Multidisciplinary Experience Feedback on the Use of the HandiMathKey Keyboard in a Middle School

Abstract

There is a poorly addressed input area in the accessibility field that deals with the input of scientific elements including mathematical formulas. Few studies have addressed this issue although Word and Open Office editors offer input interfaces consisting of button bars associated with mathematical symbols and an "input sheet". The analysis of input activity with these tools with disabled children has revealed that the use of these bars is complex and tiring. HandyMathKey is virtual keyboard co-designed by specialized teacher and human-interaction researchers to address the difficulties of numerical mathematical input tools. The purpose of this paper is to describe the observation method implemented in a 4th grade class at the Centre Jean Lagarde in Toulouse and to report few results on usability of HMK.

User Centred Method to Design a Platform to Design Augmentative and Alternative Communication Assistive Technologies

“…Sauzin et al, [5] have developed SoKeyTo which is a platform for AAC and home automation control interfaces. With this platform it is possible to design any type of interface (pictogram-based communication interface [6], mathematical input editor [7] and environment control [8]). It includes psychophysical models (Fitts [9], Hick-Hyman [10], [11] and Card [12]) for people with motor impairments that provide indicators of whether the interface is suitable for these people profiles.…”

“…Text input interface: Two illustrations: on the left, an input keyboard designated by the person with a disability herself [17] and on the right, a mathematical input keyboard [7].…”