The TandemMaster Morse-2-USB interface is a fantastic device which converts morse code entered by two switches into keyboard presses and mouse movements. It gives the user complete control of a computer, as much as any regular keyboard/mouse user would have.

This video - featuring Tania Comb who created the TandemMaster - gives you a great idea of how the device can be used with any computer:

[embed width="640" height="385"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUwp-zXSH-k[/embed]

As you can see, Tania's not using any switch access software on the computer itself - just the Tandem Master.

Because what the computer "sees" connected to it isn't a pair of switches but just a standard keyboard and mouse, the TandemMaster is fully compatible with OS X as well as Windows and Linux computers. The advantage of using a device that uses no drivers or switch software is that you can use any standard computer - you could even go into an Internet cafe while on holidays, plug in the TandemMaster, and use their computers! On the other hand it means that the user misses out on the advantages of the more specific switch-user software like the switch controlled word prediction offered by SwitchXS paired with KeyStrokes. Like all setups, this will suit some people better than others.

The website for the TandemMaster has a lot of information, including technical information, about the use of the TandemMaster. You can also contact them for more information.

- Ricky Buchanan

The prolific RJ Cooper has released a very affordable switch adapted MP3 player:

This is a switch-adapted MP3 player that is also a 1 or 2 GB USB drive, all in one! For access by someone with a physical need, one switch input is power/play/pause and the other is to move through your songs.

For those paying attention, yes you're right: this doesn't have anything to do with Macs or OS X really. But finding a switch adapted MP3 player for only US$49 (1GB model) or US$69 (2GB model) seems so amazing that I just had to report it! And they should work fine with a Mac computer.

If you get one of these, when you plug it into your Mac computer it will show up as if it's another hard drive. So you don't use iTunes to get songs onto it like with an iPod, you use the Finder to copy the songs from your hard drive to the MP3 player drive. If your songs are in iTunes and you don't know where they are in the Finder, then in iTunes right-click on a song name and select "Show in Finder" from the menu.

Oh, and your songs must be in MP3 format for them to be played on this drive. If your songs are in other formats, then you will need to convert them to MP3 format first. If anybody needs help with that, let me know - it's an entire article by itself I think!

- Ricky Buchanan

Robert Menzel has put together a ControllerMate configuration for computer input via morse code via a mouse click! The same configuration could easily be adapted to use a joystick button click or space bar press, all three can be generated by most switch adaptors. The setup that Robert has created can only type capital letters but that could also be easily expanded with the flexibility of ControllerMate.

Morse code is not a common input method as it requires memorising morse code and it's slow, but for single switch users with some disabilities it can work better than other solutions like SwitchXS. Morse code input doesn't require the ability to watch the screen as visual scanning software does, for example.

Online programs such as LWCO can help you learn morse code, and also provides a handy visual reference of the appropriate codes for letters, numbers, and the other symbols available.

Web site: USB morse code input

- Ricky Buchanan

Marie-France Bru taught mathematics when she was able to, but has now been paralysed by ALS. She uses SwitchXS to access her computer with a single switch and has written extensive web pages describing her ultra-efficient SwitchXS writing method.

Here's a video showing her typing with a previous version of SwitchXS:

[embed width="640" height="385"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENkjkIypXq4[/embed]

Her aim with the writing method is to get things done with the smallest possible amount of effort - using a single switch it usually takes a user several switch presses to type just one letter, so efficiency is important. The web pages explain not just how her SwitchXS panels are arranged but why, so others can replicate the method while adapting it to their own needs. In fact, I have used ideas sparked by her descriptions for my own KeyStrokes keyboards which I will share at some point.

- Ricky Buchanan

Amsterdam - 18 January 2008 - AssistiveWare today announced the release of new versions of its flagship products: KeyStrokes 4, SwitchXS 2.5 and LayoutKitchen2.

KeyStrokes 4, the latest version of AssistiveWare's award-winning on-screen keyboard with multilingual word prediction, adds LayoutKitchen, which allows users to design their own virtual keyboards. Such virtual keyboards can be used not only for typing, but also to launch applications, speak, run AppleScripts and much more. This makes KeyStrokes more than ever the hub that gives users who cannot use a physical keyboard or who prefer a graphic tablet or touch screen full access to their computer. KeyStrokes 4 also adds Spanish and Russian word prediction dictionaries. KeyStrokes 4.0 runs on Mac OS X 10.3 and later (including Leopard). The suggested retail price for KeyStrokes is €249 excluding VAT (US$299 in North America). Registered KeyStrokes 3 users can use the new version, but to use LayoutKitchen and design their own keyboards an upgrade to a KeyStrokes 4 activation code is required. An upgrade from KeyStrokes 3 to KeyStrokes 4 (including LayoutKitchen) costs €99 excluding VAT (US$129 in North America). This upgrade is free for anyone who purchased KeyStrokes 3 in 2007 or 2008. For more info they should contact support@assistiveware.com.

SwitchXS 2.5, which provides universal access to Mac OS X for users who cannot use a physical keyboard and mouse is now Universal Binary, adds full Leopard support, as well as many internal enhancements, and also includes the new LayoutKitchen 2. With SwitchXS 2.5, a user who cannot use a physical keyboard or mouse has full access to Mac OS X with just a single switch. SwitchXS 2.5 requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later and is a free update for all registered SwitchXS users. The suggested retail price for SwitchXS is €249 excluding VAT (US$299 in North America).

LayoutKitchen 2 makes designing on-screen keyboards for KeyStrokes and scan panels for SwitchXS much easier and faster with a new drag and drop button browser, SmartSnap and many other productivity enhancing features. The image browser is now searchable and includes over 600 images. LayoutKitchen 2.0 runs on Mac OS X 10.3 and later (including Leopard) and is a free update for all registered SwitchXS and LayoutKitchen users.

Website: AssistiveWare releases major new versions of flagship products

I have been beta testing the new version of KeyStrokes and it's a huge jump up from the previous version - highly recommended.

- Ricky Buchanan