typing

[admin]

Thanks to my wreck I no longer have any use of my right (dominant) arm, this has forced something of a career change on me and now I must learn how to speed type as writing left handed is apparently more than I can handle. Among the many different suggestions I have garnered from the internet are; one handed on a qwerty keyboard, left handed qwerty keyboard and one handed Dvorak. Does anyone have any suggestions.
Thanks, onepaw

[EllenB]

We've bought software called Naturally Speaking... you & it train each other, so it gets used to your voice (as you read specific texts into the mike) & how you pronouce the words. At the same time, you're learning the commands & stuff it expects. There are different versions of Naturally Speaking with different vocabularies (i.e. regular usage, addt'l medical or legal terminology, etc.).

There are other products out there but I've been told this one is the best value.

Another advantage for John once he ramps up on the program, is it should help him better organize his thoughts before speaking. Not a bad skill to have in "life"...

Here's the url:

http://www.scansoft.com/naturallyspeaking/

Good luck!

Ellen

[admin]

You can get a keyboard shapred like a pyramid.

[admin]

One Paw

I am a left handed amputee 6 weeks out and like you, am faced with a career change due to my injury. I was once a 60+ wpm touch typist. Also like you, I am looking at all the different options available for one handed typists and would appreciate any information this forum has to offer.

My current thoughts are these...

I'm sorry to say I have Naturally Speaking and was disappointed. Maybe it will work with others better than it did for me.

I am not leaning toward the Dvorak system or the one handed (middle of the keyboard - index on F and pinky on J home keys) because it involves totally relearning 40 years of muscle memory. I am also afraid of repetitive stress on my last resort good hand. I did download a demo of the half keyboard and seemed to do quite well. If I understand it, you can purchase a $300+ program that will install on your computer and you won't have to attach a new keyboard. Pretty expensive if you ask me.

So that unfortunatly leaves me with what I am doing now - hunting and pecking with a pencil eraser on my "hook". Mavis Beacon did measure me at 20 wpm, but I have to look down at the keyboard all the time.

So...

If anyone has any help, it's what we're for

Dan

[Karen McClune]

There is a one handed keyboard that my son uses. In fact, he has two different kinds. Please email him at ryan@ubpn.org and he will beable to tell you where he brought them. He can also help with other questions you may have.

Best of luck,

Karen

[jacko]

The idea of a left handed keyboard seems good, but as soon as you leave home (or your office), and use another computer, you'd be back to square one.

Blind people use voice recognition software to create messages. Apparently it's very expensive, but excellent. Anyone know the details of such a thing ?

[Karen McClune]

Ryan takes his keyboard with him to work, also everywhere he takes his laptop,

But this works for him and true may not work for everyone.

Worth a try?

Hugs, Karen

[admin]

I would like to thank you all for your input. I will say that "naturally speaking" hasn't worked for me,-so far.
Ann I would like to know more about this Pyramid keyboard.
I was not a touch typist before my wreck,infact I wasn't much of a typist at all, however I hope to be soon as I'm heading off to college on the one arm plan.
jacko you are nuts, you should call me.
onepaw

[admin]

Dan
I understand what you are saying about voice recognition, didn't work for me either. As far as Dvorak goes the way I understand it- you should already have the program to operate it on your computer if you are using windows 98 or better, you just have to modify your keyboard by popping the caps off or getting sticky labels.
Onepaw