Niemeijer Consult has updated the KeyStrokes on-screen keyboard software to version 3.0. The update, which is compatible with Mac OS X (10.1.3 or higher) and Mac OS 9.x, adds a PolyPredix word prediction engine that can tackle word completion, next word prediction, and multi-word prediction in Roman and other languages.
KeyStrokes is targeted to users with disabilities and provides an integrated, systemwide utility that allows mouse button clicks to be entered by holding the cursor motionless for a programmable period of time. Version 3’s PolyPredix engine can be used with a mouse, trackball, head pointer, touch screen, or other mouse emulator to type characters into any standard Mac application. KeyStrokes 3 can predict from multiple language or topical dictionaries at once. It comes with free prediction dictionaries for US and UK English, French, and German; dictionaries for Dutch, Spanish, and Italian are promised soon.
The learning and prediction process is entirely transparent to the user, according to Niemeijer Consult. In Mac OS X 10.2 (“Jaguar”) and higher, learned text can be spell-checked automatically. KeyStrokes 3 also adds shortcut expansion, as well as other features such as speaking keys (English-only).
It’s available in English and French at a suggested retail price of US$250. However, from now through September 30, it’s being offered at a special introductory price of $225. It’s a free upgrade to registered users of KeyStrokes 1.5 and higher. Upgrade pricing is $175 for users of earlier versions.