Interchangeable keyboard with self defining keys

摘要

Each keyboard key is marked with a self-defining indicator. A matrix of key sensing circuits for the keyboard are configured to detect this indicator when the keys are depressed and provide an output to a keyboard controller which in turn provides key signals to the keyboard's connector that is indistinguishable by a computer system from the output of a standard QWERTY keyboard. This enables the disabled user to carry this keyboard from one computer system to another and simply exchange it for the standard keyboard for the computer. There are no changes required to be made to the computer's operating system or any software of the computer in order to allow the disabled user to use the computer. Furthermore, other users are not required to reconfigure the computer system after the standard keyboard has been re-installed.