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Level 1

43 points

What Alternatives to Typing are Available in OS X?

I have severe bilateral arm and hand pain, for whatever reason. I also have coordination problems, so can only type with one hand, have to disable complex gestures on the trackpad, and keep accidentally triggering unwanted gestures on touch devices.

My right arm hurts more after typing. My arms hurt anyway, but it doesn't help.

I have tried "Dictation." I even bought an external microphone. I had no success. It would misinterpret "a" as "hey" or "A," it would drop spaces and add capital letters, it would misinterpret many other common words, sometimes as slurs, and other things. I think it took as much typing to fix the results as it would've taken to type the whole thing in the first place.

I have now also tried "Ink," with a graphics tablet. I had no success. It would miss letters and strokes and turn the results into gibberish.

I am at a loss.

Any ideas?

MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Nov 5, 2015 8:38 PM

18 replies

K Shaffer

Level 8

35,002 points

Feb 4, 2016 2:01 AM in response to Marja E

Another person with issues has posted, not quite the same situation

but also has a need for consideration; perhaps more input to Feedback

regarding software & hardware options or changes that you may help

initiate if most persons with accessibility issues multiplied their voice...

Need one finger right side trackpad scroll, disabled and cannot use two finger scroll

Seems that to wait for a third party cure for these kinds of similar issues

could be a long wait; so those interested and needing change, could do

the entire 'accessibility process' some good by prompting Apple to work

toward several solutions for their product users; ones directly from Apple.

There should be some effort among Mac users and Apple product users

to contact Apple Feedback or even more directly where possible, to help

facilitate changes to the hardware, software; and to provide Apple options.

Others who have friends or relatives with accessibility issues need to ask

for more consideration for options that help Apple users better than this.

And to combine effort may be a way to see some better products along

with software that takes into account not everyone has extra fingers or

toes, or two noses, elbow or a trained dog to help them use their Mac.

Good luck...! 😐

Marja E Author

Level 1

43 points

Apr 15, 2016 11:23 AM in response to K Shaffer

Thank you. I picked up a logitech keyboard, still small, without any awkward keypad, without the problem keys. It's intended for tablets, but works with the macbook. I might pick up Dragon, the price has been cut.

Oct 12, 2016 2:11 PM in response to Marja E

Get someone very gently to stretch your neck by pulling upwards on your skull - one hand each side. Often bilateral arm pain is caused by collapsed disks in the neck.

It's worth trying - but gently

What Alternatives to Typing are Available in OS X?