SoftSwitch provides alternative input capabilities for the IBM and compatible personal computers (PC). It allows the PC to be controlled by one or more switches, and can be used to control both DOS and Windows programs.
SoftSwitch is primarily intended for anyone who has difficulty operating the computer's keyboard or mouse. This could be anyone from a young child to an older person who has restricted use of their fingers. It could be someone recuperating from an accident, or someone with a physical or intellectual disability. SoftSwitch can also be used where access to a full keyboard is unnecessary or undesirable.
SoftSwitch works in parallel with your existing keyboard or mouse, allowing supplemental or co-operative use. It can be configured to provide either keystrokes equivalent to your keyboard, or mouse operations equivalent to your mouse, depending on the program you wish to control. Individual configurations can be saved to disk and restored as required.
A number of switch aware programs are provided to give you an idea of what you can achieve but you should think of SoftSwitch as a tool by which you can make a wide range of DOS and Windows programs available to switch users. These programs would otherwise be inaccessible.
SoftSwitch with DOS applications
In it's simplest form SoftSwitch allows a single switch to be connected to the PC to control DOS programs. When the switch is pressed, SoftSwitch supplies a keystroke to your program as though you had pressed that key on the keyboard. A number of options can be configured to enhance operation for a single switch.
Up to eight switches can be connected to the PC. These switches can be separate panel mounted pushbuttons, a multiple switch pad, a switch type Joystick or a video game controller. The switches can emulate keystrokes or a mouse.
When emulating the keyboard, each switch can be configured to supply any keystroke when pressed. Each switch can be optionally configured to repeat the keystroke while the switch is held pressed, and/or supply a separate keystroke when the switch is released. Virtually any keystroke can be configured, including non typematic keys such as Alt, CapsLock, PrintScreen and Break. You can even configure a switch to control key repeat on the other switches and optionally, the PC keyboard as well.
Two switch options are available to provide a full keyboard. Keystrokes can be generated using morse code on one or two switches. Alternatively, the SoftKey option uses six switches on a hand pad to provide all keys by selecting combinations of switches.
When emulating a mouse, six or seven switches can be used to provide mouse movements and button presses equivalent to a two or three button mouse. Mouse emulation is provided in both DOS and Windows environments. Horizontal, vertical and diagonal movements as well as movement acceleration are supported.
A single switch can provide all mouse functions by scanning through the buttons and four directions at a set rate. The mouse cursor changes to indicate the active mouse operation. Alternatively, all mouse functions can be provided using morse code on one or two switches.
Mouse control is slower than with a conventional mouse but operation is much easier for people who have limited fine motor control because only small movements are required to press the switches, rather than the sweeping movements required to operate a mouse. This is especially true if mouse sensitivity is set low to assist control.
SoftSwitch can be changed between keyboard and mouse emulation to suit the particular program to be run. In keyboard emulation, the keystrokes assigned to each switch can also be changed. With the menu program provided, it is possible to select and run programs without having to use the keyboard.
Many programs require some initial keystrokes to be pressed for program preliminaries such as clearing the title screen or answering configuration questions. The SoftSwitch driver can be configured to supply the necessary keys automatically to minimise typing.
SoftSwitch can provide an onscreen keyboard for DOS programs if desired. This displays a picture of the keyboard on screen. The switches are used to move around and select the desired key which is then returned to the running program (eg. a word processor). The onscreen keyboard can be setup to scan if required, so that it can be operated with a single switch. It can also be operated with the keyboard cursor keys (primarily for test purposes) or a mouse.
Optional smart punctuation is available for morse, SoftKey, the Onscreen keyboard and any switch configured for a punctuation mark. This allows a space to be automatically inserted after a comma, semicolon and colon. It also allows one or two spaces to be inserted after a period, exclamation mark and question mark with the next character capitalised.
A simpler alternative to the onscreen keyboard is provided, in the form of a pop up menu. The keystrokes available are fully configurable, including the text description appearing in the menu. Scanning and colour options are the same as for the onscreen keyboard.
SoftSwitch can provide automatic keystrokes to programs to emulate scanning for single switch use. This can only be used with certain types of programs, but they would otherwise be unusable with a single switch.
Many older programs are too fast when run on modern PCs. SoftSwitch can slow these programs down to an acceptable speed. This can also be used to slow down any program to suit a particular user.
SoftSwitch with Windows
SoftSwitch provides mouse emulation in Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and Windows 95. SoftSwitch works in conjunction with your mouse to allow supplemental or co-operative use. At the present time, only a Microsoft compatible mouse connected via a serial port is supported.
A single switch can be used to emulate the left mouse button, or can provide all mouse functions, either via scanning or morse code. Two switch morse is also supported. Six switches or a switch type joystick can emulate both buttons plus mouse movements. The mouse pointer will move while the corresponding switch is held pressed. Diagonal movements are supported. The speed of movement will increase after about 1 second and again after about two seconds.
Best results are obtained using a proportional joystick as this allows proportional speed control of the mouse pointer. At the present time, there is no provision to emulate the keyboard or provision for an onscreen keyboard in Windows.
All the above functions are performed by a small memory resident driver which is written entirely in assembly language for maximum speed and small size.
The SoftSwitch package contains a number of useful educational and games programs that you can use immediately with a switch, along with some programs that allow you to control various functions provided by SoftSwitch. In addition, some utility programs are provided that will allow you to enhance the operation of other programs and can be used with or without SoftSwitch.
General:
In DOS applications:
In Windows:
and finally: