A device that enables people to see what they have typed on a keyboard without having to look up at the screen.
Computer technology promises great potential to improve the quality of life and foster independence for the elderly. However adoption of the technology often proves difficult for older users, having no point of reference or prior experience to draw from. Touch-typing is a relatively unadopted technique, with 79 per cent (a disproportionate number of these being older users) of keyboard users adopting a two-fingered approach (or 'hunt and peck') to typing. This approach requires users to locate keys by sight, shift their gaze to the screen to check for errors then return their attention to the keyboard to continue. Not only is this approach slow and less accurate it also provokes repetitive head movements, sometimes aggravating neck muscles, and puts strain on the overused digits.
A variety of existing systems such as single-handed keyboards and instructional software were evaluated with older users' needs in mind. A series of ideas were then generated tackling the main issues identified and evaluated with users. The most successful of these ideas was refined and a working prototype was constructed. The prototype was taken to one of the users involved in the project in order to validate and optimise its effectiveness and to receive feedback that could be used to improve the aesthetic form.
The design process started with an online survey, and was followed by home visits to a number of different computer users over the age of 55. Informal interviews were initially conducted to develop an overview of daily computing habits, aspirations and perceived difficulties. Observation and filming was carried out with a user that fitted into the test criteria of this project - a daily computer user that had tried to learn touch typing but was unsuccessful, and adopted the two-fingered approach. The user also suffers from arthritis and a stiff neck, which is aggravated during computer usage. This user was revisited later in the project to evaluate the test prototype.
This design development has resulted in a device that allows the typist to see what they have typed without having to shift their glance from the keyboard area, increasing typing speed and accuracy. The device is a small LCD high contrast screen, which connects directly to the computer and displays typed text within the users' immediate view. It can be placed by the user into a suitable position.
