ViKI: A Virtual Keyboard Interface for the Handicapped
By Liffick, Blaise W.; Proceedings of the International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction 2001,Publication Date: August 5-10, 2001
Paper presents the ViKI (Virtual Keyboard Interface) project, exploring the efficacy of using a laptop computer as a virtual keyboard to access a host computer that is running standard software. Phase 1 of the 3-phase project uses a Specialized Interface Laptop (SIL) system connected to a host computer running standard software controlled by the user of SIL. SIL provides any specialized connections required for assistive devices, and any special screen display the user might need in order to interact with those devices. The SIL software used runs under a Microsoft Windows environment and consists primarily of the virtual keyboard emulator (VKE) and software for communicating with the host system, which is also Windows-based. The two systems connect together through their serial ports. The VKE software provides an on-screen representation of a keyboard, which can be manipulated with either the laptop’s keyboard or via external pointing devices such as a mouse, trackball, or joystick, or through a voice recognition system. Phase 2 of the project entails the replacement of the serial connection on the host side with a direct connection to the keyboard port, allowing the SIL to be connected to any compatible system. Phase 3 includes the replacement of the hard-wired connection between SIL and host with an infrared wireless system, enhancing the portability of SIL. Implications for future research are discussed.
Published by: Routledge, a division of Taylor & Francis Group (Website:http://www.routledge.com)
Link to text: http://cs.millersville.edu/~liffick/viki/viki.pdf
