Virtual / On-screen keyboard
Some users with physical disabilities may find it easier to use only the mouse or a similar pointing device instead of a traditional keyboard. To enter text, these users can benefit greatly from a virtual or on-screen keyboard, where they can point to letters or words to enter them as text.
Discussion by Disabilities
An on-screen, virtual keyboard allow people with certain disabilities to enter text more easily and more efficiently than with a traditional keyboard.
Existing Products
Please note that these products are not necessarily endorsed by RtF, but represent the range of available options.
Open Source and free
These products are free and their source code may be modified with few restrictions.
- AAC Keys(link is external) – (open source)
- Dasher(link is external) – University of cambridge
- GazeTalk(link is external) – COGAIN (Communication by Gaze Interaction)
- GOK(link is external) – ATRC at University of Toronto
- GTKeyboard(link is external)
- ICUTalk(link is external) – U. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
- Opengazer(link is external) – AEGIS
- RapidKeys(link is external)
- Remote Commander(link is external) – Pittsburg Pebbles PDA Project
- SymVoc(link is external)
- CARIBOU(link is external) – GNOME
Free, not necessarily open source
These products are free to use, but may have strict restrictions on viewing and modifying source code.
- Click-N-Type Virtual Keyboard(link is external) – Lake Software
- E-triloquist(link is external) – (open source)
- Speak for Yourself(link is external)
- CLICK TO PHONE APP(link is external) – UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
- TAPIR(link is external) – THE INFERENCE GROUP
- NOHANDCOM(link is external) – SOFTWARE OPEN SOURCE DI PHILIP KELLER
Commercial, with free trial
These products are free to try for a limited period of time or with limited functionality. They must be purchased for full functionality.
- Aurora Suite(link is external) – Aurora Systems
- beKey(link is external) – beEnabled
- CubeWriter(link is external) – CubeWriter Software
- Discover Screen(link is external) – Madentec
- EZ Keys(link is external) – Words Plus (Words+)
- KeyStrokes(link is external) – AssistiveWare
- Hot Virtual Keyboard(link is external) – Comfort Software Group
- My T-Soft(link is external) – IMG
- Penfriend(link is external) – PenFriend Ltd, Cricksoft
- PTP-PC (Point-to-Pictures PC)(link is external) – RJ Cooper
- Proloquo(link is external) – AssistiveWare
- ProtoType(link is external) – Sensory Software
- SayIt Sam(link is external) – Words Plus (Words+)
- SpeechPro & Multimedia Speech System(link is external) – Gus
- SwitchXS(link is external) – AssistiveWare
- Virtual Keyboard(link is external) – Corallo Software
- Virtual Keyboard(link is external) – Mount Focus
- WiViK(link is external) – Bloorview Kids Rehab, Ontario Rehab Tech Consortium
Commercial, no free trial
These products must be purchased to be used, and did not offer free trials at the time of posting.
- BoardMaker with Speaking Dynamically(link is external) – Mayer Johnson
- Clicker(link is external) – CrickSoft
- DynaVox Series 5(link is external) – DynaVox
- Talking Screen(link is external) – Words Plus (Words+)
- The Grid 2(link is external) – Sensory Software
- GRID KEYS(link is external) – Sensory Software
Related Research and Papers
- A virtual logo keyboard for people with motor disabilities(link is external) – University of Algarve – Norte, S. and Lobo, F.G. (2007)
- An evolutionary system for the Sc@ut platform(link is external) – University of Granaca, Spain – Paredes-Garrido, M. D. (2006)
- The design and field evaluation of PhotoTalk: a digital image communication application for people with Aphasia(link is external) – University of British Columbia – Allen, M., McGrenere, J., and Purves, B. (2007)
- Text Entry for Mobile Devices and Users with Severe Motor Impairments: HandiGlyph, a Primitive Shapes Based Onscreen Keyboard(link is external)- Mohammed Belatar, Franck Poirier