Whatever your level of sight loss, learning your way around the keyboard and learning to touch type are important skills. At the most basic level these skills allow you to increase the speed at which you can prepare documents and input information into a computer. For many tasks, using a keyboard can often be faster than using a mouse.
If you have little or no useful vision, keyboard input is usually the only realistic way to both input data and control a computer. Although great strides have been made in voice recognition software, the most practical and accurate way for you to control a computer is with a keyboard. If you have an additonal disability which means that input using a keyboard is impossible, then voice input could be considered in combination with assistive technology that helps with your sight loss.
Keyboard skills courses
A number of programs and courses are available for you to learn keyboard skills if you have sight loss. The choice of program is a subjective one, and it is important to try one or more programs to find the most suitable one. A number of the computer-based courses listed are available as free demonstration versions that can be downloaded from the internet. Demonstrations may also be available on disk from the supplier of the product.
The section dealing with computer based programs contains a range from mainstream programs to those programs specifically designed for blind and partially sighted people. You may prefer more traditional methods, for example a tape based course, which will teach you how to touch type. Or you may simply wish to improve your keyboard skills and this can be accomplished through familiarisation with keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts can be of great use to anyone and using a keyboard rather than a mouse can often be faster for many actions such as cutting and pasting.
Program designers have long used keyboard shortcuts as part of their program designs, and all computer programs should provide keystroke combinations as alternatives to the use of a mouse for control. This means that by only using a keyboard you can have as much control over a computer as someone who is using a mouse.
How keyboard skills courses work
All keyboard courses are based on a series of exercises that are designed to familiarise the you with the keyboard layout as well as the correct finger and hand positions for typing.
Once these have been learnt a series of lessons are worked through which are designed to cover the whole range and use of the keyboard. Some of the programs give feedback and allow you to repeat and store lessons. Some programs have the ability for the fonts and / or colours displayed within the program to be altered, the benefit of these alterations varies but they may enable you to use them.
If the program is being used by you then one of the specialist programs designed for blind and partially sighted people would probably be the most beneficial. These programs give additional help by means of user configurable displays so that text on screen can be enlarged, and text and background colours can be changed. In addition the programs listed in the Specialist software section all have additional assistance in the form of speech output. The speech includes features such as having instructions read, instruction on what needs to be typed and repeat what has been typed.
If you are a screen reader user, it may be necessary to temporarily disable the sound output from either the talking typing tutor or the screen reader to avoid repetition of speech. Other typing courses rely on cassette tape based information and may be more suitable if you want to develop skills using a word processor or standard typewriter.
Mainstream keyboard skills software
These programs are typically found advertised for sighted people to develop keyboard skills. They may be suitable if you are using screen magnification software at low settings. It is important to try before buying to make sure the product is right for you. The display area of these programs is usually fixed at a certain display resolution, but by adjusting the monitor resolution, the accessibility of the program may be improved. How useful this software is depends very much on the amount of vision the you have and how much the program can be modified.
Examples include:
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Accutype - has a degree of user customisation to allow some changes to colours and font sizes to be changed. Windows computer required.
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Typequick - may be suitable for some partially sighted users. Windows or Mac computer and an internet connection required.
Specialist keyboard skills software
This software has been specifically designed to allow people with sight loss to learn to touch type using a computer. This means that you can develop keyboard skills at your own pace without the need for formal lessons or a teacher. All of these products provide voice output as well as allow font size and colours to be changed. This allows people with all levels of vision including those with no useful vision to carry out the typing lessons.
These products can be used by people with sight loss, without the need to immediately purchase screen reader or screen magnification software. It is only the typing tutor that is voiced, and consequently some form of access technology will be needed to use any other program on the computer. Most screen reader and screen magnification software packages do work with these products, although the speech output from the typing tutor or screen reader may need to be disabled to prevent repetition of output.
Examples for Windows computers include:
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Azabat Touch-Typing Tutor - the beginners' version introduces touch-typing and teaches the basic layout of the keyboard through letter and word drills. The advanced version builds on this foundation and develops typing speed and accuracy. Both versions are self voiced and run direct from the CD.
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IotaTouchType2 - text can be altered to the needs of the user according to font style, size and colour. The built-in speech output speaks out the letters as you progress, it also informs you of your progress and where you need more practice.
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Portset's Keyspeak Touch Typing Tutor - has complete speech output and speaks to you as it guides you around the computer keyboard and introduces you to all the keys available.
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APH Talking Typer - in addition to speech output the text displayed can be customised, allowing size, font and colour of text to be changed. There are two versions: one with "enhanced voicing" and one without.
Alternative methods for developing keyboard skills
You don't have to use a computer programme to learn how to use a keyboard - here are some alternatives.
Further education colleges
Some local colleges offer typing courses, however these are primarily aimed at sighted users. Depending on your level of vision and the resources available for you these may provide a suitable alternative to self taught PC based courses. It is important to check with your local college about the availability of such courses and whether any additional resources are available for students with sight loss.
Learning to touch type
This is a basic course comprising three cassettes and a booklet. A typewriter or computer is required to complete the exercises. It is suitable for someone with no useful vision. Available from RNIB - Learning to Touch Type.
Aesop
Aesop can be connected to a PC keyboard as a teaching aid for keyboard skills. A PC is not required. It is not a typing tutor but announces keystrokes by artificial speech and calculates typing speed up to 99 words per minute.
Keyboard shortcuts
Another way you can improve your productivity on a computer is to learn the keyboard shortcuts offered by your applications. Some of these will be given in the menus, and you may find more in the Help material that accompanies each application; try searching on "keyboard", "shortcut", "hotkey" or "accessibility".
We've gathered together some keyboard shortcuts for popular programs, which you can download or view online. A lot of lists of keystrokes can also be found on the web, for instance:
Still need help?
We hope that our range of beginner's guides gave you the information you needed to get started with confidence.
But if you've read the guides and still need some help, you could try the following: