Landmarks on a keyboard / myLot

Rockingham, Australia

October 12, 2017 6:12pm CST

My brother was totally blind for the last 20 years of his life. This didn’t stop him learning how to type and use a computer. Although he sometimes found it incredibly frustrating it also enabled him to (mostly) keep up with family and friends. He learnt to type with a software program which wouldn’t let him proceed to the next lesson unless he had a pre-set minimum number of mistakes in the current one. At one point it introduced capital letters but didn’t tell him how to get them and so he was stymied until he rang me to find out what keys to press to create capitals. As you can see from the photo, he had pieces of Velcro on significant keys. His emails had remarkably few errors. He was also on a couple of Facebook sites although I don’t think he contributed much to them. His machine would read out whatever was on the screen and although it wasn't the perfect solution it was better than nothing. While his accomplishment is to be admired, I know other ‘sight-impaired’ people do amazingly well in all areas of life. I thought you might be interested to know how my brother found his way around the keyboard.

13 people like this

14 responses

Anna

@LadyDuck (459735)

• Switzerland

13 Oct 17

I admire those who do not see and make their way thought life as the best they can. We have a friend (woman) who is blind, she has placed Braille etiquette all over the kitchen, she loves to cook and she does not accept to renounce to do something she likes. Congratulations to your brother.

5 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326467)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Oct 17

Thanks. The blind can do just about anything if they are determined enough.

4 people like this

Anna

@LadyDuck (459735)

• Switzerland

13 Oct 17

@JudyEv You are right, it is incredible how many things they can do.

3 people like this

Nancy Zink

@ramapo17 (30441)

• Melbourne, Florida

25 Nov 17

@JudyEv You are right, they can do almost anything. A lot of typist never look at the keys and everything is perfect but at least they can look when it is done and see if it was okay.

2 people like this

Show more comments

much2say

@much2say (53942)

• Los Angeles, California

13 Oct 17

That is amazing! I can see how those "landmarks" would help him to find where he is on the keyboard. Did he type at all previously?

3 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326467)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Oct 17

He was and truly middle-aged when he learnt. That in itself would be pretty remarkable.

2 people like this

fishtiger58

@fishtiger58 (29823)

• Momence, Illinois

13 Oct 17

That's a great idea, and then to read facebook and such he had a voice reading it to him??

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326467)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Oct 17

I should have said that. Yes, his machine would read out stuff to him. I'll edit the post to say that.

1 person likes this

fishtiger58

@fishtiger58 (29823)

• Momence, Illinois

13 Oct 17

@JudyEv I thought so although I have never seen that in action.

1 person likes this

Kandase

@Kandae11 (53698)

•

12 Oct 17

That is awesome! I read somewhere that when one sense is lost the others become even sharper.

3 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326467)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Oct 17

That is true. My brother had very keen hearing and a great sense of touch although because he hadn't learnt Braille when he was younger, he couldn't distinguish the dot patterns later when he tried.

1 person likes this

peachpurple

@peachpurple (13889)

• Malaysia

13 Oct 17

your brother has the talent, i doubt anyone with impaired sight could do that well

2 people like this

show previous comments

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326467)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Oct 17

@peachpurple I don't know. Quite possibly. Maybe some specialised ones do.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326467)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Oct 17

I know many blind people use computers but it's still marvellous that they do.

1 person likes this

peachpurple

@peachpurple (13889)

• Malaysia

13 Oct 17

@JudyEv yes but do keyboards have braile?

1 person likes this

Show more comments

Darcy Nemo

@YrNemo (20261)

•

13 Oct 17

wow, your brother was impressive OK. He must be in heaven now, watching us and having a good laugh.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326467)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Oct 17

Hopefully he can see again now and won't need any clever devices.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326467)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Oct 17

@YrNemo Some kids can really tie you in knots can't they?

1 person likes this

Darcy Nemo

@YrNemo (20261)

•

13 Oct 17

@JudyEv Oh, we are supposed to be in complete & perfect health up there

. However, some little girl just asked me a few days ago, 'if that lady was in heaven, and her goldfish was also in fish heaven, then how could the lady see her fish? Would the human's heaven close to the fish's one?'

1 person likes this

Show more comments

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

14 Oct 17

Typing can be difficult enough for me, so I cannot help but be impressed by a blind person typing.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (326467)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Oct 17

His emails had very few mistakes. It was quite incredible.

1 person likes this

hereandthere

@hereandthere (45651)

• Philippines

13 Oct 17

i once read that blind people fold their money differently depending on the denomination, and that when pouring water in a glass, they can tell from the sound when it's almost full.

1 person likes this