Virtual KeyBoard 1.0
Grupo de Robotica - University of Lleida
Click here for the latest version...

"On screen Virtual keyboard for an easier writting"
Free software, designed specifically for people with mobility impairments.

Quick guide    Objetives    Downloads    Changing dictionaries    Windows Xp / Vista    Manual

0. Virtual Keyboard quick guide Start
0.1. Visual guide of the classic keyboard distribution
Guide of the classic keyboard distribution
0.2. Visual guide of the numeric distribution
Guide of the numeric distribution

1. Objetives Start

    Create a virtual optimized keyboard with predictable functions and learning ability.
1.1. Video
1.2. Learning and Prediction performances
    Evolution of learning and prediction keyboard performances expressed as average keystrokes pressed when writing a spanish text book in literary style.

2. Writting Start

    Text writting is made throught the cursor using a compatible device: mouse, trackball, touchpad or HeadMouse.

3. Downloads Start
3.1. Download virtual keyboard

Virtual Keyboard 1.0
virtual keyboard 1.0

3.2. Dictionaries.
    The following diccionaries are included in the install program.
3.3. Diferent users in the same computer

  • The keyword remembers the individual user configuration.
  • It is recomended to use different dictionaries for diferent users.
  • It is recomended rename manually the dictionary for each user like:

      spanish-tomas.dic
      spanish-daniel.dic

    Press the button Open / Close dictionary to select the dictionary.

4. Changing the dictionary Start

    By default, the application has one dictionary on memory. If the dictionary can't be opened, it will be create a new one with the name "default".
4.1. Selecting the dictionary
    4.1.1. Press the button   open / close   to open the file selection.
window
    4.1.2. Select the pathname and the dictionary desired.
window
    4.1.3. Press the open button.
    4.1.4. The desired dictionary has been loaded.
4.2. Create a new empty dictionary.
    4.2.1. Press the button   open / close   to open an emerge window.
window
    4.2.2. Select the pathname.
    4.2.3. Type the new dictionary's name.
window
    4.2.4. Press the open button.
    4.2.5. In the case of inexistence, it will be created a new empty one.

5. Install / Uninstall, Windows Xp Start
A. Instalación

    5.A.2. Execute the install file vkeyboard1_instaler.exe and follow installation steps. Probably the firewall will give a warning when the application attempt to acess at the register. You should allow this access to install the application.
    5.A.3. Accept the Freeware licence of use. The use of the application is free for non-comercial use. (licence).
    5.A.4. The instalation program creates a directory in the Start menu, All programs named vkeyboard that contains:
      • vkeyboard: the application.
      • Unistall: Uninstall program.
      • Manual (html): Link to the program's web page and user's manual.
      • Manual (pdf): pdf version of the program's web page and user's manual.
      • A direct access is made at descktop.
    5.A.5. Virtual keyboard will run automatically, creating a tiny keyboard at the right-bottom part of the screen.
B. Uninstall

    There are two ways to uninstall vkeyboard:

    • Alternative 1:

        1. Push the Start button.
          2. Select the folder of vkeyboard and push "Uninstall".

          3. Follow the assistant instructions to uninstall it.


      • Alternative 2:

          1. Push the Start button.

          2. Push the Control Panel icon.

          3. Push the Add or remove programs icon.

          4. Find and select vkeyboard.

          5. Push Change or remove button.

          6. Follow the assistant instruccions to uninstall.

6. Install / Uninstall, Windows Vista Start
A. Install

    6.A.2. Execute the install file vkeyboard1_instaler.exe and follow the installation steps. Windows Vista will warn you that "An unknown program tries to access to this pc". Then push "Allow. I trust this program. I known its source or I have been working with it before".
    6.A.3. Accept the Freeware licence of use. The use of the application is free for non-commercial use (Licence).
    6.A.4. The instalation program creates a directory in the Start menu, All programs named vkeyboard which contains:
      • vkeyboard: the application.
      • Unistall: Uninstall program.
      • Manual (html): Link to the program's web page and user's manual.
      • Manual (pdf): pdf version of the program's web page and user's manual.
      • A direct access is made at desktop.
    6.A.5. Virtual keyboard will run automatically, creating a tiny keyboard at the right-bottom part of the screen.
B. Uninstall

    There are two ways to uninstall vkeyboard:

    • Alternative 1:

        1. Push the Start button.

        2. Select the folder of vkeyboard and push "Uninstall"..

        3. You will be notified with a warning message that "An unknown program attempt to access to this pc". Then push "Allow. I trust this program. I know its source or I have been working with it before".

        4. Follow the assistant instruccions to uninstall.


    • Alternative 2:

        1. Push the Start button.

        2. Go to PC.

        3. Push Uninstall or change this program.

        4. Find and select vkeyboard.

        5. Push Uninstall or change button.

        6. Follow the assistant instruccions to uninstall.

7. Virtual KeyBoard user manual Start
7.1. Different types of keyboard.

    Two different keyboard distributions can be selected with the   keyboard change   button.
Qwerty distribution
QWERTY distribution.
Optimized distribution
Optimized distribution to reduce the desplacement.
    Pressing the   Symbolic distribution   button you will access to the numeric and symbolic keyword.
Symbolic distribution
Numeric and symbolic distribution.

7.2. Special character buttons.
Inverse tabulation Simulates the inverse tabulation's keystroke.
tabulator Simulates the tabulation's keystroke.
Secundary mouse button Simulates the secundary mouse button's keystroke.
keyboard change Alternates the standard keyboard distribution with the optimized one.
Begin of the line Puts the cursor at the beginning of the line.
End of the line Puts the cursor at the end of the line.
Delete button Simulates the delete's button.
Increase/Decrease dimension Increases / Decreases the keyboards' dimension.
Undo Undos the last changes done (control + z).
Exit Closes the application.
Open / close dictionary Opens a new dictionary.
Word predictor Button where appears the word prediction.
Escape Simulates the escape's keystroke.
Enter Simulates the enter's keystroke.
Delete the last letter Deletes the last letter written.
Delete the last word Deletes the las word written (until the last blank).
Numeric keyboard Button to access at the numeric and symbolic keyboard.
Change capital letter/minuscules Button to change between Capital letters/minuscules.
shift Simulates the shift's keystroke.
Cut Cuts the selected text and stored it at the Windows' clipboard (control + x).
Copy Copies the selected text and stored it at the Windows' clipboard (control + c).
Paste Pastes what the Windows' clipboard contains (control + v).
Up cursor
Left cursor Down cursor Right cursor
Cursors to move the writting position.

7.2.1. Keyboard's positioning.

keyboard position Puts the keyboard at different positions.
Top-left position Puts the keyboard at the top-left position.
Bottom-left position Puts the keyboard at the bottom-left position.
Top-right position Puts the keyboard at the top-right position.
Bottom-right position Puts the keyboard at the bottom-right position.
Bottom-centered position Puts the keyboard at the bottom-centered position.
Centered-bottom special position Puts the keyboard at the bottom-centered position and redimensionate (if it is possible) the writting window.

7.2.1.1. Relocate the edition program behind the keyboard.
    Pressing the button   Centered- bottom special position   the keyboard will move or resize the window situated behind the keyboard.

    The followind picture shows that the active window is bigger than the keyboard's one.
ventana
    After the   Centered-bottom special position   keystroke the active window is recolocated taking up the free space of Window's desktop.
window

7.2.1.2. Recolocate hidden windows.

    In the case of having a hidden window behind the keyboard.
window
    Pressing the   Centered-bottom special position   button the windows will be recolocated at the top position as is shown at the following picture.
window

7.2.2. Using the dictionary to predict words

    The keyboard uses the dictionary to make easier the writtin task. The keyboard is updated continually, learning the writting words. The dictionary files format is "*.dic" and can be created empty (without words).
Open / close dictionary Open a new dictionary.
    This button can be used to select or create a new one. The dictionary is updated always automatically.

    The Virtual Keyboard includes 6 prediction word buttons that operate as:
    • Word prediction: Looking at the letters written, the program offers a prediction based on resemblance, pondered with the frequency of use.
    • Following word prediction: Looking at the last word, the program offers a prediction word based on the learned style of writting of the user.

    Word predictor Prediction button.
7.2.3. Delete a singular word of the dictionary

    The Virtual keyboard includes a delete option at the prediction buttons. Press the secundary button of the mouse (by default the left one) at the desired word and select the delete option.
window

7.2.4. Keyboard's dimension

    There are 3 keyboard's dimensions availables pressing the magnifiying glass button. The selected dimension is saved as user configuration.
Magnifying glass Increase / Decrease the keyboard dimensions.
    A Pop up menu is accessed pressing the secundary mouse button over the magnifiying glass to change the keyboard's dimensions.
window

7.2.5. Text selection.

    It is allowed to select a text pressing the shift button. If you want to select a text letter by letter, press the direction cursors, but if you want to select an entire text press at the begin or finish buttons. Later, press delete, cut, copy, paste,...
Shift button Shift button.
Left cursor Left cursor.
Right cursor Right cursor.
Begin button Begin button.
End button Finish button.

7.2.6. Deleting types

    The Virtual keyboard includes three deleting buttons: delete key, backspace key and the word delete key .
Delete button Delete the following letter.
Delete the last letter Delete the last letter written.
Delete the last word Delete the last word written (until the last blank).

7.3. Special functions

    The Virtual Keyboard offers the following special functions:

    • Creating a dictionary typing a nonexistent name.
    • Keyboard automatic actualization.
    • Shows the dictionay's name at the space bar.
    • Word prediction without distinguish between capital letters, minuscule, accented or nonaccented.
    • Space keystroke if you press a prediction button.
    • Blocks the space bar if you have pressed a prediction button. To free it press the space bar once more.
    • If you have capital letters mode and you press a prediction button, the word will be written in capital letters.
    • If you have activated shift mode, the first letter of the word written will appear in capital letters.
    • If you have activated shift mode and a direction button (right or left) or begin /end buttons are pressed, the text will be selected and can be deleted with the delete word, delete letter or backspace button.
    • If there is a text selected it can be replaced for a letter keystroke or prediction button.
    • Interrogation automatic mode, (¿?) if the position is located at the begininig of the word '¿' or at the end '?'. As a exception the program propose '?' if you press twice the button '¿'.
    • After the keystroke of: a comma, point, colon, semicolon, closing parentheses, closing exclamation, closing interrogation or closing square bracket the space will be deleted (if exists) between the las letter written and the symbol.


    It is recommended the use of differents dictionaries depending the writting style as : spanish-mail / spanish-text.
7.4. Close the application


Exit To exit/close the application use the red button.



Patrocinadores técnicos del proyecto
Indra Universitat de Lleida Fundación Adecco