Keyboard Check

Keyboard Test

In some cases there are technical limitations on keyboards which prevent the keyboard from buffering multiple key strokes. These keyboards do not allow the pressing of 6 simultaneous keys, which is required for 6 key Braille entry in the UEB Online exercises. To ensure that your keyboard setup will allow you to complete the exercises, there is a keyboard test which must be completed.

To start the Keyboard Test:

• Go to your Dashboard and press the Begin button for the course you wish to start.
• Read the Course Instructions and acknowledge them by ticking the boxes at the bottom of the page and press the Continue button.
• The Keyboard Test will now appear. Place your cursor in the text area under the Start Keyboard Test heading. This text area is not on this page. It only appears after following these instructions.
• Complete the test by simultaneously pressing all 6 keys as described in Six Key Input below, ten times in a row with no spaces between)

This test must be completed before you can start your first lesson.

Please read the following information about how to use your keyboard for the Six Key Input.

If your keyboard does not work then we suggest that you try a different keyboard. If this still does not work then please contact us.

Six Key Input

To replicate using a braille machine, this course uses six keys on the computer keyboard to present the six dots of the braille cell. These keys are s, d, f, j, k, l. You will also use the space bar to enter spaces between words, the return or enter key to move to the next line, and the backspace or delete key to correct errors.

The keys correspond to the braille dots as follow:

F key, dot 1

D key, dot 2

S key, dot 3

J key, dot 4

K key, dot 5

L key, dot 6

Each keyboard button illustrated represents the dot shown in the braille cell.
(*note these dots do not represent the letters)

Keyboard finger placement

The left hand index finger will use letter F for dot 1 of the braille cell, with 2nd and 3rd fingers of the left hand using letters D and S for dots 2 and 3. The right hand index finger will use letter J for dot 4, with 2nd and 3rd fingers of the right hand using letters K and L for dots 5 and 6.

The 6 keys will be pressed in different combinations to produce the braille letters, contractions and punctuation required to complete all lessons in this course. It is possible to press multiple keys at the same time. For example, to enter the cell dots 1 2 and 4 5 you would press the f, d, j and k keys together.