Using Windows on-screen keyboard in Windows 7

I want to use my on-screen keyboard.

This section explains how to use the inbuilt on-screen keyboard on your computer.

Some people have a physical condition that means they find using a keyboard difficult. Many of them, however, may be able to use a mouse or mouse equivalent. These people may find using an on-screen keyboard the best way to input information.

An on-screen keyboard looks just like a picture of a keyboard on the screen. Letters can be selected from the keyboard using a mouse, a single switch, or a joystick that is plugged into the serial, parallel or game port of the computer.

Using Windows on-screen keyboard in Windows 7

Ease of Access Center has replaced Accessibility Options in the ' Control Panel '.

Open Ease of Access Center press ' Windows ' logo key + ' U ' or click Start button ' Control Panel' + ' Ease of Access' + ' Ease of Access Center '.

The windows on-screen keyboard can be used instead of a physical keyboard to interact with your computer. You can use your mouse or pointing device to select the keys.

Open the ' Ease of Access Center ', under Quick access to common tools press ' Alt ' + ' K ' or select ' Start On-Screen Keyboard ', see Fig 1. This will start the key board for current use.

Fig 1

Quick access to common tools

To have the keyboard start at your login, under Explore all settings, ' Tab ' to or select ' Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard ' and press ' Enter ', see Fig 2.

Fig 2

Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard

Under Type using a pointing device, press ' Alt ' + ' K ' or click to select ' Use On-Screen Keyboard ' and press ' Alt ' + ' S ' or click ' Save ', see Fig 3.

Fig 3

options

Once the keyboard is on screen you can tailor it to suit your needs, click on options on the on screen keyboard to open the options window.

Fig 4

on screen keyboard

Fig 5

options

There are several ways you can use the keyboard select or press:

' Click on keys ' to access the keyboard with a mouse or other pointing device by clicking on the cell you wish to use.
' Hover over Keys ' to access the keyboard with a mouse or other pointing device by 'hovering' over the cell to select. You can select the length of time that you will be required to hover by using ' Hover duration ' slider.

' Scan through keys ' to access the keyboard using a range of access devices including the spacebar, switch or gamepad.
The scanning speed can be selected through the use of the ' Scanning Speed ' slider.

Text Prediction

In Windows 7 the On-screen Keyboard has an integrated text prediction tool to speed up typing and to help with spelling.
To turn on text prediction select ' Use Text Prediction ' you can also choose to add a space to all selected words as in Fig 6.

Fig 6

Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings cannot be changed due to local IT policies - contact your local IT support for further help.