Project Title: Universal Access Keyboard Participants: Srujal Shah, Saumil Doshi, Karl Lee, Josh Loon, Faculty Advisor: Paul Blair Sponsor: Cal(IT)2

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Project Title Universal Access
KeyboardParticipants Srujal Shah, Saumil Doshi,
Karl Lee, Josh Loon, Faculty Advisor Paul Blair
Sponsor Cal(IT)2
Microcontroller

• Objective To design and construct an adaptable
  keyboard for users with disabilities or injuries.
• Background Keyboard users with
  disabilities/injuries may find it difficult to
  use the conventional keyboard because of the
  close proximity of the keys, thus we aimed to
  design a keyboard that he/she can customize
  according to their individual needs

• A/D Converter

• Approach Methodology
• First we setup a circuit that included a newly
  innovative touch pad (Tactex) and the BASIC Stamp
  microcontroller.
• Second we studied the effects of different
  applied forces placed on the touch pad vs. the
  change in response voltage.
• Finally we developed an algorithm, implemented
  with Java, to determine the xy-coordinate
  corresponding to each change in voltage. This
  coordinate was then converted to an ASCI
  character which would appear on the screen under
  a GUI representation.

• Conclusion
• The universal access keyboard was designed
  to be a small device that was cost effective and
  ergonomical. This keyboard was built to enable
  people with a wide variety of hand disabilities
  the ability to type comfortably and for
  considerable lengths of time without fatigue.
  From this project we were able to see how the
  BASIC Stamp worked in relation to the A/D
  converter. We also learned how to take a new
  technology designed for a specific task and
  implement it to work in an entirely different
  environment.