The Intellikeys Concept Keyboard
What is Intellikeys?
The Intellikeys Concept keyboard from Intellitools
Inc. can
be used as a powerful and versatile access device to the computer
for users who have physical and/or cognitive learning needs,
as well as younger children who are not yet able to operate
the computer with a standard keyboard, by providing structured
image-based activities. There are related applications that
have been made to interact with the board to support reading
and writing, math, cause and effect and sequencing, for example:
IntelliTalk2, Intellimathics or Intellipics.
To use the board an Overlay is created and sent to the board.
An Overlay is a printed sheet that sits on top of the board
and the corresponding electronic overlay is sent to the board
from the overlay maker software via a cable. The electronic
overlay uses a grid on which cells are placed. These cells
on the printed overlay grid can show a picture and / or text.
The electronic overlay that is stored in the Board however
can only send text, or text and a function command, or just
a command. Some of these commands emulate the standard keyboard
such as Enter, Mouse or Function keys, other commands relate
to the intellikeys software to turn a page, make an object
move or play a sound and so on. The board does not “send” pictures
even though pictures are printed on the overlays.
A corresponding image can appear on the screen or be made
to move because an activity is created in the associated software,
such as Intellpics. From this activity a related overlay grid
is created in OverlayMaker, printed and sent to the board.
When the area on the board containing the image is pressed,
the command stored in that cell is sent to the associated activity
in the software and the software responds by putting the image
onto the screen, turning a page or making it move according
to the command type used in the overlay.
Why use a Concept Keyboard?
A Concept keyboard allows the user to make choices on the
board rather than an ordinary keyboard or from a touch screen.
The versatility and range of activities that can be set up
with the concept keyboard can meet the needs of users working
at P Levels to National Curriculum levels. The advantage of
using a concept keyboard is that:
Learning activities can be set up and individualised to the
needs of the user.
The board provides a physical area to target that can be placed
at an angle and position suitable for the user.
Individually created Overlays provide a set of choices for
the user to direct their focus so they do not become distracted
by excess visual information and guide the possible number
of responses according to how the content is structured.
Which Board shall I buy?
The Beige coloured board uses a serial connector to attach
it to the computer. This type of board connection works with
the Windows operating system of Win 95/98. There is a compatibility
issue between Windows 2000 and XP operating systems and the
Serial Connected Intellikeys Boards. This issue was first brought
to the attention of users on the Intellikeys own website in
2002, there is no Serial to USB converter able to overcome
this issue.
The newer Blue coloured USB board is designed to work with
Windows 2000 and XP operating systems.
If your establishment already has the Serial Boards and the
computers are upgraded new for old, it is likely that the new
computers will have Win 2000 or XP operating system. If this
is the case then the new boards will need to be purchased.
Supplier
The UK distributor for all Intellikeys UK products and software
versions is Inclusive
Technology who can
advise on all things related to Intellikeys and should be contacted
in the first instance.
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