Handheld Portable IMPACT

Handheld Portable IMPACT combines a large keyboard (80% of full size) with a touchscreen to provide additional methods of message production. The expanded touchscreen means that you can have more (or larger) onscreen buttons, allowing for more varied augmentative interfaces. With its nylon carrying case, the Handheld can be used effectively while standing or sitting.

The hardware utilized for Handheld Portable IMPACT is a portable computer (the NEC MobilePro 770) running Microsoft's Windows CE operating system. Here are some technical specifications on the Handheld:

Weight: 1.7 lbs
Size: 9.6" by 5.2" by 1.1"
Screen: Screen: 640 by 240 pixels, 256 colors
Ports: Compact flash, PC card, infrared, serial, headphone
Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion, 4-6 hour life (depending on usage)
Inputs: Touchscreen, keyboard, scanning
Peripherals: AC power adapter, serial cable, external monitor cable, carrying case, external speaker, speaker cable
Options: External switch box, Mayer Johnson Symbol Pack, Upgraded MJ Symbol Pack

Handheld Portable IMPACT ships with 9 different pre-defined onscreen keyboards and 1 pre-defined symbol-based interface. Of course, with the built-in interface editor you can create your own symbol-based and phrase-based configurations right on the device. Below you'll find thumbnail pictures of each of the Handheld interfaces. Just click on the picture to see a full-sized view of one of the configurations.

The Alpha-List configuration provides an alphabetically arranged keyboard that requires no memorization to use, combined with a 7 word prediction list to accelerate message production. A second page provides access to numbers and additional punctuation.

The Qwerty-List interface combines an onscreen version of the familiar QWERTY key layout with a 6 word prediction list and various editing buttons and speech controls. Numbers and punctuations are accessed just like they are a real keyboard.

The Direct-List> interface is designed to minimize stylus (or finger) movements. Letters that often occur together, like "er" and "th" are adjacent to one another. This interface requires some learning at first, but offers substantial rewards in the long run.

The Scan-List and Scan-Char configurations are optimized for scanning selection. More frequent characters are placed near the upper left corner so that they can be selected more quickly using row-column scanning. Unlike the Alpha and Direct interfaces, all the characters are located on a single page. The Scan-Char layout includes a character prediction list (known to provide even greater efficiency than does word prediction).

The Write and List configurations are designed to be used with our optional external keyboard or your own standard PS/2 keyboard. Both interfaces support keyboard input and provide a range of onscreen buttons for editing and controlling speech. The List interface provides a 9 word prediction list that can be accessed with the number keys on the keyboard (or via the touchscreen).

The Ambig-Char and Ambig-Word interfaces have 3 characters on each button. Each time you select a button, Portable IMPACT tries to figure out which character you meant by looking at the earlier letters and words that you typed. When the system guesses incorrectly, you simply tell it to try another guess.

The Symbol-Base configuration is designed to serve as an example of the type of symbol-based interface that you can generate yourself using the built-in interface editor. Modify this interface or create your own from scratch!

Enkidu Research, Inc., 24 Howard Ave., Lockport, NY 14094. Tel: 800-297-9570; Fax: 716-433-6164.