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One-Handed Linux?

Posted by Cliff on from the friendly-accessibility-features dept.

YACC (or "Yet Another Anonymous Coward") asks: "One of my hands is disabled and I am trying to switch to Linux. Windows has a slew of utilities that can remap one side of the keyboard to the other, make the shift keys "sticky," etc. I was wondering if anything comperable exists for Linux/XFree86. Any help would be appreciated. " If something like this can be done with the exist tools, please post the details.

5 of 15 comments (clear)

  1. Access-HOWTO by davie · · Score: 3

    Start with the Access HOWTO:
    http://metalab.unc.edu/Linux/H OWTO/Access-HOWTO.html

    Then the Keyboard and console HOWTO:
    http://metalab.u nc.edu/Linux/HOWTO/Keyboard

    --
    slashdot broke my sig
  2. You need to read ... by Etyenne · · Score: 2

    http://www.linuxc are.com/news_columns/suppt_pit/1999/08-25-99.epl

    Exactly what you're asking for !

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    :wq
  3. Dvorak made kbds for one handers also.... by InfinityEdge · · Score: 2

    You may want to check out changing your keyboard layout to either Dvorak-left or Dvorak-right. The same guy that graced the world with his vastly superior keyboard layout (so I'm a bit biased ;) also made keyboard layouts for those who had lost the use of one of their hands (If I remember correctly, he did this at the urging of a fellow army guy who had his arm amputated in war). This layout lets those with only one functioning hand actually TOUCH TYPE! I don't care what all those super specalized hunt-n-peckers say, touch typing is really the only way to go. The other great thing about Dvorak-L and Dvorak-R is that they are avaible on pretty much every halfway modern os.

    Hope this helps
    --Chris

  4. Loss of hand + Linux by schnurble · · Score: 2

    Well.

    In March '99 I was almost killed in an auto accident (dumbassed me drove for 20 hours, fell asleep, and hit a tree at 55mph). In the impact I was ejected from the front seat to the back seat and landed hard on my left arm. I broke my left arm at midshaft humerous.

    Anyone who's had a bit more of basic anatomy (including nerve trunking placements) just cringed hard at that, but for those who didnt, there are 3 nerve trunks (radial, median, ulnar) that go in grooves near the surface of the humerous. When you break it, you will almost -always- damage, if not sever completely, one or more of these nerves. I nearly severed the radial nerve midshaft and contused the other two rather badly. I have ~15% function of my left arm below the elbow, and just recently (5 months after the accident) got minor extensor movement in the wrist. The best guess my orthopaedic surgeon can give me is 12-18 months more being unable to type with the left hand.

    Basically, I've had to learn to type one handed. There really arent any 3key combos i cant do with my right hand (ctrl-alt-del, ctrl-alt-bs), I just had to relearn the finger boundaries and stokes. It takes a while to relearn, but eventually it's workable. I cant really see how remapping a keyboard would help.

    You might also contact an orthopaedic surgeon, an occupational therapist, or a doctor specializing in the hands and nerves, and ask them for recommendations. I did after my accident, and was told about a couple alternatives, but just decided to relearn how to type (and unfortunately my notes have disappeared). Apparently this happens a bit, though I swear I'd never thought of it.

    Oh, and you have to learn to put up with millions of typos :)

    --jd

    --
    "To err is human, to forgive is simply not my policy." --root
  5. Try out the Twiddler by jfunk · · Score: 3

    Here's the link:

    http://www.handykey.com/

    I haven't used it myself, but I've heard people rave about it.