Activating Scanning Mode

On-Screen Keyboard is a utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen that allows people with mobility impairments to type data by using a pointing device or joystick. Besides providing a minimum level of functionality for some people with mobility impairments, On-Screen Keyboard can also help people who do not know how to type.

In scanning mode, On-Screen Keyboard continually scans the keyboard and highlights areas where you can type keyboard characters by pressing a hot key or using a switch-input device. This tutorial tells you how to select scanning mode for On-Screen Keyboard.

Step	Mouse actions	Keyboard actions
1	On the Start menu: Point to Programs. Point to Accessories. Point to Accessibility. Select On-Screen Keyboard. Note: A message box with a link to more information about the On-Screen Keyboard may appear. To close the box, select OK.	Display the Start menu by pressing CTRL+ESC (or the Windows logo key). Move to Programs by pressing P. Move to Accessories by pressing the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW key. Press ENTER. Move to Accessibility, and then press ENTER. Move to On-Screen Keyboard, and then press ENTER. Note: A message box with a link to more information about the On-Screen Keyboard may appear. To close the box, select ENTER.
2	In the On-Screen Keyboard window: On the Settings menu, select Typing Mode.	In the On-Screen Keyboard window: Display the Settings menu by pressing ALT+S. Select Typing Mode by pressing T.
3	In the Typing Mode dialog box: Select Joystick or key to select.	In the Typing Mode dialog box: Select Joystick or key to select by pressing J.
4	To set the speed for how quickly On-Screen Keyboard scans: Use the up and down arrows next to the Scan Interval box. Select the Advanced button.	To set the speed for how quickly On-Screen Keyboard scans: Press the TAB key. Use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to select a scan interval Select the Advanced button by pressing ALT+A.
5	In the Scanning Options dialog box: Select the Serial, parallel, or game port check box. OR Select the Keyboard key check box.	In the Scanning Options dialog box: Select the Serial, parallel, or game port check box by pressing S. OR Select the Keyboard key check box by pressing K.
6	Select OK two times to close the dialog boxes.	Press ALT+O twice to close the dialog boxes.