Keypads and Keyboards

We depend on keypads and keyboards to communicate with our devices, to make phone calls, and to do so much more.  Keypads and keyboards have shrunken in size over the past years and as technology continues to zoom along, some manufacturers are now using touch screen technology to emulate keypads.  Touch screen technology is fast becoming a way to use a keypad and all that I ask is that manufacturers remember those who are unable to see, and those who have problems with their hands when developing keypads and keyboards of the future.

 

Blind persons depend on such things as keys with raised dots, keys with cut edges, and larger sized keys to help them navigate keypads and keyboards.  For those with some vision, keys with contrasting colors are also of help.  If the keys are flat, then a blind person has difficulty distinguishing the keys.  If they are raised, then it's a great help.  If the keys are jammed packed together, it's also difficult for blind persons to use them. 

 

My wish is that manufacturers come up with ways to accommodate all persons and with a little bit of hard work and thought, it can be done.  If you'd like to learn more about how blind persons go about using keypads and keyboards then please visit www.acb.org.

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and share my blogs with the rest of the world.