons. One: sell-ability in the job market. The reality is,

the easier it is to bring someone into the workplace, the more

appealing they are as an employee. If the prospective employee can

use the same equipment as the fully-abled employees, with just as

much skill (often more!) they are easier to employ. Two: selecting

an alternative keyboard makes a child feel apart from their peer

group.

2) Will the reason the hand/arm is disabled go away with time?

Perhaps an injury that will heal?

As in stroke, sometimes full use is regained after therapy.

Only learn the one hand method if you are sure there will never again

be enough coordination with the affected hand to type in the standard

two handed method. Although, very often the injured hand can be

encouraged by having it operate the mouse (see more later at "Mouse:

Adapt To The Circumstance").

3) Does this person work on their own - perhaps they are retired or

an entrepreneur? Will they need to use other people's computers, or

will others need to use their computer?

If not, adaptive devices and alternative keyboard layouts can

be suggested. However, if possible to the circumstances of the one

handed typist, avoid alternatives if they plan share a computer at

work or at play.

Overview and Comparisons for the three top choices for one hand typing

1) Use the standard keyboard (ONE HAND QWERTY)*

BEST FOR: Children, and those who have not yet learned a speed touch

typing system (Children and those with small hands should use a

childs size, space saving keyboard - lap tops will not work well for

the one handed typist)

WHY? Sellablity in the job market. 100% compatible with the

mainstream for work and play, enables the one hand person to use the

same computer and keyboards as any two handed person. Least expensive.

PRICE: $14.95 typing manual

--

2) HALF QWERTY KEYBOARD

BEST FOR: Adults who knew how to touch type before their disability

to one hand (only available for the LEFT hand, until late in 2001)

WHY: Learn Half-QWERTY in a matter of minutes, with little or no retraining.

PRICE: $99.00

---

3) BAT ONE HAND KEYBOARD

BEST FOR: Those with disabilities in both hands

WHY? Uses simple "cords," with very little movement

PRICE: $199.00

See pictures of each at http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com

HOW TO POSITION THE EQUIPMENT WITH ONE HAND TYPING

The strain is greater to the one hand typist. How you set up the

equipment is vital! Read the information below carefully.

Lighting: Soft and Bright

Make sure the area is well lighted, so you can read the

manual, and other materials you practice on. Do not have a light or

window behind you that will glare on your screen. Put it overhead,

or to the side. If it is in front of you, it must be high, like a

pole, or ceiling lamp, so the glare is not in your direct vision

range.

Keyboard: Offset It To The Side Of Your Body!

If you were using two-hands, the keyboard would center

straight out from your belly button - the middle of your body. The

keyboard for a one-handed typist is offset to the side, depending on

which hand the typist uses. If you use the right hand, it offsets to

the right. If you use the left hand, it will offset to the left.

You center 'HOMEBASE,' on the keyboard, (HOMEBASE is the four keys in

the very center of all the letters - F G H J) just about straight out

from your hip.

To find just the right place for your keyboard, sit at your work

area, and allow your arms to hang down. Keeping your elbow pressed

lightly at your side, take your typing arm and lift just the lower

arm up naturally. Keep the elbow at your waist. Your arm should not

be reaching forward, left, or right. Ideally, it is also not reaching

upwards, but coming straight out.

Position the keyboard so the F G H J keys on the keyboard are

directly under your hand.

KEYBOARDS

You cannot use those keyboards that split the keyboard in two halves,

you must use a standard, QWERTY keyboard. But you can use small

space saving keyboards, this is vital for the 10 year old, and

younger person, or those with very small hands. Even those a normal

sized hand might find a smaller keyboard an asset. See

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/littlefingers.html

DROP-DOWN RACKS

Drop-down racks for the keyboard are terrific! I could not get

through a full day at work without one. Do get one if you can.

However, many of these desks with keyboard racks assume you only want

space for a normal keyboard centered in front of your body. They

have room for your legs only just below the drop-drown rack. A

one-hand typist's body must be off set to the keyboard. The rack

must allow us to offset our bodies to the side of the keyboard, or

the keyboard needs to be off set to the side of us.

Right-Handed Typists and Drop-Down Keyboard Racks

A right-handed typist slides the keyboard to off set to

right side our bodies. Because of the calculator on the side of MOST

keyboards, you need a rack long enough to allow it slide over quite a

bit.

Three Solutions for the right-handed keyboarder:

1) See if the desk allows you to move the screen and your chair over

to the left of the rack,

2) My keyboard hangs over the right side of my rack by about 8

inches! On my computer, I have added two additional holders, which

sits on top of my drop-down keyboard rack. These additional holders

were meant to lift the front of the keyboard, and support the

typist's wrists. They are padded, and made of plastic. In addition to

lifting the front of my keyboard, they support the keyboard, and

allow me to slide over the edge of the rack. Before you buy a desk,

experiment with sliding the keyboard.

3) Buy a keyboard with the "adding machine" keys on the left, rather

than the right. These are more expensive. See the resources page at

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com

Tilt The Keyboard

You will most likely need to angle your keyboard up, so the back of

it is lower than the front. Typists put a great deal of strain on

their hands. I think one-hand keyboarders put even more on their

hand, as it is doing the job of two. Titling the keyboard allows the

hand and wrist to be in a more natural position.

There are all kinds of devices on the market now that lift the front

of the keyboard. I actually use two to suit my body's comfort. Some

are made of material, some of plastic. Most have a soft padding on

which you rest the lower part of your palm. These go a long way to

help you type all day with enjoyment.

Mouse: Adapt To Your Circumstance

After you learn the One-Hand typing system, you will then have a

great need for the mouse. At that point, you will need to adapt.

Place the mouse on the same side of the keyboard as the hand to whom

you plan to assign the job of Mouse Master!

Less-able Hand As Mouse Master

If you have any use of your less-able hand, then give it the job of

Mouse Master. This will balance the workload of your body, and help

keep you sitting up straight. Place the mouse directly in front of

the arm you use as Mouse Master.

One-Hand Only for the Keyboard and Mouse

If you only have the use of one-hand, experiment with the mouse.

Consider placing it between the keyboard, and the screen. Or, you

might find a small pillow, with a very thin, but wide book, set into

your lap will be a good spot of the mouse. If you hope to work for

someone else, always try to make the mainstream system work for you

first.

Strictly one-handed typists will need to use the mouse as little as

possible. Your one good hand is going to be very busy typing other

stuff! So, whenever possible, use keyboard commands instead of the

mouse. There are keyboard commands for almost everything you need to

do on a computer. A keyboard command is a series of keys you push to

make stuff happen.

Example: to QUIT a program on your computer, you can:

Use the mouse to go the FILE menu, and select QUIT, or with one-hand,

Hold down the CONTROL KEY on a PC or the APPLE KEY on a MAC. While

holding the CONTROL KEY with one finger, you hold down the Q key.

Keyboard commands are faster for any typist - with one, two or a

zillion hands - than the mouse. But they are also much easier for

the strictly one-handed typist.

In today's Internet dependent world, you must use a mouse to navigate

the on the Web. You click on the hyperlinks to move from one page to

another. Your more-able hand will be able to handle this very well,

as it won't be busy typing very much while you are surfing the Web.

If, after diligent practice, making the mouse work for you is just

too difficult, there are also many mouse foot pedals. Search the

internet, or try http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com

What Type Of Mouse?

It took me years to figure out which mouse was best for me. Remember

that I am using my less-able hand as my Mouse Master. For 8 years I

used a standard mouse. But, I often spend 10 - 14 hours a day at my

keyboard, doing serious typing on my books. One day, my less-able

hand just went into a revolt. I needed to change.

There are several types of mice. Go to a large computer store, and

see which one feels best with your less-able hand. I find a roller

ball works well for me. But you will need to play with several to see

which will fit you best.

Screen: Directly In Front Of You

Put the screen 2 to 3 feet in front of you. Place it where you will

not need to turn your body or head to see the screen. It should be at

eye level, so you don't need to look down, nor, up - just naturally

straight ahead. You can raise the screen by placing it on one of the

many little shelves, or racks, built for this purpose. Those great

big old dictionaries and encyclopaedia you used to use, before you

became a keyboard wizard, will lift the screen nicely too. But do

consider getting a shelf to lift the screen up. This will give you

more desk space in your work area.

If, after you practice a few minutes, you find yourself leaning

forward to see the screen, you need to adjust something. Either move

your chair forward, or pull the screen towards you. You should not

be straining your body or eyes when you type. I have seen some

computer desks that only allow the screen to be set off to the side

of the body. Avoid these! The screen must be exactly in front of

your head.

One-Hand Typing Manual: Try For Directly In Front Of You

With A Computer:

Place the manual in front of you. Ideally, it would be directly in

front of you, so you do not need to turn your head. If your screen is

up high enough, you can place the manual just below it.

With A Typewriter:

If you are using a typewriter, the manual and stand sit just to the

side of the typewriter. If the typewriter is centered off the right

side of your body, the manual and stand will go to the left, so it is

almost straight in front of you.

Paper Holder Or Stand

You need something to hold the manual up almost straight. Do not let

it lie flat your desk! You cannot sit up properly if you are craning

over your desk. If you cannot afford one of those dandy stands, made

for holding papers, then find something you can prop up the manual up

against. Always prop up whatever you are reading from, so it is

almost perpendicular to your desk.

CHAIRS AND RULES ON HOW TO SIT

I hope you will fall in love with typing, and the wonderful world it

will open to you! If you do, you are going to get pooped! Everybody

gets pained and fatigued doing the same motions over and over.

Rules

* Find a chair that is comfortable. You will only be a good student

for as long as your derriere is comfy!

* You need to sit up straight. Your spine should be going straight up

towards the sky.

* Your body must not be twisted to the left or right.

* Your head should be looking straight forward, not downwards, nor upwards.

* Your arms should come naturally from your body. If you hold them

up, fighting gravity, you will become tired much too soon.

ADAPTING THE RULES TO YOUR BODY'S CHALLENGES

I find my less-able hand does not bend the way other hands bend. I

had a huge bean bag made by a friend; it holds my mouse at the angle

and lets my wrists be in a more natural position.

Once you get started, pay attention to how your hands and body feel.

If they are fatigued, try moving the mouse to a higher point, or

lower. My mother has a short stand, at the level of her lap for her

mouse. I like my mouse higher, about the level of my waist. I also

like my screen much higher than most people do, it is easier on my

eyes. You will find what is best for your body.

Energy and Aches

Keyboarding, and the great world that will be open to you, is

addicting! You will want to spend hours glued to your keyboard. At

first, you won't notice any aches at all. I see typists sit on floor,

with the keyboard in the laps, for hours, and they just get a tiny

bit stiff. You can too, for several weeks, then you will start to do

permanent damage!

To Avoid Damage To Your Body

If you do the same motion over, and over, like typing, you being to

get permanent aches. To avoid these:

* Get up and move every 15 minutes. Wiggle and shake your body,

exercise as you can for 15 - 30 seconds, give your body, your eyes,

your hands and wrists, a good stretch.

* Make sure to stretch out your hands and wrists. Gently pull your

hand back, then press it forward. If you are using two-hands, do this

with both hands. Don't make them hurt, do make the pull a nice

pleasant stretch.

* Take care of your eyes! They will become glued to the screen for

so long, they will start to go bad! Every few minutes focus on

something across the room, then close you eyes for a count of 10.

Your eyes will appreciate this habit 10 years from now and treat you

well.

To Help Ease Aches, Strains and Pains

Experiment, with what causes the least stress to your wrists and arms.

* Move the height of your keyboard (hopefully you have one of those

adjustable drop-down keyboard racks). You might need to adjust it

every few hours

* Alternate the tilt of keyboard and/or your mouse. You may want the

keyboard very low, with the end closest to you lifted very high,

perhaps at a 45 degree angle.

* Move the placement of your mouse to a higher, or lower level.

* Get a beanbag made that lifts your wrists to a position that is

natural and comfortable. I have two and I switch them every hour.

Shake and form your bean bag to fit your body for the greatest

comfort. Bean bags can also be used to lift the keyboard at angles so

it is more comfortable. Beans bags can be easily made from beans or

rice, or purchased from most toy stores, and thrift shops. Some very

small pillows will work well too.

* Have a small pillow or two that you can place under your elbow/s.

* Consider wrist braces. Many types are sold at the pharmacy. If

you use them, take your arm/s out of the braces every 15 minutes,

stretch and shake your arms and wrists.

Always, adjust and adapt to the comfort of your body. If you ache,

something needs to change! The obvious solution,

For more on one handed typing and keyboards:

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com

(c) Lilly Walters, 2000, may only be used or duplicated with permission.

Phone 626-335-8069, Fax 626-335-6127, E-mail Lilly@aboutonehandtyping.com

--

- Lilly Walters,

For our free monthly e-newsletter on

resources and comparison strategies for those with a disability of

the hand, especially regarding keyboarding and typing, just email

Lilly@aboutonehandtyping.com or go to http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com

Phone 626-335-8069, Fax 626-335-6127