Keyboard layout for an augmentative and alternative communication board

• Autor(es):

  Liegel, Luciane Aparecida (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná);

  Gogola, Milena Maria Rodege (UTP, UTFPR);

  Nohama, Percy (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná. Programa de Pós-graduação em Tecnologia em Saúde).

• Fonte:

  Revista Brasileira de Educação Especial; volume 14, número 3, páginas 479-496. Dezembro 2008.

• Assuntos:

  augmentative and alternative communication;

  keyboard layout;

  man/machine interface;

  communication board;

  special education.

• Resumo:

  The aim of this article is to describe and discuss a novel layout proposal for keyboard especially designed for a communication board using mechanical and remote activation to be used by people with cerebral paralysis who present sufficient cognitive skills. In order to design the layout of the augmentative and alternative communication keyboard, a research study involving position and content of the keys was undertaken. Eleven volunteers participated in the study, and they were: five special education teachers, four pedagogues specialized in special education and two speech and language therapists. The layout is made up of 95 keys positioned into key-groups: alphabetical, number, keyboard functions, accented letters and alternative communication. The alternative communication keys contain signs associated with words or phrases, besides keys with accents. These signs are part of a Brazilian visual communication language that is under development. In order to facilitate key finding, both size and background color were considered. The purpose of the accented letters and alternative communication keys is to facilitate key finding and enhance typing speed so as to reduce muscular fatigue.

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