Overview  

Alternative keyboards range in appearance and intention, some claim to offer increased comfort while others are designed for individuals with limited vision or mobility (for more on standard keyboards, please refer to our Keyboard page). Please refer to the chart below to discover some of the options available on the market and their claims. These products are designed using the principles of ergonomics and user experience, however none of these products have been experimentally shown to provide users they benefits they boast. While these products may deliver on these claims, there is no research currently available to prove that they are effective assistive technology tools. When selecting a keyboard, there are a variety of factors one must consider, for this information please refer to our Keyboard page.

Research Rating: Due to the lack of any peer-reviewed research, the claims of these products may not be reliable or valid.

Advantages:

• Varying, refer to chart. However none of these have been validated.

Disadvantages:

• Yet to be experimentally validated.

• Can be cumbersome to travel with.

To Consider:

• Typing is skill that requires training. To be a proficient typist and complete their school work using a computer, it is recommended that students be able to type 35 words per minute.