Eyes-Free Typing App Fleksy Coming to Android With One Major Advantage Over iOS Version

Fleksy the eyes-free typing app that originally debuted for iOS is now available in beta for Android. Fleksy uses gestures and text prediction to allow users to type without looking a the screen. Fleksy can be extremely helpful for the blind and visually impaired and can dramatically increase typing speed people who cannot see the screen. Unlike the iOS version the Android version can replace the default keyboard and be used with any app. In iOS you cannot use Fleksy in an email app or with the messages app but on Android you can. Besides integration with Android apps the Android version will be similar to the iOS version. Android users can try the Fleksy by visiting the Fleksy Beta Google+ page.

Click read more below to view a video about Fleksy.

Researchers Find Faster Eyes-Free Typing Solution for Touch Screens

Researchers have developed and faster way to type on touch screens with out seeing the screen. The solution, called BrailleTouch, is perfect for blind smart phone users. BrailleTouch uses the three dots on each side of the screen to represent Braille alphabet. BrailleTouch is designed to be used with the touch screen facing away from the user. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers of both hands are used to touch the six dots. Researchers claim that BrailleTouch allows users to type eyes-free with 92 percent accuracy and 32 words per minutes. BrailleTouch is a prototype app and is not available to the public.

Click read more below to read the press release.

Tools to Make Typing on iPad Easier

Typing on the iPad's touch screen can be difficult and slow compared to a physical keyboard. While typing on the iPad you must look at the screen because you can not feel the keys. For people that can not see the screen typing on the iPad is slow. There are a couple of tools to solve this problem. The first solution is the iPad keyboard dock. The keyboard dock plugs into the iPad's dock connector and works with the iPad and iPad 2. The keyboard is similar to desktop and laptop key boards but has function keys specialized for the iPad. The keyboard dock costs $69 from Apple. Another option is a Bluetooth keyboard which connects to the iPad wirelessly. There are many Bluetooth keyboards on the market. Bluetooth keyboards can improve your typing experience on the iPad. Yet another solution is Keyguard which is a clear piece of plastic with holes cut  where the virtual keys are. Keyguard fits on the iPad so it does not slide off. Keyguard allows you to feel the location of the virtual keys. Keyguard comes it portrait and landscape views. Each orientation of Keyguard costs $19.95 from Lasered Pics. With these tools you will be able to type faster and more accurately on the iPad.