Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!super.upenn.edu!linc.cis.upenn.edu!mayerk From: mayerk@linc.cis.upenn.edu (Kenneth Mayer) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Query on keyboard driver ... Message-ID: <1429@super.upenn.edu.upenn.edu> Date: Mon, 6-Jul-87 11:33:51 EDT Article-I.D.: super.1429 Posted: Mon Jul 6 11:33:51 1987 Date-Received: Tue, 7-Jul-87 03:34:10 EDT Sender: root@super.upenn.edu.upenn.edu Reply-To: mayerk@linc.cis.upenn.edu.UUCP (Kenneth Mayer) Distribution: world Organization: University of Pennsylvania Lines: 37 I know nothing about mac programming, but I would like advice on the following problem: My mother is physically handicapped; she has limited use of her right arm and leg. Using a typewriter is a chore (although one-handed typing does exist). The problem lies in the shift key. Currently, if her hand can't hold down the shift with her pinky finger while hitting the appropriate key, my mother must use the caps lock, type the key, then undo the caps lock. Very time consuming. Mom has been interested in buying a word processing system, and I suggested a low-end Mac might suit her needs. The user interface, especially the mouse make it simple for her to manipulate an application. Again, the problem is that systems assume two-handed operation, using the shift, command keys in conjunction with the mouse operations. I am familliar with the way the option-n, c, e, etc keys produce a "sticky" key. Is it possible to write a keyboard driver that will make the shift, option, and command keys "sticky?" That is, hitting the shift key will cause the next key to be shifted, option and command work the same way. If no key is hit after, say 5 seconds, the shifting is "released." Similarly, if you hit the shift key a second time it is unshifted. I would think that this would be a simple program. Probably and INIT-31 type resource that would be initialized on boot up. (It should be able to be disabled, perhaps by a new control panel, or a keyboard sequence.) Would do you mac hackers out there think? Is it writable? How much time would it take. (Assuming that the programmer is an experienced mac programmer.) Would a novice programmer be able to do this? Would it muck up other Apple applications? advTHANKSance, Ken Kenneth Mayer mayerk@eniac.seas.upenn.edu Teacher: "Two plus two equals..." Student: "Four, but what's a two?"