[[alternative]]The Evaluations and Effects of Keyboard Operating for Schoolkids with Cerebral Palsy

[[abstract]]The keyboard is the most commonly used input method for interfacing with computers. When using a keyboard is not possible, alternative computer input methods are needed. The purpose of this study is to develop an evaluation system for traditional keyboard operation (ESTKO) for the schoolkids with cerebral palsy. The design of ESTKO is divided into two parts, including the hardware interface which collect data for subject’s keyboard operations and the software programs which analysis those data. A occupational therapist or a examinant can make evaluation and suggestion reports for the subject then. This study contains three stages, which are 1. taking the subject’s keyboard operation types into 5 categories such as “normal”, ”repetition”, ”error”, “direction” and “mixed” types and then identifying which type each subject is belonged to, 2.with single subject experiment research method, giving each subject one of the four recommendation including “parameter adjustments for Windows assistive tools ”, “keyboard directions setting” , “body assistive tools ”, “alternative keyboards ”, and 3. evaluating the effects of keyboard operations for each subject with intervention respectively. For those who cannot smoothly use keyboard with interventions, a screen keyboard is recommended or an occupational therapist is introduced to make further evaluations.