August 2008

Stickykeys

By Priti Rohra, Accessibility Consultant, BarrierBreak Technologies

In our day-to-day life, we do a lot of multitasking. For example, we try to press keys with one hand and the other hand is busy holding the phone. In such a situation, we feel that can't we press one key at a time instead of pressing multiple keys simultaneously?

Windows XP allows you to press one key a time instead of a key combination to perform a task. It includes the 'StickyKeys' feature that allows users to press one key at a time and carry out the required task.

StickyKeys are helpful for people with mobility disabilities, such as those with limited hand movement who find it difficult to press multiple keys at the same time. StickyKeys are also useful for people who are working with one hand due to short term injury and those who are multitasking, i.e., holding the phone with one hand and operating the keyboard with the other. In addition, StickyKeys are helpful for senior citizens as well.