| Learning a new program is always a challenge. | | | | key. By configuring the keyboard properly the |
| There are so many new concepts and commands | | | | software manufacture can introduce the new |
| to learn. Most people typically learn and use | | | | user to the little used but powerful features of |
| around 20% of the functions that a program | | | | their program. As a result new user will be more |
| offers. As a result their projects conform to their | | | | likely to experiment with these program features |
| limited skill set. The real power of the program | | | | and be happier with the program. |
| and the outstanding results are left to others. | | | | Help features can easily be incorporated into the |
| Software manufacturers try to overcome this | | | | overlay keyboard. Each key on an overlay |
| problem by creating keyboard shortcuts to the | | | | keyboard has a shift state associated with it. By |
| most popular program functions. While this is | | | | configuring the shift state with the proper section |
| helpful it does not solve the problem of the | | | | of the help file new users can quickly find the help |
| unused commands that are available. What would | | | | they require. |
| be helpful is a quick, easy and visual way to give | | | | Experienced users will also benefit with quick |
| access to the unused functions. | | | | access to the features they know and use. |
| An overlay keyboard is one solution to this | | | | Instead of pressing multiple keys or mouse clicks |
| problem. Each key on an overlay keyboard can | | | | features can be accessed by pressing one button. |
| be configured to reproduce any sequence of | | | | The graphic overlay can be designed to use any |
| keys available on a standard computer keyboard. | | | | button graphics that the program uses as the key |
| A graphic overlay is then made to label the | | | | label. This further integrates the overlay keyboard |
| function that each key produces. | | | | with the software as users can quickly find the |
| With an overlay keyboard new users have | | | | key that is associated with the buttons they are |
| program functions available by pressing just one | | | | use to clicking. |