Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!wtm
From: wtm@bunker.uucp (Bill McGarry)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Computer software for MS victim needed.
Message-ID: <12587@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 29 Jun 90 04:29:33 GMT
Sender: news@bunker.UUCP
Reply-To: wtm@bunker.uucp (Bill McGarry)
Distribution: misc
Organization: The Handicap News BBS (1-203-337-1607)
Lines: 70
Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP

Index Number: 9002

In # 9001, Mitch Wagner (wagner@utoday.uucp) writes:

>The patient has multiple sclerosis, and requires software which
>would adapt a PC so that he only need to hit one key at a time. He
>can use a keyboard to that extent---but cannot hit two keys at once
>(can't hit SHIFT-J, for example, or Alt-F7).
>

There are several programs which your friend's patient could
find useful.

First is a program called "1-Finger" written by the Trace Research
and Development Center.  Features include:

-Depressing and releasing the shift key once makes it active for
 the next non-shift key.  Depressing and releasing the shift key a
 second time (before a non-shift key) locks the shift key in an
 activated state until unlocked.  Unlocking is done by depressing
 the shift key again.  The same can be done for the ALT and control
 keys.

-Allows the user to set the delay time for the automatic repeat from
 .5 seconds to 60 seconds.

-Feedback tone of the shift status.

-Will automatically turn off after a specified time out and when
 a shift key and any other key is pressed at the same time so that
 a non-handicapped user can use the same keyboard without having
 to reboot the PC.

There are some other programs similar to this but will not do
all of the functions that 1finger will.

There are also some programs that are word predicators -- based upon
the user's past typing, the program will take a educated guess as
to what the word is to be.  I have two of these.  The first is
a shareware word processor called Mind Reader while the second
is a demo of HandiWORD, a word predicator from Microsystems
Software that is compatible with many commercial word processors.

Another program that may be useful is called NewKey which allows
you to assign multiple keystrokes to single keys.

These three programs (along with several others) are available
on my BBS, the Handicap News BBS.  Phone number is 1-203-337-1607,
300/1200/2400 baud.  First time callers have full download permissions.
File requests are also supported for Fidonet sysops.  Program names
are:

   1FINGER.ZIP   (11,575 bytes)   1 Finger
   MINDRD20.ZIP  (176815 bytes)   Mind Reader
   HWORD.EXE                      HandiWORD demo
   NEWKEY53.ZIP  (172406 bytes)   Keyboard macros

Otherwise, give me a call and I'll send you a disk with these programs
on it.

Hope this helps,

				Bill McGarry
				(203) 337-1518

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