I was doing some reading for ICT and came across the phrase 'CONCEPT KEYBOARDS' and I thought, Mmmmmmm, I haven't the foggiest what one of those is so I have looked into this further and this is what I have found out.

A concept keyboard is: a keyboard for a computer that is different from the normal qwerty keyboard. I have found one English company that makes what they call 'overlay keyboards, which means that it is a concept keyboard, but an overlay can be changed is placed on to this keyboard that does different things in different programmes. The company can also taylor make these keyboards to suit the user.

They are designed for people with disabilities, SEN and blind people. They also make special keyboards for very young children, with big bright buttons etc.

Some info taken from www.advisory-unit.org.uk/ck/Concept%20Keyboards%20FAQ.html

Concept Keyboards

What is a Concept Keyboard?
A Concept Keyboard is a flat, touch sensitive board, usually A3 or A4 in size, that you can plug into your computer and use as an addition to the QWERTY keyboard. A paper overlay is placed onto the board and the user presses the overlay to activate the board.

Is a Concept Keyboard the same as an overlay keyboard?
Concept Keyboard is the brand name of a particular make of overlay keyboard. A bit like Hoovers are the brand name of a particular make of vacuum cleaner. Overlay keyboard is a generic term that can be used to describe Concept Keyboards, Intellikeys boards etc.

What can I do with a Concept Keyboard?
Basically anything you can do with the QWERTY keyboard, or for that matter with a mouse, can be done using a Concept Keyboard. They are used most commonly as a writing tool providing users with whole words and phrases on the paper overlays. They can also be used to provide access to the Internet, to play back sound and video, even to run programs and provide an alternative to the mouse.

How does the Concept Keyboard work?
Like any keyboard it needs a software ‘driver’. You plug the Concept Keyboard into your computer and you also run the ‘driver’ which is called Concept Plus Driver. You use Concept Plus Driver to tell the computer which overlay you want. The overlay contains all the information the computer needs to carry out the purpose it was created for.

When the overlay has been opened you run that program you want to use the Concept Keyboard with, e.g. Writing with Symbols 2000. Then when you press an area on the Concept Keyboard the computer will do whatever the overlay has been created to tell it to do, e.g. write the word ‘cat’.

Where do I get the paper overlays?
You should have been supplied with some sample paper overlays along with Concept Plus when you bought your Concept Keyboard. You can visit the Concept Keyboard Overlay Exchange where you can download overlays that others have made. You could also make your own, this is not very difficult and is the best way to get overlays that meet your needs.

How do I make my own overlays?
The Concept Plus software comes in 2 parts. There is the driver that you need when you want to use an overlay. There is also the Concept Plus Editor that you can use to create your own overlays.

Who uses Concept Keyboards?
They are used by children and adults who have difficulties with the QWERTY keyboard; usually because they find whole words that are illustrated with pictures or symbols more accessible. Sometimes they are used as an alternative to the QWERTY keyboard by a person who can’t press keys but can manage to press a letters on a larger area.