My Quest to Divorce the QWERTY Keyboard

By Chi Hung Luke Hsieh, Assistive Technology Advocate at Riverside Community Access Center

I have recently—yes, only recently—gotten friendly with swype input.  As someone who has the word "technology" in his job title, the shame and dishonor of such wilful neglect brought upon my person is incalculable.  However, thanks to my new state-of-the-art Android phone, I have had the chance to turn this narrative of shame into a narrative of redemption, and nobody needs to commit hara-kiri!  Oh, and in case you do not yet know what swype is—the words swipe and type combined—and  it’s the input mode where your finger goes from B to E without stopping when typing the word “because”. You literally swipe your finger from B down to E without picking up your finger.

I first came across the trace typing technology at the annual CSUN International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference in 2011, but respectfully ignored it, because I figured that there's nothing swype can do that typing with auto-correction and/or word-prediction can't do faster. Strictly speaking, I wasn't far off; for someone with minor motor skills impairment, I could swype no more accurately than I could type. If I was to use a stop watch I am sure that I can type as fast, if not faster, than swype. To my surprise,  it only took less than a month of switching from iPhone 4S to Android Jelly Bean to turn me into a believer—to the extent that I started searching for a non-existent tablet-like flat keyboard for my Windows 7 based PC. I also started hating the QWERTY keyboards that have been my friend for the last 25 years. Oh, loyalty can be so fleeting.

Why do I adore swyping so much, if it's not the speed? Well, here is the short version: dragging the finger all over a virtual keyboard uses less muscle than a traditional keyboard, especially for someone accustomed to typing with two fingers. And that's it—that's the reason I am willing to divorce my QWERTY keyboards. And, the quickest way Microsoft can convince me to purchase a Surface RT tablet, is to tell me that I can use it as a swyping keyboard for my desktop computer.

Right now, arguably the best third-party swype applications apart from the ‘trace typing’ offered by google keyboard are Swype from Nuance  (based in Massachusetts) and Swiftkey by TouchType Ltd. (based in London),  although all three keyboards are designed for use with the Android platform. The user experience for Swype and SwiftKey are almost identical:  both make use of individualized word prediction, analyzes the user’s vocabulary patterns, and both have price tags of $3.99. So, the choice really comes down to individual preference.  Personally—even though I have a soft spot for everything British—I  chose Swype over SwiftKey because I needed the Asian Keyboards, and Touch Type’s  is still in beta testing.

Now, how does one use trace typing on a Windows based Desktop PC? To the best of my knowledge, trace typing is not offered by Microsoft for Windows 7 or 8 based computers, nor can one purchase an integrated third party keyboard (physical or software) for this purpose, so the only way one can use Swype on Desktop PC is by using Chrome Remote Desktop.  Chrome Remote Desktop is an free add-on from google for the Chrome Browser that allows one to remotely operate window based computers via Android Smartphones, and the technology is definitely not new. If you remember PCs anywhere from the late 1990s, such technology always suffered from either insufficient processing power or Internet speed, but neither problem exists in 2014, since my smartphone has as much processing power as my desktop computer at home. So, fortunately the speed bug of the 90s is unlikely to be much of an issue today.

A potential problem with this technology, though, is that it threatens to turn the world into a hacker’s paradise and is,  therefore, a nightmare for IT professionals.  Even I have concerns about the security implications of the technology and I am not usually the paranoid type.

But at least we now know that it can be done and it has been done, so the question for me now is how much of a security risk I am willing to take to use trace typing on my PC…

Here is a great video demonstration of SwiftKey Flow Hard:



 

E-Book Access For All

by guest blogger Laurie Hoirup, author of I Can Dance: My Life with a Disability
 
Within the business world, financial success is the driving force for both concept and product design. Numbers matter and sadly, for the disability community, those numbers can have a detrimental effect upon independence and ability. Technology is a wonderful asset for both businesses and disability, making money for one while creating independence for the other. However, sometimes certain aspects of technology don't make enough money for the business world and therefore, are lost to the disability community.

E-books fall into this category; though extremely popular within the general population and, thus, a huge moneymaker for businesses, they are only accessible to a portion of the disability community - though I must admit a fairly large portion.

However, this article is about the small proportion of people with disabilities who have limited to no use of their hands or uncontrolled use and, for this reason, don't have access to e-books. Whether or not an e-book has a button to push or a touchscreen to scroll, both are inaccessible to individuals with dexterity/mobility disabilities. Individuals with cerebral palsy, quadriplegia, paralysis, amputation of their upper limbs, or severe rheumatoid arthritis are just a few examples of the types of disabilities that affect people's ability to use an e-book as they currently exist.

I fall into this category and am completely frustrated with what is available and what could be made available. I know the technology exists, either to add a jack for a micro switch, which could be positioned for access or having voice activation as an option. Both of these additional features considered to be "assistive technology," might add to the price, but if done at the development/manufacturing stage, the additional cost would be little to nothing. And, at the same time, would open up a world of reading for everyone with disabilities.

Laurie Hoirup, author of I Can Dance: My Life with a Disability

I realize that voice activation might be disturbing to some and a bit awkward for the person using it in a quiet area such as a library, an airplane or a classroom, as having to say, “turn page” out loud could certainly be disruptive. However, in many situations this option would work out just fine. On a more personal level, I have not been able to read a book on my own since my college days, some 35 years ago. Up until about 10 years ago, I would sit next to my husband, child, or friend while they were reading and have them turn my page, which was quite a nuisance for both of us. Needless to say, I stopped reading for pleasure shortly thereafter.

Though page turners exist, they are bulky, cumbersome and not at all user-friendly. Luckily for me, I have a voice-activated computer and can therefore, read things that are in electronic format, but it is difficult in terms of reading novels. I long for the luxury of sitting somewhere; my bed, my family room, or my backyard while reading a good book.

I'm sure the thought process for most would be to utilize a laptop or a NetBook, which I agree, is one form of compromise, but I have lived through a lifetime of compromise, waiting for a product to be designed that I can use it in every aspect of my life.

I am pleading with the business world; product designers and developers, manufacturers, and marketing/advertising executives to consider promoting equal access on all e-book readers. This access only involves some slight modifications with minimal cost and at the same time, will expand the world of books and magazines to many more consumers.

Life experience for people with disabilities is often limited and for many, reading a book is their only path to seeing the earth they live on, their only way to participate in a large number of life's activities, their minds eye to the larger world around them. Reading becomes a way to expand their knowledge and their imaginations.

As a final note, I would like to remind my audience that literature was meant to be read by all; not just those who can physically pick up a book, hold it, turn the pages and read the contents, but for everyone. There have been great strides made in the field of education to ensure that America overcomes illiteracy, with “No Child Left Behind.” I would like to see the same effort incorporated by the business world to make certain that physical access does not become a deterrent to the wonderful world of words, thus overcoming inaccessibility having “No Person with a Disability Left Behind.”

Have you found an accessible E-book solution? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Tips for Planning an Accessible Meeting

by Rosemarie Punzalan, Program Coordinator

In-person meetings are great ways to network and collaborate with peers. They give participants a chance to connect on a more personal level than even the most interactive online platforms allow. They are a great way to share resources, as well as give an opportunity to brainstorm ideas with colleagues. However, it is important to  make sure that every individual can participate fully in the entire meeting. Namely, it is extremely important that your meeting is fully accessible to all. A first step is to make sure you and all of the meeting's planners are familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act's Accessible Meetings document.

The meeting space should provide access to all attendees regardless of disability. Total accessibility includes not only the physical access of the building, room and parking lot, and the public transportation available, but also that other accommodations be made available by request. This could include the print materials being available in alternative formats such as large print, Braille, or on CDs for those that use screen readers. Additionally, a person may request live or closed captioning of the presentations. You should also be prepared to have the handout materials  in other languages such as Spanish or Chinese. Additionally, another accommodation that could be requested is a language interpreter that uses another language or American Sign Language.

Below are some basic tips to keep in mind when preparing for an accessible meeting:

• The indoor and outdoor routes and pathways to the site are accessible for someone who uses a cane, scooter, walker, wheelchair, or has a service animal;

• The signage wall mounts include Braille;

• The bathrooms are accessible;

• The meeting room's seating area is wide enough for pathway travel for someone who uses a wheelchair or scooter, etc. It is best to ask for floor plans of the room in advance of set up;

• Ensure the equipment such as a personal computer and/or laptop, assistive listening devices, microphones, projectors, TV decoders, and teleconference phones are available and in working condition; and

• Print materials are available in alternative formats as well as in other languages.

Below are some additional resources to learn more about ADA and planning accessible public meetings:

· Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act - http://www.ada.gov/

· California Department of Rehabilitation's Planning Accessible Public Meetings - http://www.rehab.cahwnet.gov/DisabilityAccessInfo/Planning-Accessible-Public-Meetings.html

· Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco's Accessibility for People with Disabilities: Practical Tips Word Document - http://www.communitychoices.info/adrc/docs/ACC-TIPS.doc

· Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco's Accessible Basic Guidelines Word Document - http://www.communitychoices.info/adrc/docs/ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS (2).doc

Do you have tips for making sure your meetings are fully accessible to all?  Let us know by typing in the comment section below. 

Donate Your Used AT for Earth Day

Do you have any gently used AT sitting around in your closet or garage?

 

Donate it for Earth Day!

It is that time of year again... time for some good old-fashioned spring cleaning!  Why not use Earth Day as your impetus to get organized, clean out that garage, basement or closet, and reduce, reuse, and recycle while you are at it. Chances are you have something collecting dust that someone else could use to be independent.

In honor of Earth Day and to promote our reuse partners, the AT Network is excited to announce our first annual Earth Day Reuse Drive with participating organizations throughout California .

 

Did you know that there are many organizations throughout California that accept gently-used donations of medical equipment and other AT devices?  Thanks to a generous donation from Molina Healthcare, the AT Network is kicking off its first annual Earth Day Reuse Drive to promote these amazing organizations' efforts. Not only are they keeping AT equipment from laying useless in landfills, but they are also getting it into the hands of people that really need it!  People like Araceli in Bakersfield. 

Araceli, a mother of two, uses a wheelchair because she has Cerebral Palsy.  She calls her wheelchair her "legs with wings" because it allows her to live independently and do all of the many things a mother of two needs to do. When she was in a car accident and her power chair was destroyed, Araceli's life stopped. She was distraught because she couldn't afford a new one or a rental and was told she would have to wait months for her insurance to cover it. Thanks to the Independent Living Center of Kern County and the AT Network's Keep the Wheels Rolling Repair Fund, Araceli was able to use a refurbished power wheelchair in the meantime. Araceli was greatful to have her "legs with wings" - and life - back.

You can further this great cause by donating any gently used items that might be useful to individuals with disabilities. Please contact each program directly to find out what equipment they accept and please let others know about these programs.  

Click here for a listing of other Reuse Organizations in California. 

Earth Day Sponsored by Molina Healthcare