IntelliKeys:

Assistive Keyboard
Learning
Emerald Skelton, EDU 214
What IntelliKeys is
IntelliKeys is an alternative keyboard that was
created in the 1990’s, marketed as a keyboard for
all students. With its simple USB plug-and-play
design and its compatibility with multiple
operating systems, Intellikeys certainly is
accessible across a wide reach of settings.

The Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy

describes that “it is designed for individuals with
physical disabilities who have difficulty accessing
standard computer keyboards.”
How it Can Be Used for Special Needs
IntelliKeys “provides computer access for people with physical limitations,
developmental delays, and cognitive and visual impairments” (Khalsa, 1992).

In the classroom, IntelliKeys has the potential to provide great assistance

towards students with…

➔ motor disabilities-- paralysis, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, tremors.

➔ visual impairments-- macular degeneration, myopia (nearsightedness),
varying degrees of blindness.
With IntelliKeys, special needs students can be included in lessons that they would
otherwise have been unable to access without this assistive technology.
Pros
Compatibility: IntelliKeys is compatible with Android devices, ChromeBooks, and
computers using Mac OS or Windows.

Versatility: IntelliKeys is programmable for a variety of different uses.

Success: Many teachers who have implemented IntelliKeys in place of standard

keyboards for their students with disabilities report outstanding desirable effects
(Denham et al., 2001).

Inclusion: IntelliKeys allows students with disabilities to partake in the same, if not
similar, curricula and educational opportunities.
Cons

High Cost: One IntelliKeys unit will cost $395, versus a standard keyboard which
costs as low as $10.

Form Factor: Since IntelliKeys must be linked to a computer, it restricts its

capabilities to technology-reliant learning.

Limited Community: IntelliKeys lacks the abundance of FAQ forums and large
communities of users that are found with more popular hardware and software
companies. This can become a problem if technical difficulties arise and a solution
is hard to come by.
 IntelliKeys Website and YouTube Video

IntelliKeys Website

Overview of IntelliKeys
Citations

Denham, A., & Lahm, E. A. (2001). Using technology to construct alternate portfolios of
students with moderate and severe disabilities. Teaching Exceptional Children, 33(5), 10.
http://ezproxy.library.csn.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.library.csn.edu/sc
holarly-journals/using-technology-construct-alternate-portfolios/docview/201146052/se-2?ac
countid=27953

Khalsa, A. S. (1992). IntelliKeys. The smart keyboard. Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest,
13(4), 466-470. https://www.jhuapl.edu/content/techdigest/pdf/V13-N04/13-04-Khalsa.pdf
Website Links
https://www.jhuapl.edu/content/techdigest/pdf/V13-N04/13-04-Khalsa.pdf

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olarly-journals/using-technology-construct-alternate-portfolios/docview/201146052/se-2?accou
ntid=27953

https://bltt.org/intellikeys/