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UniControl 1.0 - Windows keyboard simulator, for physical deficient people
               - Requires a unique type of movement from the operator
               - Only a mouse button is used, no additional hardware needed
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- What is UniControl?
   It's a shareware released keyboard simulator, for people with physical 
problems, who can't use a conventional keyboard. The operator use a mouse 
button synchronized with blinking keys in a little window on the screen.
   The simulator allows control of all Windows 3.1 applications with keyboard 
interface, in a simple and efficient manner, only with a mouse button.

-  Minimum system configuration required:

   Standard 386SX computer running Windows 3.1 with mouse.

-  Installation:

   1. Create a directory, like C:\WINDOWS\UNICTRL;
   2. Unzip and copy the files to this directory;
   3. Put UNICTRL.EXE in a Program Manager group;
   4. Change the keyboard layout in the International section of Control 
      Panel to US-International;
   5. Adapt the mouse to the user. Example: if the user can only moves 
      the tongue, obviously the mouse button must be close to his mouth 
      to be comfortably accessible.

-  Utilization:

   In the window of the simulator (always visible on the screen) appear the 
keys of an US-International keyboard, the arrange is strange in a first view, 
but it was designed to obtain faster speed of access to the more used keys. 
The layout is critical because the user input is very slow.

   Why don't reproduce a standard QWERTY layout?
   - 1. The layout chosen is more logical and efficient for this application;
   - 2. The layout of a standard keyboard results in more screen area, leaving
        less space to the applications on the screen;
   - 3. The target user don't works and probably never worked with a standard 
        keyboard.

   The blinking regions of keys are successively selected by the operator 
until he gets the desired key. Two commands exists:
   - 1. SELECT command - press and release the mouse button when the desired 
key or region is active on screen;
   - 2. CANCEL command - press the mouse button and only releases it after 
the active region has changed on the screen. This command allows to cancel 
the active region and return to a superior level.

   There are three main regions of keys, that successively subdivides until 
the keys:

Region 1: Control keys.
   The rows # 1-5 of the simulator, that contains keys like Enter, Del, PgUp, 
etc...
   Each row is a subdivision of region 1, the next subdivisions are the keys 
of the rows.
   The next active region is selected in a smart way. Example:
when a direction key is selected these keys continues to blink because is 
very possible that the next key will be a direction key, but when the ESC 
key is selected, region 1 is the next region to blink.

Region 2: Alphabetic characters, punctuation and digits.
   This region subdivides in 4 regions:
   2.1- Three rows of alphabetic characters;
   2.2- Next four rows of alphabetic characters;
   2.3- Punctuation and accentuation characters;
   2.4- digits and other characters.
   Each sub region subdivides in the respective rows and keys.
   When an alphabetic character is selected, the next region is 2.1, because 
is expected another alphabetic character. When a digit is selected, the rows 
of digits continues to blink.

Region 3: Function keys and less used control keys.
   Subdivide in respective rows and keys.
   When a key is selected, the next active region is 1.


Mnemonics used for naming the keys:
EXI - Exit, is not a keyboard simulated key, just finish the simulator;
SPC - Space bar;
ESC - yes, is the Escape key;  ``8^) 
BKS - BACKSPACE;
ENT - Enter;
CTL - Control, Ctrl;
ALT - Alternate, Alt;
TAB - Tab;
SHF - Shift;
CAP - Caps Lock;
DEL - Delete, Del;
INS - Insert, Ins;
PGU - Page Up, PgUp; 
PGD - Page Down, PgDn;
HOM - Home;
END - End;
NUM - Num Lock;
SCR - Scroll Lock;
PSC - Print Screen;
PSE - Pause.

   Some keys are repeated, but represented with symbols, like the Space Bar 
in the alphabetic section by an empty rectangle and the Shift key by an 
empty up arrow. 
   When the simulator is working, the mouse is locked, but the keyboard can 
be used by another user to help the operator.
   Warning! The keystroke CTRL-ALT-DEL really resets the computer, use it 
only in emergency cases.

-  Configuration file (UNICTRL.INI)

   The user can adjust three parameters of the simulator:
   X_Position= X position of the window 
   Y_Position= Y position of the window 
     - default position: lower right corner of the screen.
   BlikTime= activation time of a region, in milli seconds 
     - default: 1000 (1 sec)

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-  Known Problems:

   1. DO NOT use the system menu commands SIZE and MOVE, because when 
selected, Windows don't let applications draw on the screen and you can't see 
the regions actives on the simulator. To exit this state, press ENTER or ESC 
in the conventional keyboard.
   2. UniControl recognizes the initial state of the CAPS/NUM/SCROLL-LOCK 
keys, but don't monitors it during normal operation.

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VERY IMPORTANT !!!

-  Norms for copying and using UniControl:

   1. Any people or company can use this software during 30 days for 
      evaluation purposes.
   2. After 30 days the user must register to continue using UniControl.
   3. Any people or company can copy and distribute, not sell, this software, 
      without changing or removing the original files.
   4. People who REALLY can't pay the register fee, can register paying less 
      or nothing.
   5. Charity institutions that don't charge the assisted people and REALLY 
      can't pay the register fee, can register paying less or nothing.
   6. Registered users can receive the last release of the software paying 
      the shipping and handling fee.
   7. The register fee must be paid for each copy used of the software.

Register fee:
   - People: US$ 30
   - Companies, government, etc...: US$ 50
Shipping and handling fee:
   - In Brazil: US$ 5
   - Any other place: US$ 10

Features planed for next versions:
- Support for mouse operations;
- Another window with special functions like task switching;
- Additional keys like Right Shift and Alt keys;
- Access to extended characters.
- Solution of known problems and bugs.
Users can specify another features.

Even if you can't pay, please register.
Give this software to people that needs it.

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Remember:                                                                 
The quality and continuation of this work depends on the answer of the users.
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UniControl 1.0
(c) Copyright 1994 - Ricardo Lastra Olsen 

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Registration Form - UniControl 1.0:


Name:........................................................................

Company:.....................................................................

Address:

Street: .................................................No:.................

City: ...................................................State:..............

Country: ....................................................................

ZIP: ..............................

Phone: ................................

Date: ...../...../.....

Signature:............................


Registering fee: US$ ........ X number of copies: .......... = US$ ..........

Shipping and handling fee:                                   = US$ ..........
                                                             +     __________

Total:                                                       = US$ .......... 

If you can't pay, please justify:

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Comments, suggestions:

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Send mail to:

Ricardo Lastra Olsen
Av. Dr. Joao S. de Carvalho 755/109
Porto Alegre - RS - CEP 91360
BRAZIL

E-Mails to: RLOLSEN@VORTEX.UFRGS.BR
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DISCLAIMER:

This computer program is sold "AS IS" and without any kind of warranties 
expressed or implied. The author is not liable with respect to any damages 
to data, people or machines arising from the using of, or inability to use 
this software. The user must assume the entire risk of using this software. 
This computer program retains all copyright for the author.


