WorldTech Devices designs and manufactures innovative keyboard solutions that enhance the use and learning of computer applications. These solutions allow users to take advantage of shortcut commands that have been designed into computer applications, either for Section 508 compliance or for advanced users who wish to perform functions quickly.

Market Requirements

Very often, software users are not aware of the shortcut commands that are available within the software applications they use each day. These commands allow them to perform many functions quickly without needing to navigate through software screens, Help menus and other screen tools using the mouse. Software users who are able to leverage shortcut commands can save a significant amount of time each day, particularly if work patterns require the use of repetitive software commands.

Section 508 Mandate: Technical Standard 1194.21 of the Section 508 Mandate was written for the computer users who cannot negotiate the mouse pointer. This standard requires that software applications allow users to executve all functions from the keyboard. However, standard keyboards do not visually inform users which keys are used and for what functions. As such, software users must often still rely on "Help" screens and pull-down menus to search for and execute shortcut command functions.

Our Solution

Our Specialist^TM keyboards and QuickCover keyboard overlays utilize color-coding to denote command categories and to help users locate frequently used keys, as well as enhanced labeling to remind users of the specific functions. This enables software users to more easily execute the shortcut commands which are built into the software applications, without needing to refer to the Help files, pull-down menus or User Manuals to do their jobs.

Our keyboard solutions are ideal for time-critical applications such as in a call center or emergency response centers. Help center personnel can gain the efficiency and time-savings that could mean the difference between life or death, profit or loss, satisfied or dissatisfied customers. Finally, once software users—through our keyboards—become more accustomed to the features of the software application, they will likely develop into more loyal customers.

Because we leverage the short-cut commands already built-into software applications, no investment or development cost is required from our software partners.

Technical Considerations

Our Specialist keyboards are delivered with both PS/2 and USB standard interfaces. No software drivers are necessary. Although designed to assist with your mission critical application software, our Specialist keyboard will also function as a standard keyboard when used with other software applications. Our QuickCover keyboard shortcut overlays can easily be installed and removed. And it includes a Glidecoat coating that lets your fingers glide smoothly from one key to another.

Case Studies

WorldTech conducted an experiment to see how much time computer users can save using shortcut commands as opposed to using the computer mouse. A scenario was repeated several times using shortcut commands with the computer keyboard and using the computer mouse. The result shows an average time savings of as much as 20%. See case study #1. In a second experiment, we compared using a combination of keyboard shortcut commands and the mouse to using the computer mouse alone. The result is a remarkable improvement of as much as 50%. See case study #2.

Cost Justification

Using shortcut commands can increase employee productivity and contributes to the company's bottomline. Consider an employee who spends an average 5 hours a day on an application, if he can save 20% of time which is equivalent to an hour a day, he can save a total of 240 hours a year (48 weeks per year times 5 days a week). That's an equivalent of 6 weeks or one and half month of additional time that the employee can contribute to the company. Multiply that by the number of employees who are using the same application within a company, you can see the tremendous gain in productivity.