4 December 2007

On-Screen Keyboard

Have you ever wanted to type without using the keyboard? There may be times when you need to type and do not have access to certain keys on the keyboard. Perhaps, you have been playing on your computer late into the night and your mom (or spouse) has hidden your keyboard. Windows has a way to type using only your mouse. Of course, if your mom put a boot-up password on the computer, this will not help.

Both Windows XP and Vista come with On–Screen Keyboard, a utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen and allows you to type data by using a pointing device or joystick. Besides providing a minimum level of functionality for some people with mobility impairments, On–Screen Keyboard can also help people who do not know how to type.

On–screen Keyboard has three typing modes you can use to type data:

• In clicking mode, you can select the on-screen keys to type text.
• In scanning mode, On-Screen Keyboard continually scans the keyboard and highlights areas where you can type keyboard characters by pressing a hot key or by using a switch–input device.
• In hovering mode, you use a mouse or joystick to point to a key for a predefined period of time, and the selected character is typed automatically.

In On–Screen Keyboard you can also:

• View an enhanced keyboard that includes the numeric keypad, or a standard keyboard that does not include a numeric keypad.
• Display the keyboard with the keys in the standard layout or in a block layout in which the keys are arranged in rectangular blocks. Block layout is especially useful in scanning mode.
• Display the U.S. standard keyboard (101 keys), the universal keyboard (102 keys), or a keyboard (106 keys) with additional Japanese language characters.
• Use Click Sound to add an audible click when you select a key.
• Use Always On Top to keep your keyboard displayed on your screen when you switch programs or windows.

Using Window's On-Screen Keyboards

1. Click the Start button and All Programs
2. Click Accessories and Accessibility (XP) or Ease of Access (Vista)
3. Click On-Screen Keyboard

Using the On-Screen Keyboard with Your Mouse

1. Load the on-screen keyboard
2. Click 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, 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:

3. Click the Settings menu
4. Click Typing mode
5. Click Hover to Select option
6. Click Minimum time to hover drop down box and select a time.
7. 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.

If you want to hear clicks when you select keys using On-Screen Keyboard, Click Settings, and then select Use Click Sound.