Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology be accessible to people with disabilities.

Comparable access for one-handed
and two-handed typists

The Matias 508 Keyboard™ is a standard desktop keyboard that has been enhanced to allow both one-handed and two-handed touch-typing.

Ideal for one-handedness, Hemiplegia, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and other hand-related injuries, Matias' innovative one-handed typing technology provides one-handed typists access comparable to two-handed typists, without undue burden, as required by §1194.26 (a) (2), §1194.1, and §1194.2 (b).

It offers greater accessibility for disabled users, as well as productivity gains for other office workers. The added convenience of typing with one hand is ideal when using a mouse or a telephone with the other hand.

The 508 Keyboard is specifically designed to satisfy all compliance requirements for keyboards, under Section 508. A Voluntary Product Accessibility Statement is available for download.

Comparable speed, Comparable skills

One-handed typing speeds in the 30 to 60 words-per-minute range are easily achievable using the Matias 508 Keyboard. This range is comparable to the performance of most two-handed typists, and more than sufficient for typical clerical tasks.

The Matias 508 Keyboard allows the same touch-typing skills used for two-handed typing to be used for typing with one hand.

	"...The first one-handed keyboard that doesn't require learning a new way to type." WIRED

How does it work?

The one-handed typing technique used in the Matias 508 Keyboard is very similar to the standard two-handed touch-typing technique.

You place your hand where it would normally be if you were touch-typing - that takes care of that half of the keyboard.

To type the letters of the other half, you hold down the space bar with your thumb and do the same finger movement that you would normally do with the other hand. It's that easy.

Tapping the space bar still types a space.

MATIAS 508 KEYBOARD LAYOUT

The relative finger movements used for one-handed typing are the same as those used for two-handed typing. So, if you're already a touch-typist, you already know them. You should be typing one-handed in a matter of minutes.

Use either hand - or both hands

The Matias 508 keyboard allows one-handed typing using either hand, left or right, or both hands, just like a standard keyboard.

The one-handed typing capability can also be switched on or off by the user, as desired, using the "matias" key.

	"...I was blown away... almost no thought required to adapt to typing on it... From the get go, my fingers knew how to type..." THE-GADGETEER.COM

The industry standard

Matias has proudly served the needs of the disability community for over 10 years. Its technology is the de facto standard for one-handed typing in the industry.

Matias is equally dedicated to satisfying the needs of government, and is excited to offer its technology to the broader government audience at much lower prices.