Gus! Access Keyboard

Predictive On-Screen Keyboard

This on-screen keyboard (with switch/scanning) is fully optimized for Windows 95/98/2000/NT and is unmatched in its ability to let you "type" into Windows or any software application running therein. If you need "switch/scanning" access to Windows to type a letter, surf the internet, or do anything else, then this is the solution you've been looking for!




How do I use this on-screen keyboard?

The Gus! Access Keyboard can be operated with any Windows compatible pointing device including a mouse, trackball, touch screen or "head pointing" device. This latter device enables the user to remotely move the cursor anywhere on the screen and make selections by simply moving the head (hands free). Select a key on the on-screen keyboard and it will be "typed" into the computer for you!

Another way to operate the keyboard is using the included "switch/scanning" feature. The "switch/scanning" method is extremely valuable to people who do not have the head control to use a "head pointing device" but have enough movement somewhere on their body to activate a switch. As an example, if a user could only move their right index finger very slightly, then a very sensitive switch can be mounted beside that finger. When the letter they want to type is highlighted by the "switch/scanning" feature in the software, they simply need to activate the switch to make their selection.


What is "Word Prediction"?

Selecting one letter at a time would be a tedious way to type, if it weren't for three included features called "word completion", "word prediction" and "abbreviation expansion." If you look at the picture above, you will see a list of words on the right side. This is the word completion/prediction box. It also displays abbreviations which are explained below.
NOTE: The word prediction feature is INCLUDED with the GUS! Access Keyboard at no additional charge.

Word Completion (completes the current word)
As you begin to enter a word (eg. the letter "a"), the box displays a list of choices based on what letters you have typed. As you continue to type, the list narrows the choices down further and further. This feature is called "word completion." To select on of the words from the list, simply press the corresponding function key (F1-F9). The program learns new words as you type (Autolearn) and builds your own personalized vocabulary. In fact, the words are presented based on "frequency of use"; meaning the words that have been used most often appear at the top. In our example above, you can see that the words are not in alphabetical order. The are in order of frequency.

Word Prediction (guesses the next word)
After you finish entering a word, the box will display a list of words that normally follows the word you just entered, based on your own vocabulary. For example, suppose you have entered the phrase "I want to go home" on more than one occasion. Hence forth, after you type the word "want" the box will display the word "to" as an offering for the next word. If you select the word "to", the box will display the word "go" along with 8 other words that have, in the past, followed the word "go." As you can see, word completion and word prediction will greatly accelerate your "typing" speed with switch/scanning.

Abbreviation Expansion (expands an few characters into a word/sentence)
Suppose you would like to type/speak "good morning everyone!" on the Gus! Access Keyboard to greet your family. That is 3 words or 20 letters to type. What if you could type only "gme" and the program would expand it, automatically, to "good morning everyone!". That is exactly what "abbreviation expansion" is all about. You simply type the abbreviation ("gme") and the program automatically inserts the expansion ("good morning everyone!"). You can create as many abbreviations as you like!

Speech output (Microsoft Speech Synthesizer included!)
Our most recent versions of the Gus! Access Keyboard include the Microsoft Speech Synthesizer at NO additional cost. Using the marvelous sounding voice, the Gus! Access Keyboard can speak each letter, or word, or sentence...automatically using the best sounding speech synthesizer on the market.... and its included...FREE.

Integrated World Wide Web Navigation
In this, our most recent version, we've added an indispensable feature for internet cruising....integrated www navigation with "web prediction". With this feature, single switch users can quickly move from web site to web site without fussing with the URL line in Netscape or Explorer. Once again, the Gus! Access Keyboard sets the standard for full function on-screen keyboards.


Try It Out!
Access Keyboard (male) Download (4.6 MB)
Access Keyboard (female) Download (4.7 MB)
System Requirements: Microsoft Windows 95/98/2000/XP
MS Windows Millennium Edition (ME) is not recommended for speech products.