Abstract: An interface system that allows for tactile manipulation of a touch screen for people with disabilities and which provides appropriate tactile marking for the action they wish to carry out and that may afford a sensation that a button is being pressed to a user, is provided. The system includes a touch screen and a tactile button assembly that extends over at least a portion of the touch screen. The tactile button assembly includes tactile buttons with tactile indicia that can be felt by a user. The tactile buttons are arranged with respect to the touch screen so that when a tactile button is pressed by a user, a contact end of the tactile button contacts a button on the touch screen to perform a predetermined task associated with pressing such button on the touch screen.

Abstract: A method is defined for providing an individual increased accessibility to a touch screen displaying first and second elements. The individual initially engages the touch screen with a contact point at a first location. The contact point is dragged across the touch screen into engagement with the first element and the first element is highlighted in response thereto. Thereafter, the individual may drag the contact point across the touch screen from the first element into engagement with the second element whereby the second element is highlighted on the touch screen and the highlight is removed from the first element. Audible announcements may accompany the contacting of the first or second elements with the contact point.

Abstract: An interface system and method are provided for facilitating cross-disability access to an electronic device. A first screen of a plurality of screens is displayed on the electronic device. Each screen includes at least one of a non-input element and an input element. The interface system includes a keyboard having a plurality of alpha-numeric keys and a plurality of keys or selectors that allow a user to navigate through the non-input elements and input elements of the plurality of screens.

Abstract: A method is defined for providing an individual increased accessibility to a touch screen displaying first and second elements. The individual initially engages the touch screen with a contact point at a first location. The contact point is dragged across the touch screen into engagement with the first element and the first element is highlighted in response thereto. Thereafter, the individual may drag the contact point across the touch screen from the first element into engagement with the second element whereby the second element is highlighted on the touch screen and the highlight is removed from the first element. Audible announcements may accompany the contacting of the first or second elements with the contact point.

Abstract: An interface system that allows for tactile manipulation of a touch screen for people with disabilities and which provides appropriate tactile marking for the action they wish to carry out and that may afford a sensation that a button is being pressed to a user, is provided. The system includes a touch screen and a tactile button assembly that extends over at least a portion of the touch screen. The tactile button assembly includes tactile buttons with tactile indicia that can be felt by a user. The tactile buttons are arranged with respect to the touch screen so that when a tactile button is pressed by a user, a contact end of the tactile button contacts a button on the touch screen to perform a predetermined task associated with pressing such button on the touch screen.

Abstract: A bezel positionable adjacent the outer periphery of a computer touch screen is provided. The bezel includes an elongated rim having a first side adjacent the computer screen and a surface. An identification marker positioned on the surface of the rim and identifying a predetermined area of the touch screen. A tactile indicium structure is on the surface at a location between the identification marker and the predetermined area of the touch screen. The tactile indicium structure includes an upper surface having tactile indicium thereon.

Abstract: A bezel positionable adjacent the outer periphery of a computer touch screen is provided. The bezel includes an elongated rim having a first side adjacent the computer screen and a surface. An identification marker positioned on the surface of the rim and identifying a predetermined area of the touch screen. A tactile indicium structure is on the surface at a location between the identification marker and the predetermined area of the touch screen. The tactile indicium structure includes an upper surface having tactile indicium thereon.

Abstract: A bezel positionable adjacent the outer periphery of a computer touch screen is provided. The bezel includes an elongated rim having a first side adjacent the computer screen and a surface. An identification marker positioned on the surface of the rim and identifying a predetermined area of the touch screen. A tactile indicium structure is on the surface at a location between the identification marker and the predetermined area of the touch screen. The tactile indicium structure includes an upper surface having tactile indicium thereon.

Abstract: An interface system and method are provided for facilitating cross-disability access to an electronic device. A first screen of a plurality of screens is displayed on the electronic device. Each screen includes at least one of a non-input element and an input element. The interface system includes a keyboard having a plurality of alpha-numeric keys and a plurality of keys or selectors that allow a user to navigate through the non-input elements and input elements of the plurality of screens.

Abstract: A bezel positionable adjacent the outer periphery of a computer touch screen is provided. The bezel includes an elongated rim having a first side adjacent the computer screen and a surface. An identification marker positioned on the surface of the rim and identifying a predetermined area of the touch screen. A tactile indicium structure is on the surface at a location between the identification marker and the predetermined area of the touch screen. The tactile indicium structure includes an upper surface having tactile indicium thereon.

Abstract: A reduced button set control panel provides control of electronic devices in parallel with standard controls of the device. This permits improved access to the functions of the electronic devices for users who may be disabled. Functions invocable by conventional controls are mapped to one or more lists which may be navigated through by means of up and down arrows or enabled by means of an access control button of the reduced button set control panel. Thus as few as three buttons may allow a wide variety of control of different pieces of equipment. The access button may be further invoked to activate a second modality to the conventional controls in which their functions are not invoked when these controls are pressed but instead descriptions of the operations of the controls is provided. These descriptions may be layered so that as successive invocations occur, additional information is provided to the user but not to users who do not require it.

Abstract: A touch screen system for the vision-impaired provides a speed list in which each of the virtual buttons on a screen are duplicated in a line along one edge of the screen to provide rapid access to the virtual buttons while taking advantage of their logical grouping among multiple screens to assist both vision-impaired and fill-sighted individuals.

Abstract: A touch screen system for people with disabilities provides an access screen presenting multiple paths of communication and multiple methods of input for a variety of disabilities. People with disabilities communicating with this access screen configure the touch screen for their particular communication needs, allowing use of the touch screen efficiently both for individuals with disabilities and for individuals without disabilities. Individuals with occasional difficulty in interpreting written legends on particular virtual buttons may use a distinct access button to provide an augmented legend for those buttons on an "as needed" basis.