Temporarily disable keyboard and trackpad (childproof)

Hand cuffs? 🙂

ROFLMAO! LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL I couldn't help myself, just had to do that.


Carolyn 😉

HI xcer,

I can't think anything you can do to disable the keyboard and track pad. Maybe you can find a toy laptop for the toddler to keep him/her busy. Never too young to start learning!

Carolyn 🙂

I don't have an answer yet, but just wondering what type of Mac you are using. If you have a desktop, unplugging the USB cord for the keyboard and mouse could be the easiest temporary fix. You can buy a USB extension cable for a few dollars and have it sitting within easy reach, so you don't keep having to grope behind the computer to unplug it. But this won't help if you have a laptop of course. I just tried a utility called Keyboard Cleaner which turns off the keyboard temporarily, but it also blanks out the screen, so that's not much use.

I also found this application called Victor which sounds ideal, but it wasn't available for download. You might like to try emailing the author to see if he can get a copy to you:
http://mac.softpedia.com/progDownload/Victor-Download-6268.html

If you use a Bluetooth keyboard I think there's a switch on the bottom to turn it off temporarily.

Ahh! You may be in luck, I just found this:
http://alphababy.sourceforge.net/

The author wrote it for the exact purpose you describe. Newer versions are Leopard only, but older versions should work with Tiger and maybe Panther.

Hope this helps!

Sorry, I just tried AlphaBaby and it doesn't do what you need..

And I noticed I gave you the wrong website for Victor, it's here, but you'll have to email the author to download it:
http://www.mparrot.net/index.php?page=products

Email him at his support site:
http://www.mparrot.net/index.php?page=support&lang=en

The description for Victor:
http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Utilities/Victor.shtml

Next time I promise not to post when half-asleep (for some reason the Apple discussion groups say I don't have permission to edit my own posts, so I can't fix my previous messages)

Hi,
I have a little monster that likes to rat around with the keyboard too. Here is my totally non-hitech solution. I cut up a cardboard box and made a custom cover for my Powerbook's keyboard. It works like a charm. I put a couple of stiffening braces inside it and she draws on it while I'm chatting with grandma.

Hello,

I did a similar thing to keep my cats off my keyboard! Works like a charm.

Carolyn 🙂

System Preferences>Security

Check 'Require password to wake this computer from sleep or screen saver' and set a hot corner for the screen saver: make sure to use it when leaving the computer unattended.

Just give him/her some pencils to draw with and all will be fine. Low-tech means low price!