Input Devices : Concept Keyboard

A concept keyboard is a flat board which contains a grid of switches. Each switch can be programmed to do whatever you want. An overlay image is placed on top of the grid so that the user can tell what pressing on different areas of the keyboard (switches) will do.

Example uses of concept keyboards include :

• Piano : The overlay image could be of a piano keyboard. Pressing on the piano keys will cause the computer to play the note that is pressed.
• Country Information : The overlay image could be a map of an area of the world. Pressing on a country would cause the computer to display information about that country on a monitor.
• Tills in restaurants/pubs : The overlay contains a list of all of the meals that can be purchased. Instead of typing in prices the waiter simply presses on the appropriate meal name on the keyboard when a meal is purchased.

Concept keyboards are particularly useful for users such as children who would find using a QWERTY keyboard difficult and in locations where an ordinary keyboard might be damaged, e.g. by spillage or dust.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004