Today AssistiveWare released KeyStrokes 4.1, an update to their on-screen keyboard application for those with physical impairments and graphic tablet and touch screen users:
Version 4.1 is now Universal Binary, offers enhanced compatibility with Spaces, and on Leopard provides automatic layout switching when the user changes the keyboard layout in the Mac OS X Input menu. Also included is a newly released LayoutKitchen 2.1.1 layout editor, which allows users to design their own on-screen keyboards.
The full press release can be found here.
It is great to see KeyStrokes is now a Universal Binary and has improved support for Spaces, Leopard’s built-in virtual desktop manager. I am slightly embarrassed to say that I have never messed around with Spaces. Though with this new compatibility, I guess I am going to have give it a try now.
- Joe Barnick, AssistiveGaming.com
Doug Rottman March 8, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Hello Joe,
my name is Doug Rottman. I’m a C-5 quadriplegic & have used voice-recognition since IBM’s first version (in 1996?). My keyboarding’s extremely limited, only my pinky knuckles are functional for “hunting and pecking”, & manipulating the touchpad on my laptop.
Until yesterday I’d only used different PCs: mostly Dell’s & DNS. I’ve used DNS as long as it’s been around, and have purchased 6-7 versions of DNS. Just got Mac speech & AM REALLY STRUGGLING. No voice commands for mouse movement + limited correction. Considering trying to run DNS parallel to Apple’s operating system. SUGGESTIONS? WORDS OF ADVICE/WARNING’s? Please respond ASAP; I don’t want to waste my time if voice-recognition & Mac book Pro won’t work. Thanks! — Doug
Joe Barnick March 9, 2009 at 6:48 am
Hi Doug,
I am sorry to hear that you are having a problem with Macspeech dictate. Although I am hardly an expert, I suppose you could run Dragon Naturally Speaking under Windows using Apple’s Boot Camp utility or within a virtualization application such as Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion. The latter probably being a better a better solution, as it would allow you to dictate into Windows and then copy & paste your text into OS X.
What version of Macspeech Dictate are you using? I believe the current version is 1.3. You may want to look into this as each update has brought new features and fixes to application.
There is a gentleman by the name of Paul Natsch who, in addition to being editor-in-chief of www.assistivegaming.com, guest posts here on ATMac and shares a similar disability. Paul’s work and play has been transformed with Macspeech Dictate, so before you give up on it you may want to consider contacting him to see if he has any tips or advice. I am sure he would be glad to help.
Please let us know how you make out.
Good luck!
Joe