To allow switch access to the complete range of computer software
a switch user requires:
1. Access to switch controlled software -switches have to be switches
2. Access to keyboard controlled software -switches have to be key presses
3. Access to mouse controlled software -switches have to be mouse button presses
1.Access to switch controlled software:
This software has switch access programmed in (the program itself monitors the status of the various registers) either monitoring the
the serial port
or mouse button flags
or the keyboard buffer.
These programs are specifically designed for switch access they have the various input methods written into the programs code.
Examples include the switch access software from Brilliant computing, Inclusive Technology, Semerc, Don Johnson, RJ Cooper etc.
They work with serial switches, mouse switches, or the keyboard.
a. Serial port switch software:
responds to the program monitoring the signals from the serial port.
requires a switch switch box which plugs into the serial port (com1 or com2) on the computer.
a.serial switch access:
Requires a hardware component.
Requires switch software that is written to monitor the serial port
(There was some difficulty with differring hardware serial ports on some computers with modification to the serial input box needed to allow it to work universally.)
Some computers have two serial ports some have one (some portables have none). The serial ports on most computers is also used for connectivitity with other devices (modems, networks).
It is limited to two seperate/direct switch inputs.
b. Mouse switch software:
Operates through the software monitoring the status of the mouse buttons. Switch access is via a mouse extension box (Semerc mouser, switch assisted mouse etc).
Requires a hardware component (a mouse switch input box).
Requires switch software to monitor the mouse clicks.
Is limited to two seperate/direct switch inputs.
c. Keyboard activated software:
responds to a selection of keyboard entries
ie. space and return to move through hyperlinks in Internet explorer.
Some switch written software has space/return programmed as set input keys. Switch access requires hardware to connect switches to the keyboard usually an additional hardware component which connects between the computer and the keyboard.
Requires a hardware component (a keyboard switch input box)
Requires switch software to monitor the keyboard input.
It can access any number of seperate/direct switch inputs.
Most special switch activated software has a choice of input method you can choose from the setup menu.
You can usually specify serial input, mouse input or intellikeys input.
There are difficulties and advantages to each method of switch connection:
Access solution 2
Use a single hardware box which has hardware connections to the keyboard. Keyboard connection can operate as the two mouse switches (this is easy via the keyboard interface).
It can work flexibly with keyboard inputs (space/return for Internet Explorer etc and other combined keystrokes (either prewired as in Don Jonston or programable as in Keyswitch+, and Intellikeys).
It can also be used to input strings or any keyboard command sequence (macros).
3. Switch connection to mouse controlled software.
There is a limited range of software specially written to be accessible from exterior switches.The vast range of software responds only to positional mouse clicks.
To access this software you have to move the mouse pointer and perform mouse clicks or double clicks.
Switch connection can be through extension mouse buttons (Semerc mouser or similar) and the position of the mouse pointer can be controlled by the teacher. This is alright for directed group work around the computer but does not allow complete independent access for switch users.
Access to this software (which includes all the multimedia CDroms, and the range of talking books) by people who cannot independently control a mouse is problematic.
In order to allow direct access by switch users to software that only responds to positional mouse clicks requires some kind of special hotspots type software.
The current solution is to set up hotspots on the active areas that can then be accessed from additional switches either using scanning to highlight the active areas or linking the hotspot to a direct keyboard or switch entry.
Hotspot software
Hotspots are active areas that can be placed at a particular position on the screen. When activated these hotspots carry out whatever task is designated to that area (ie a mouse click or double click to run a sound sample or to access a hyperlink). In this way switch users can control a program that will only respond to positional mouse clicks.
SAW (Ace centre), Discover:Switch (Don Johnston), Hotspots (Ace centre), Windows switch (Advisory unit), !Clikit (Intellitools/Inclusive technology) all provide switch acccess to hotspots.
All these programs will allow switch access to positions on the computer screen. These hotspots can be set to any active region on the screen thus allowing switch users to access positional mouse clicks. Most of these programs allow switch users to scan through these hotspots (using 1 or two switch scanning). !Clickit additionally allows the hotspots to be linked to particular keystrokes.
Using !Clickit with a keyboard switch interface such as the Don Johnston switch interface or Keyswitch+ from Inclusive technology it is possible to control directly any mouse pointer activated software with discrete switch connection. Thus you can connect a number of switches directly to control any program operated by the mouse pointer and clicks.