ECTkeyboard

While working with computers is a piece of cake for most people, for some it can become a challenge if they have reduced motor skills. Owing to variety of factors, individuals can lose their complete motor control and such individuals find it extremely difficult to negotiate a computer keyboard. The ECTkeyboard 24.5 is designed for such individuals and its sophisticated algorithm tracks eye movements and places the same along the text matrix that this program encompasses.

The ECTkeyboard 24.5 essentially consists of primary screen which showcases a text matrix that are a variation of pictograms and user can make entries by using one of the several modes provided by the program. To start with a user can opt for the step by step mode he or she can choose either a vertical or horizontal movement patters. Going ahead one can choose the coordinated mode which help the user narrow down to a specific character by using rows and columns. For certain advanced users, it presents a virtual keyboard which can be very effective in coordinating. The application comes with several hotkeys which can be used to gain easy access. For example use the hotkey F3 one can directly go to Settings Form from where options to change size or style are available. Installing the program is very easy and for configuring it you need to select your webcam and align it with the tool. It is important to note that the publishers of this software offers extensive documentation and reference material on their for caregivers to help get familiarized with this program.

The ECTkeyboard 24.5 earns a score of three rating stars owing to its rather well thought out features that help many people work more easily with their computers. The application is likely to find a dedicated audience with special learning schools.

ECTkeyboard is an AAC (Alternative and Augmentative Communication) program that allows individuals with reduced motor skills to type text letter-by-letter via pressing only one physical button.
The program can be coupled with eye tracking applications (ECTtracker), allowing to select characters in a text matrix through eye movements and blinking. It also supports direct input of characters from the virtual keyboard through contracting a muscle or a group of muscles, drawing the air (with ECTlistener) or other means available to people with limited motor skills.
The main window of the program is a text matrix with a set of symbols or pictograms, the appearance and the order of which can be customized by the user. ECTkeyboard allows to enter text using different methods : Step by step- mode , in which the program highlights one character after another , and the user selects the desired character through blinking or other accessible action; Coordinate mode ( when the selection is made horizontally and vertically) where the user first indicates the row or the column before selecting the desired character in them; Separating regime, where the entire text matrix gets divided in two, after being selected the part containing the desired letter splits in its turn, and so-on until a single character is selected ; Virtual keyboard mode allows to work with a mouse or another manipulator device. Operating modes are suitable for different groups of users with limited motor skills; all typed text is registered to a file.
ECTkeyboard has a simple interface, but at the same time a plurality of customizable settings. Almost any parameter can be modified - the number of letters in a row or column, matrix colors, colors and font style of a selected cell or to the entry delay, allowing to choose the most comfortable work pace, avoid fatigue and make working with ECTkeyboard as comfortable as possible. All settings can be imported to files allowing to quickly switch them.