User Comments - Single hand keyboards

A poetic testomonial from Sarah, October 2013
Maltron is my dream!

Maltron is my keyboard,
Maltron is my dream!
Now that I can touch type,
I really feel part of a team,
Martin, Peter, and Richard,
are so very kind,
That when I had a problem,
They always replied "I don't mind".

I have had a QWERTY since I was 13,
Now it is getting very dirty,
As it collects dust, Never to be seen.
For me it has been an up hill struggle,
due to the letters all being in a muddle!.

Stephen was the inventor,
He was very nice too,
The Maltron was his creation,
That no else was able to do,
Without his knowledge and know how,
I wouldn't be typing this  today,
So whoever reads this poem,
persevere and carry on come what may.

Now that I have reached age 50,
I have become very nifty,
Using only my left hand,
And all because of my lovely Maltron keyboard,
Praise and thanks all round!

Sarah G. 21/10/2013

 
Testimonial from James (January, 2011)

Maltron Single Handed User Experience
Introduction

In 1987, I suffered a complete Brachial Plexus Avulsion (C5-T1), as the result of a Motor Cycle accident. This left me with a completely paralysed left arm, which was later amputated above-elbow. Being left with only the use of my right arm took a lot of getting used to. In particular, being very slow when using a conventional ‘qwerty’ Computer keyboard, made me very frustrated.

 

1st Purchase

When I purchased my first Maltron Keyboard in 1991, when I was in my first year at University, I did find the different layout of the keys and shape of the Maltron Keyboard very daunting. It was only at the start of my second year did I begin to use the Maltron Keyboard. It was when I watched my housemate touch-typing on a conventional ‘qwerty’ keyboard that I decided that I wanted to improve my typing skills, and teach myself how to touch type on a Maltron Keyboard. As I did not know anyone who could teach me, I spoke to my housemate as to how I could do this. She suggested that I put the layout of the Maltron Keyboard above the Computer Monitor and use the Maltron Training Manual to practice touch-typing. Using this method, together with using the Maltron Keyboard to input my University coursework, I quickly found that I was able to touch type.

 

Learning

I would recommend the best way to learn how to touch-type using a single-handed Maltron Keyboard, is to first position the layout of the Maltron Keyboard above the Computer Monitor. This way you will learn the position of the keys without having to look down at the Keyboard. Then use the Maltron Training Manual to practice touch-typing. To get the best use of the Maltron Keyboard, and to improve accuracy and speed, I would recommend that you always position your hand so that you fingers are over the home keys SPACE, A, T, E & H; with your thumb over SPACE and your little finger over H, etc. In addition, I found it best to start slowly to learn the keys, and not to try to touch type faster than your accuracy will allow. It did take me a few months to learn to touch type, but I was soon able to make better use of my Computer and was soon able to complete my coursework in a fraction of the time. I have been using Maltron single handed keyboards for over twenty years, and I now have four of them; one of which that was purchased in 1991 is still in perfect working order and is still in daily use.

 

Work Environment

I have a Maltron Keyboard at work, and I have had very few problems. In fact, the benefit of being able to touch-type quickly out ways any problems. There are a few things that I would recommend, firstly if the Maltron Keyboard were to be stored or moved around to different computers, then I would strongly recommend getting the Maltron Keyboard Carry Case as this gives excellent protection to the fragile keyboard. Secondly, I would recommend getting a dust cover as this not only helps keep the dust etc from getting in to the keyboard when it is not in use, but it also gives the keyboard an improved appearance of professionalism and excellence. Lastly, I would insure that others that you work with and the computer department are aware that the Maltron Keyboard is not removed or connected to a computer while it is switched on. I used to have a warning label on the connection cable to make sure that this did not happen. However, Maltron have now introduced their Keyboards with a USB connection, which illuminates this issue.

 

Benefits of Maltron Keyboard

After learning to touch type using the Keyboard, it is possible to turn the disadvantage of only using one hand, in to being able to type quickly and accurately, thus being able to use a Computer to its full advantage. Although Maltron Keyboards are fragile, they do last, I still have the first Maltron Keyboard that I purchased in 1991, and it is still working perfectly after 19 years of daily use. This means that it has out lasted many of my previous Computers, and has ran perfectly on all of the Windows operating systems, from Windows 95 to Windows 7. Using Maltron Keyboards makes me feel very liberated and confident, which is why I now have four of them. With the use of the PS2 to USB adaptor, I have one Maltron Keyboard attached to my Laptop running Windows Vista, one attached to my new Desktop Computer running Windows 7, and another attached to my old Desktop Computer running Windows XP. I keep my fourth spare Maltron Keyboard in the Maltron Keyboard Carry Case. I cannot recommend enough the benefits of using a Maltron Single Handed Keyboard. To put simply, it turns a disadvantage is to a wonderful advantage. I understand that Maltron are introducing their Keyboard with a USB connection, thus making an excellent piece of equipment, even better.

(Note from Maltron - All our keyboards are now only supplied with a USB connector.)

 
Mrs G. writing of her daughter "S", USA
S. was born with Cerebral Palsy which has affected her left arm and left leg. She is not very strong with the left leg and has very little fine motor control of her left hand. We have always tried to treat it as an "inconvenience" rather than a "handicap". When she was in high school, she had to take typing (required) on a regulation keyboard. She would get so tired and could just barely keep up with the other kids. She was only getting about 15 to 25 WPM on the regulation keyboard.

When she graduated high school in 1998, and we were working with the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (MVR) to find S. a job, they told us about the one-handed keyboard. Very few people knew about it. When Mr. Legg (your representative) showed up with the keyboard at our Community College and was training S. on how to use it, he said that he had never had anyone pick it up so fast. She was typing over 40 WPM after only about 1 hour of training.

In order for us to use the keyboard here at home without having to plug and unplug things, I went to our local computer store and they sold me a "Data Transfer Switch" (they called it an A-B Switch) so that we could keep both keyboards plugged in at the same time, we just have to turn a dial to which keyboard we want to use at any given time. They were real excited to see something like this, they had never heard of it before either. They wanted to tear it apart to see how it worked, but of course, I wouldn't let them.

S. had to carry the Maltron back and forth to school with her, as the Community College does not have a Maltron. It was very awkward for her, trying to carry the Maltron and her back-pack. We were very angry at one of her instructors that didn't really accept the fact that she had a handicapped student that had a special keyboard that needed to be plugged into their system. But S. got thru that class anyway.

Two years ago, S. also came down with Myasthenia Gravis. This has something to do with the Auto-Immune System and causes extreme weakness. She was in the hospital with Pneumonia for two weeks (on a ventilator). She was in Rehab for almost two months. While in Rehab, I noticed that they had a computer out in the hallway for the patients to use, but it was a regulation keyboard. I asked the nurses in Rehab if they had every heard of the one handed keyboard. "No", they answered. Well, I took S.'s keyboard back on my next visit and she showed them what it was and how it worked. I had several copies of the brochure that Mike had sent us so very long ago. They said that they had a lot of patients that could really use this type of keyboard. I have no idea if they ever followed thru with it or not, but I will try to find out.

We have happily showed off the Maltron every chance we get. S. does not have a job at the moment, but we hope she can get one sometime within the next year. I am hoping it is something that she can use the Maltron for. She offered to help train others in our area if it was needed. We have never received a call. I know that one of the high schools in our area (about 35 miles away) has several Maltrons, I know the instructor. But I don't think that our high school does. I wish there were some way to get the message out there that something like this does exist. We feel that every nursing home and rehab centre should have one, or at least have the brochures so that others might benefit from this.

S. will be graduating from college with a degree in marketing, this fall. She will be looking for a job. She would love to be able to tell others about the Maltron. If we can be of any further service to you, please let us know.

 
Ron Oakey, USA
"Am writing this letter praising my right handed keyboard.

I have achieved a speed of 65 words per minute with my Maltron keyboard.

It also has made my collage experience a lot easier because I could never have taken the required computer classes w/out it

Thank you for the keyboards."

 
Neil, Deryck, Darren, Noel, Leighton, John & Michael
(Pupils of Ysgol Erw'r Delyn Residential School for Physically Handicapped Children)

"We would like to take this opportunity to express our delight in being able to produce this letter of thanks using your moulded keyboards. We have found it extremely helpful considering our restricted movements.

May we take this opportunity to thank you for your speedy return of our second modified keyboard, which is already in use, since the demands made on the original keyboard were very high.

We would like to endorse the use of these keyboards as being highly beneficial for any person with restricted hand movement or with the use of only one hand.

Thank you very much for your help."

 
Doug Swanson
"Your product is a big help to us who have been injured.

I'm a disabled veteran of the United States Air Force.  I lost the use of my right arm, wrist and hand.

The VA purchased your wonderful keyboard for my use while attending college.

Your keyboard is a real life saver and I can't tell you what a well designed product you have."

 
Lionel Codd
"Two years ago I bought a MALTRON keyboard from you. This was a right handed keyboard to compensate for my left side paralysis.

Prior to an industrial accident I had been a 'two-finger' typist, subsequently I treated myself to an electric typewriter before starting to use a word-processor about three years ago. I soon found the various key combinations extremely difficult if not impossible on the standard Amstrad keyboard, but I then had the opportunity to try one of your single-handed keyboards. I was so impressed that I unhesitatingly ordered one. I consider the MALTRON keyboard to be as considerable advance on Qwerty keyboards as word processors are on electric typewriters"