Home Support Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) IntelliKeys FAQ's

There are now two types of IntelliKeys:

1. IntelliKeys Classic – the original stone coloured keyboard
2. USB IntelliKeys – gun metal blue with an on/off switch

Testing your IntelliKeys Classic

We need to do this in 3 stages:

1. Connecting IntelliKeys Classic to you computer


2. Testing that IntelliKeys can send text to your computer


3. Testing That IntelliKeys can receive overlays from your computer

1. Connecting IntelliKeys Classic to your computer

What kind of computer are you using IntelliKeys with?

1. An Apple computer


2. A PC Desktop Computer running Microsoft Windows


3. A PC Laptop running Microsoft Windows

1.a Connecting IntelliKeys to an Apple computer

The IntelliKeys Classic can work with Apple IIGS and Macintosh computers by being plugged into the ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) port where either the keyboard and/or the mouse is plugged in. IntelliKeys can also be plugged into an iMac computer via an iMate (ADB to USB adaptor from Griffin Technology)

1. Make sure the computer is turned off.


2. Connect the IntelliKeys IIGS/MAC cable between the top of the IntelliKeys keyboard and the ADB port on your computer.


1. If you removed your keyboard in order to do this, plug your keyboard cable into the short tail of the IntelliKeys cable


2. If you removed your mouse to plug the IntelliKeys cable in, then attach your mouse to the tail of the IntelliKeys cable


3. If you are using a PowerBook you might just need to plug your IntelliKeys cable into the ADB port and have nothing else connected

1.b Connecting IntelliKeys to a Desktop Computer running Windows

1. Make sure the computer is turned off


2. Remove the cable connecting the existing computer keyboard from its socket on the computer


3. Connect the IntelliKeys Cable between the IntelliKeys and the keyboard socket of your computer


4. Connect your standard keyboard into the short tail of the IntelliKeys cable

   Please note – IntelliKeys does not always work properly with an adaptor to attach IntelliKeys to your keyboard socket – perhaps you need to purchase the correct cable in order for IntelliKeys to work with your computer.

1.c Connecting IntelliKeys to a PC Laptop running windows

1. Make sure the computer is turned off


2. Connect the IntelliKeys Cable between the IntelliKeys and the keyboard socket of your computer


3. Do not attach any other device to the tail of the IntelliKeys cable

PC Laptops typically have one PS/2 socket into which can be connected a keyboard or a mouse. When it is turned on the computer decides what is connected to the PS/2 port and activates an appropriate driver (set of software instructions) to work with this attached device. For this reason, connecting a mouse into the short tail of the IntelliKeys cable will not work.

2. Testing that IntelliKeys can send text to your computer

1. Remove any existing overlay in IntelliKeys
2. Insert the Setup Overlay that came with your IntelliKeys (marked “Setup Overlay for IntelliKeys” down the top left hand side of the overlay with grey green and light blue colourings)
3. Turn on your computer
4. Open a word processor application (eg IntelliTalk, SimpleText, WordPad etc.)
5. Press the “Keyboard Reset” button in the bottom left hand corner of the overlay twice.
6. The red and green lights on the IntelliKeys will flash and the IntelliKeys will be reset to its default settings.
7. Press the “A” on the test pad area of your Setup Overlay and ensure an “a” is typed into your word processor.
8. Press the “Shift” button then the “A” button again and ensure a capital “A” is typed into your word processor.
9. You can Press the “IntelliKeys” button and “IntelliKeys” will be entered into you word processor.
10. Locate your mouse curser in the middle of the computer screen, then press the “Mouse Right” button to ensure the mouse cursor moves right when the button is pressed.

    If this doesn’t happen on a PC running Windows you may need to turn MouseKeys on in the Accessibility Options within the Control Panel

3. Testing That IntelliKeys can receive overlays from your computer

Note: You will need Overlay Maker installed on your computer to do this

1. Remove the Setup Overlay from IntelliKeys
2. Open Overlay Maker
3. From the File menu select “Open”
4. Find a Sample Overlay (eg “Weather” in the “Activity” folder within the “Samples” folder that comes with Overlay Maker)
5. Select “Send Overlay” from the File menu
6. The screen will indicate that an overlay is being sent to IntelliKeys
7. Open your word processor
8. Press some areas of IntelliKeys to ensure the Sample Overlay has been received and will enter text into your word processor.

If you are not able to carry out these tests successfully, please contact Spectronics for assistance.