Only certain keyboards will work for ANY six-key input braille computer program. They must be capable of producing the six-dot character yet MANY KEYBOARDS WILL NOT PRODUCE ANY MORE THAN FOUR DOTS WHEN ALL SIX KEYS ARE PRESSED AS NEEDED FOR BRAILLE. Keyboards that will store six keys at once are said to have "six-key rollover". The fact that many manufacturers have dropped this feature in recent years is producing a real problem for braillists.

Do not confuse this problem with the spreading of dots for a single braille character to more than one cell. SPREADING OF DOTS IS NOT DUE TO THE KEYBOARD. It may be due to misadjustment of timing within the braille computer program. For most programs this can be readjusted by the braillist. For Pokadot see section A6 of PD_INTRO.DOC.

Here is the information that I have been able to accumulate with help from users from 2002 to the above date on suppliers of keyboards with six-key rollover.

--------------------------------KEYBOARD MODEL NUMBERS
--------------------------------WITH SIX-KEY ROLLOVER

STILL SOLD IN 2007

Belkin Classic------------------F8E206-PS/2 (sold by Office Depot)
Dell Multimedia (USB)-----------SK-8135 Revision A00
Dell Ergonomic (USB)------------Part No. A0524354
Fellowes------------------------KB-2971 (sold by Radio Shack)
Microsoft Digital Media Pro-----Model 1031 (sold by Staples)
Microsoft Comfort Curve (USB)---Model 2000
Microsoft Ergonomic (USB)-------Model 4000
Logitech Classic 200 (USB)------Model Y-UR83 (sold by Staples)
Logitech (USB)------------------Model G15 {sold by Amazon.com)
HP Multimedia-------------------Model 5187 Only Revision 2.0
Compaq--------------------------Model I101-P01

DON'T KNOW WHETHER STILL SOLD

Compaq--------------------KB-9965, KB-0133
Logitech------------------Y-SA2
Compaq--------------------SK2800C, SK2800M, SDM4540UL
Dell Quiet Key------------SK-8000
e-Machines----------------SK9908
Hewlett-Packard-----------SK2506, SK2560, KB0228
IBM-----------------------KB-8923, KB-9910
Belkin Classic -----------KB-6868
PC Accessories------------KB-7903
Mitsumi-------------------KFK-EA4XA
Micro Innovations---------KB-2961
Zeos----------------------KB-6251/2
NEC-----------------------KB-6923
Toshiba-------------------KB-2971
Samsung-------------------SDK-3500

The Belkin Ergoboard F8E817-PS/2 used to work and was on the above list until 2005 but a user has reported that the latest version using the same model number no longer has six-key rollover.

The model number of the keyboard can be found on its underside except for laptops. If any reader has found other currently sold national brand computers or separate keyboards with six-key rollover I would appreciate getting notification of it at the email address below and will include it in later versions of this file. The real problem is that there is no guarantee that even the above keyboard models will continue to be available on the open market.

Before you replace your keyboard make sure that your problem is inability to make six dots at all and not misadjusted timing by testing your current keyboard as follows. In a Windows computer click Start then Search. In the space provided to type a file name type NOTEPAD.EXE. A list will appear - double-click NOTEPAD.EXE in the list. A window labeled NOTEPAD will open in which to type. Press the six keys SDFJKL SIMULTANEOUSLY. Then press ENTER to move to the next line and press the six keys once more. All six letters must show on both lines but the order does not matter. If you do not have Windows you can run the same test at the DOS command prompt.

If you cannot get all letters to show then you will not be able to braille multi-dot characters reliably with that keyboard in ANY six-key input braille program.

If you must replace your keyboard make sure that you get one with a compatible connector. The most popular one on the computer box at present is a PS/2 connector. However, the trend is to go to a USB connector. Some keyboards with USB connectors will work but it is essential that you test these for six-key input as described above before buying a computer with a USB keyboard because it will be very difficult to find a replacement USB keyboard with six-key rollover. Radio Shack sells an adapter for about $10 (part 26-241) that will permit a keyboard with a PS/2 connector to plug into the computer's USB port. In 2003 it worked only sometimes but it may have been improved by now.

If you are planning to buy a new computer for braille you should test the keyboard as above.

Another important thing to do is to save your old keyboard if it has six-key rollover to use with any new computer that does not come with a six-key rollover keyboard. If your old keyboard has the large AT style connector and the new computer has a small PS2 connector you can buy an AT/PS2 adapter at your local computer store.

If you have information on six-key keyboards I would appreciate your sending it to me by email for inclusion in this list. HOWEVER PLEASE NOTE: You MUST include either the word POKADOT, BRAILLE, or KEYBOARD in the SUBJECT section of your email in order to bypass my spam filters. I would also appreciate an email telling the name of your city to help me know where this is used.

Len Dozier
Email: lend@braille-pokadot.com
Tel: 360-574-6167 (After 9 AM Pacific Time USA)