 |
 |
The following contact list was published this month in MacFormat, a magazine for British users of Macintosh computers. The companies listed probably also make products for IBM-compatible PC users. US Companies ------------ In Touch Systems - Ph: 914 354 7431 Produces zero-force keyboards for people with weak limbs. KeyTronic - Ph: 509 928 8000 Produces wrist rests, designed to prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and similar strain-related injuries. Matias Corporation - Ph: 416 749 3124 email: [log in to unmask] Makes Half-QWERTY, software that facilitates standard touch-typing with only one hand. McIntyre Computer Systems - Ph: 810 645 5090, Fax: 810 645 6042 Produces LipStick, an input device that can be operated by any part of the body with one inch of movement. New Abilities - Ph: 415 988 8889, Fax: 415 856 2822 Produces the TongueTouch keypad, a 9-button device that fits to the roof of the mouth. Pressing buttons with the tongue sends infra-red signals to a receiver. Westest Engineering - Ph: 801 298 7100, Fax: 801 292 7379 Produces computer control devices for people with extreme physical disabilities. UK Companies ------------ Don Johnston - Ph: 0161 628 0919 Produces a wide variety of products for all forms of disability. Iansyst - Ph: 0171 607 5844 email: [log in to unmask] Produces a variety of dyslexia products. Keyboard Technology Ltd - Ph: 01509 672222 Produces touch-sensitive screens for the Macintosh. Liberator - 01476 550391 Produces a variety of speech machines for people without speech (not a Macintosh technology). MicroTouch Systems Ltd - Ph: 01844 260123 Produces touch-screens for the disabled. For Macintosh Users Only ------------------------ The control panel Easy Access has been part of the Macintosh System software for years now. It's not installed by default so you may have to search for it on your System disks (or in the Apple Extras, Special Needs folder on Performas). Drag it onto your System Folder icon to install it. Easy Access provides three helpful features: * Mouse Keys enables you to move the mouse pointer using the numeric keypad. The 5 is used to replace the click of the mouse button, and the numbers around it move the mouse in the relevant direction. The 0 key holds down the mouse button, and the decimal point releases it, thus enabling you to drag items. The shortcut to turn this facility on and off is Command+Shift+Clear/Numlock. * Slow Keys prevents accidental key presses from being accepted. Once it's turned on, a key must be held down for a specified period before being accepted. The shortcut to turn this on and off is to hold the Return key down for about 15 seconds (let go only when you hear the second beep). * Sticky Keys makes it easier to use multiple-key combinations such as Command+Shift+P. Once it's activated, you can press any control key once and it will stay pressed until you hit another key. Press a control key twice and it will stay pressed until you hit it once again, thus enabling you to type a series of control key combinations. The shortcut to turn this on and off is to press Shift five times. ------------- Bruce Wallace (brother of Ken 60/3) Sydney, Australia, [log in to unmask]