1. Keyboard Decisions
Heidi Rosendall

2. Keyboard Elements Fonts Keystrokes Unicode Values
Keyboard Mapping Program
Keyboard Elements
LTCT 2012
1/17/2012

3. Choosing Fonts Unicode! SIL Set
Times New Roman, Arial Unicode MS, Lucida Sans Unicode, etc.
Choosing Fonts
LTCT 2012
1/17/2012

4. Choosing Keystrokes Multiple keyboards with simple keystrokes
Keyboard easy to use
Keystrokes easy to remember
Can avoid switching keyboards when switching languages
Requires more maintenance and initial set up
One Keyboard for multiple languages
Easy to maintain and setup (no choices)
Very possible, especially if languages have limited orthography choices
Complicated to write and edit
Deadkeys?
Modifier before and/or after the character
Choosing Keystrokes
LTCT 2012
1/17/2012

5. Choosing Unicode values
Composed or Decomposed Characters?
Composed characters are recommended
Decomposed characters are sometimes necessary
Decomposed characters are more difficult to write keyboards for
Essential to stay consistent across your keyboards
Choosing Unicode values
LTCT 2012
1/17/2012

6. Choosing Keyboard programs
Tavultesoft Keyman (Developer)
InKey
MSKLC
FreeKey
Autocorrect
Choosing Keyboard programs
LTCT 2012
1/17/2012

7. Tavultesoft Keyman (Developer)
Standard Choice, works with all our software, well documented, completely flexible
Costs money ($9 US for 2 keyboards)
Must activate on the internet
Tavultesoft Keyman (Developer)
LTCT 2012
1/17/2012

8. InKey Still in beta Free Bias towards all decomposed characters
Possible to import Keyman source files
Prefers rotas to deadkeys
InKey
LTCT 2012
1/17/2012

9. MSKLC Standard part of Microsoft OS, now works with all our software
“Free” to (Microsoft OS owners)
Simple to set up
Limited possibilities, i.e., only one Unicode value can be mapped so decomposed characters require special treatment
MSKLC
LTCT 2012
1/17/2012

10. Free - Uses the “AutoHotKey” script which has many other uses outside of keyboards
Appears to be very flexible, similar in ability to Keyman possibly
Not well documented, requires a great deal of thought
FreeKey
LTCT 2012
1/17/2012

11. Autocorrect in Word (LibreOffice?) and Paratext Simple, easy and free
Limited to those programs, very limited in scope
Autocorrect
LTCT 2012
1/17/2012