While typing may seem second nature to most, it can be extremely difficult or even impossible for individuals suffering from hand mobility issues or those without hands. For these individuals, modern advancements in speech-to-text may serve as a solid secondary option; however, manual typing may allow for higher accuracy, speed, and more control over what is being written. Additionally, it can be frustrating to constantly speak your thoughts out loud, and some people may prefer manual typing over reliance on accessive technology and applications. Especially for the elderly, who may not be comfortable using new technology, using applications like speech-to-text can be complex and confusing. In contrast, most people are much more familiar with a traditional QWERTY keyboard.
The goal of this project was to help individuals without hands or muscular mobility and dexterity in their hands. Typing can be extremely difficult or painful, and they have few options outside of speech-to-text. Individuals without hands would be specially adapted to using a foot keyboard, as they often rely on their feet to complete tasks usually done with hands. To help these individuals, my group created a QWERTY-based keyboard specifically designed for foot use.
The final design was a 9x3 keyboard which contained unique red and blue "switch" keys, which would allow the user to toggle between multiple letters in a single key. Essentially, each letter key contains three characters, one being achieved by pressing the key normally, another by holding down the blue switch and pressing the key, and the last by holding down the red switch and pressing the key. Additionally, the shift functions as a "caps lock" button so the user can hold down the red and blue keys instead. The base of the keyboard (not visible in the picture) also contained a feature where the user could adjust the angle of incline to optimize comfort.