An
Ultra Portable Word Processor
by
Trevor Allan, DLO, Australian National University
One way of addressing
the need to have access to a portable Word processor, which can be relatively
cheap, as well as very portable, is to use a Personal Data Assistant
(PDA) such as a Palm Pilot, in combination with a folding keyboard
which is designed to connect to the PDA. A simple download of a free
Word Processing program (e.g. FreeWrite http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=22863)
from the Internet, and you have a portable word processor which you
can carry around in your pocket.
Figure1:
Palm M100 & portable keyboard (folded)
There are also many
other software programs, including databases, which can be purchased
and downloaded from palm's site at: http://www.palm.com/
.
Once you enter material
into your PDA, it can be simply transferred to your computer through
a cable, or, in some cases, an infra-red link.
Figure
2: Palm M100 & portable keyboard (partially unfolded)
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An added advantage
is that PDAs also have other features, such as a Calendar and Diary,
Address Book, To Do List, Memos, Calculator and Note Pad which can be
very beneficial for anyone, but particularly for anyone with organisational
difficulties, such as people with ADD/HD or Acquired Brain Injury. Entering
information into the Date Book or To Do List, will assist in organisational
issues, by providing an audible reminder of scheduled items. All of
these features can be synchronised with their own programs of your computer,
or with mainstream programs such as Microsoft Outlook.
Figure
3: Palm M100 & portable keyboard (unfolded and assembled)
The PDA uses a stylus
and Touch Screen techniques to select items and enter material (using
either a Graffiti screen, or by calling up an on-screen keyboard or
number pad.)
I have been using
a Palm M 100 PDA, with a folding keyboard for nearly a year now, and
have found it an invaluable tool. I use the Word processing function
and the portable keyboard for taking notes at meetings and conferences,
the Date Book is synchronised with my Outlook Schedule, I am able to
write notes and memos to myself, and synchronise them with my computer.
We also have a student
with a Learning Disability and ADD/HD, who is using a similar set-up
to take notes in lectures, and assist with his organisational difficulties
by using the scheduling feature to structure and organise his time management.
As long as you have
a hard surface, such as desk, to place the keyboard on, the system works
extremely well, and I have even used it successfully by resting it on
my lap whilst typing, although this is probably not recommended from
an ergonomic point of view.
The keyboard is
full-sized when extended, and the action is very similar to a regular
keyboard. Although it does not have a number pad on the side, it does
have a range of function keys to access various functions on the Palm
such as menus, address books, etc.
When folded, it
is slightly larger than the Palm M100, meaning it will fit in a coat
pocket, but not a shirt pocket (as Andrew Downie found out when he
tried to "borrow" it)
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Disadvantages
Because the screen
is very small, the text is is also correspondingly small, and people
with vision impairments would find it difficult to see the text as it
is typed. Cost could become an issue with the more sophisticated PDAs,
with a wider range of features. The set-up does require some manual
dexterity to assemble, but most people would find it quite easy to put
together.
Cost
I bought my M100
on a run-out special for $249, and the keyboard was $240. Depending
on the cost of the PDA (they start about $450 to $500 and go up into
the thousands of dollars) this set-up can be established for a price
starting at about $700. Some PDAs now have Colour screens and sound
options, which could expand the usability even further.
For this price,
you get a very compact, practical and usable device, which could provide
significant benefits for many people with disabilities.
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Palm M100 & Portable Keyboard
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