Keyguard for ZoomText V2 keyboard

thingiverse

Last year my dad received a diagnosis of multiple system atrophy, a rare neurodegenerative disease that shares similarities with Parkinson's disease. Unfortunately, it progresses much faster and has more widespread symptoms, including loss of movement coordination, balance issues, dizziness, slow and stiff movements, vocal cord paralysis, and many others. This disease is fatal and currently lacks a cure. If you're interested in learning more about this debilitating condition, you can find a comprehensive introduction on Wikipedia or a detailed description on The MSA Coalition webpage. Due to the speech disorder caused by multiple system atrophy, alternative forms of communication have become increasingly important. Additionally, my dad's movement disorders made it impossible for him to use a standard keyboard effectively. He struggled to press just one key at a time and frequently encountered typos in even simple words. This made typing extremely frustrating. My dad is also visually impaired, which further complicates matters. Although there are commercial solutions available that address both problems, they come with an exorbitant price tag, especially considering the quality they offer. In response to this, I decided to create a keyguard for his keyboard. This keyguard simply rests on top of all keys and can withstand the weight of both palms. To secure it in place, you can use rubber bands or a flexible string. I believe my project has been somewhat successful, as it's now extremely difficult for my dad to press more than one key at once. Typing has become faster and less frustrating. While I doubt that anyone will require this exact model, I hope it may serve as inspiration for those struggling with keyboard use due to movement disorders. This keyguard is designed specifically for the ZoomText V2 keyboard. If you're unsure which version of the ZoomText keyboard you have, I recommend checking out their pictured guide on their webpage. The model has been split in half to accommodate printing on a standard 200x200mm bed. While it may require some minor adjustments, printing it in two pieces should result in a seamless fit.