Morse code text typing training of a teenager with cerebral palsy using a six-switch Morse keyboard

Abstract

A newly devised six-switch Morse keyboard was designed to improve the Morse code text typing performance of a teenager with cerebral palsy in a six-session training program. With the help of Morse alphabet link relations, the teenager learned to type each alphabetic character intuitively using the six Morse switches: “∙”, “—”, “∙ ∙”, “∙ —”, “— ∙”, and “— —”. The average number of keystrokes per alphabetic character was reduced by a factor of 1.78 as compared with the conventional single-switch or two-switch method. A word-based interactive training system with immediate visual and auditory feedback was employed to provide the teenager with stable and fast typing training. After the three weeks of training, results from this study showed that the teenager’s performance had improved over time. The teenager’s typing rate was measured by words per minute (WPM), with five characters being equated to one word; his recognition rate was measured by an adaptive recognition program. Final test results show that the teenager achieved an average 8.4 WPM typing rate and a nearly 100% teenager. Most importantly, he achieved a much higher typing performance without looking at the keyboard, and as easily as with a single switch or two switches.