SwitchXS™ provides virtually complete access to Mac OS X and all standard Mac applications for people who can only use one or more switches. It offers full mouse and keyboard emulation by what is known as switch scanning.

SwitchXS uses both the Auto-Stepping and Auto-Selecting scan methods.

When Auto-Stepping with a single switch SwitchXS automatically highlights the next line, group or button at the scan speed rate. The switch is used to select the line, group or button as SwitchXS scans.

Auto-Selecting with a single switch is where each click of the switch is used to scan or move between lines, groups or buttons. If the line group or button is highlighted longer than the scan period it is selected by SwitchXS.

There are several methods for using multiple switches, but one example is to use one switch to move the highlight between lines, groups or buttons and the second to select.

A single switch Auto-Stepping example uses a single adaptive switch to begin scanning the keyboard and in turn each row of keys is highlighted. Select a row by clicking the switch when that row of keys is highlighted. Then each button in that row is highlighted in sequence. When the button of interest is highlighted click the switch and the function of that button is executed. For example, if a letter button is selected, such as "B" that letter is sent to the active application. If one of the mouse emulation buttons is selected, such as "mouse pointer up" the pointer begins moving up. Click the switch again and the mouse pointer stops.

Click here for a simple animation showing SwitchXS in action. The animation shows how SwitchXS can be used with the PolyPredix prediction utility to greatly improve text entry speed.

SwitchXS provides a number of predefined scanning panels for moving the cursor, clicking and typing in all standard Mac applications and even playing games. A scanning panel can be thought of as a keyboard with additional buttons for mouse emulation, menu scanning and managing the scanning process. SwitchXS also has audio-cueing, speech-cueing, adjustable mouse speed, adjustable scanning speed and cycling, key repeat and keyboard transparency. SmartTransparency(TM) makes the scanning panel partially or fully transparent when not scanning and makes it possible to see “under” the keyboard between scans.

With this version of SwitchXS a new graphical panel layout editor known as LayoutKitchen is being introduced. Custom panels can be built using this utility for entering text, opening documents, generating keyboard shortcuts, speaking, launching applications and more.

An example of a special scan panel made with LayoutKitchen for controlling iTunes is shown below.

Another example highlights how photographs can be used with LayoutKitchen to make very interesting and custom scan panels. This panel is used with Proloquo™ the high-quality speech output application. In this case Proloquo is accessed with SwitchXS using a custom scan panel.

In addition to using photographs the Mayer-Johnson Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) can be used to make custom speech panels for Proloquo. The PCS symbol set includes over 8000 symbols and is available from Origin Instruments.

SwitchXS can be combined with Proloquo for high quailty speech output in English, French, German, Spanish and other languages. For the Japanese language, SwitchXS can be used with DTalker from Create System in Japan. When combined with SwitchXS it provides Japanese voice cueing. When the PCS for LayoutKitchen communication symbol collection, SwitchXS and DTalker are combined they form a complete switch accessible, communication solution for the Japanese language.

A very important feature of SwitchXS is that not only can the keyboard be scanned but the application and system menus can be as well.

SwitchXS works with most USB joysticks, game pads, as well as switch interfaces that emulate those devices. In addition, it can be used with a regular keyboard as well as switch interfaces that emulate a keyboard. SwitchXS supports multiple switches and user configurable scanning methods.

Configuring SwitchXS is a simple process. Attach the USB switch interface, gamepad or joystick to the computer or use the regular keyboard or mouse. SwitchXS is installed by dragging it from the disk image or CD to the hard disk. Double click the SwitchXS application icon to load SwitchXS. Next, select the input device and button, or buttons.

SwitchXS will remember the configuration settings as long as the switch interface device is connected before launching SwitchXS. SwitchXS can also be configured to automatically launch each time at login.

SwitchXS is localized for English, French and Japanese. However, it works with most other languages.

SwitchXS can be used in conjunction with PolyPredix™, a word prediction, phrase prediction and abbreviation expansion utility. Word prediction can significantly increase text entry speed by predicting the word or phase being typed as characters are entered. More details are available on the KeyStrokes page.

SwitchXS 2.2 is a free upgrade for current owners.

System Requirements:

SwitchXS runs on Mac OS X 10.2 and higher. Mac OS X 10.4 or newer is recommended.

SwitchXS requires a minimal screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels.

SwitchXS works with any HID compliant USB gamepad, joystick and keyboard, and starting with Mac OS X 10.3 also with any HID compliant USB mouse or trackball. SwitchXS also works with USB switch interfaces emulating any of the above devices.

Downloads:

A time constrained (15-day period) full version of SwitchXS is available for evaluation from our demonstration page. The SwitchXS manual is available for download.

Features:

• Full mouse and keyboard emulation
• Works seamlessly with all standard Mac OS and Mac OS X applications
• Automatic Menu Scanning
• Audio and Speech Cueing
• SmartTransparency to hide keyboard when not in use
• Handles command-key and modifier key combinations, and dead-keys
• Multiple resizable scan panels
• Programmable scan speed and cycling, and mouse speed
• Works with a wide range of input devices
• Support for mixing switch and mouse input
• Use with One or More Switches
• Enhanced Game Compatibility
• Special Game Scan Panel
• Includes LayoutKitchen™ a Graphical Panel Editor