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This paper describes the experiences of the first author, who has been diagnosed with the neuromuscular disease Friedreich's Ataxia more than 25 years ago, with the innovative approach to human-computer interaction characterized by the software tool OnScreenDualScribe. Originally developed by (and for!) the first author, the tool replaces the standard input devices — i.e., keyboard and mouse — with a small numerical keypad, making optimal use of his abilities. The paper attempts to illustrate some of the difficulties the first author usually has to face when operating a computer, due to considerable motor problems. It will be shown what he tried in the past, and why OnScreenDualScribe, offering various assistive techniques — including word prediction, an ambiguous keyboard, and stepwise pointing operations — is indeed a viable alternative. The ultimate goal is to help not only one single person, but to make the system — which does not accelerate entry very much, but clearly reduces the required effort — available to anyone with similar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the experiences of the first author, who has been diagnosed with the neuromuscular disease Friedreich's Ataxia more than 25 years ago, with the innovative approach to human-computer interaction characterized by the software tool OnScreenDualScribe. Originally developed by (and for!) the first author, the tool replaces the standard input devices — i.e., keyboard and mouse — with a small numerical keypad, making optimal use of his abilities. The paper attempts to illustrate some of the difficulties the first author usually has to face when operating a computer, due to considerable motor problems. It will be shown what he tried in the past, and why OnScreenDualScribe, offering various assistive techniques — including word prediction, an ambiguous keyboard, and stepwise pointing operations — is indeed a viable alternative. The ultimate goal is to help not only one single person, but to make the system — which does not accelerate entry very much, but clearly reduces the required effort — available to anyone with similar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This demo actually showcases not one but four different text entry methods for persons with very severe physical disabilities. All four rely on the same kind of input signals: tiny contractions of the brow muscle which are captured using electromechanical coupling. The input device involves a piezoelectric element which is attached to the user's forehead and kept in place with the help of an elastic sports headband. The switch-like signals are used in combination with the HaMCoS system - which allows to fully emulate a two-button mouse - and various auxiliary applications to enter text. This proposal talks about the input hardware in more detail and describes the text entry ideas shown in the demo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This demo is about OSDS, a very powerful tool allowing computer users who cannot use a standard keyboard to replace that with a compact number-pad-like device, the so-called DualPad. The idea is to offer efficient text entry despite the smaller number of keys. The tool basically implements two input methods: One involving the selection of row and column of a character in a two-dimensional virtual keyboard and the other one using an ambiguous keyboard with dictionary-based disambiguation. A special focus is on its applicability to "real-world" use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This demo is about OSDS, a very powerful tool allowing computer users who cannot use a standard keyboard to replace that with a compact number-pad-like device, the so-called DualPad. The idea is to offer efficient text entry despite the smaller number of keys. The tool basically implements two input methods: One involving the selection of row and column of a character in a two-dimensional virtual keyboard and the other one using an ambiguous keyboard with dictionary-based disambiguation. A special focus is on its applicability to "real-world" use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This demo actually showcases not one but four different text entry methods for persons with very severe physical disabilities. All four rely on the same kind of input signals: tiny contractions of the brow muscle which are captured using electromechanical coupling. The input device involves a piezoelectric element which is attached to the user's forehead and kept in place with the help of an elastic sports headband. The switch-like signals are used in combination with the HaMCoS system - which allows to fully emulate a two-button mouse - and various auxiliary applications to enter text. This proposal talks about the input hardware in more detail and describes the text entry ideas shown in the demo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]