Since there is interest in this subject, I am going to try and cut and paste all the responses I received than send this email to the three Apple forums where I posted my request for help. ?My apologies if I have missed anyone¡¯s contribution.
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My posts to several Apple forum led to a discussion of keyboards for folks with Parkinson¡¯s and I have cut and pasted those Q&A below for your edification.
1.?
?I have parkensens and would also like to know what¡¯s available
2.
?Is the problem that:
(1) the keys are too close together, so that you often hit the wrong character?
(2) the keys are too sensitive so that the keyboard registers too many characters?
(3) the keys require too much force to activate, so that you miss characters?
3. ?
Adjusting key sensitivity in System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Slow Keys might help with #2.
Apple Help says:
¡°Adjust the delay between when you press a key and when it¡¯s activated.
¡°To customize, click the Info button (i):
¡°? Use click key sounds: Have keys make a sound when pressed. One sound plays when you press a key, and a different sound plays when the key press is accepted.
¡°? Acceptance Delay: Set the delay between when you press a key and when it¡¯s accepted.¡±
4. ?
If that doesn¡¯t suffice, certain models of Kinesis keyboards use Cherry MX keyswitches. ?The most affordable are the $180 Freestyle Pro. ?I used a Kinesis keyboard 20 years ago.
The Freestyle Pro offers a choice between Cherry Brown "tactile feel" or Red "quiet, linear". ?According to the specs I downloaded from Cherry 20 years ago, both types have the same travel. ?The only difference is whether they make an audible, tactile click.
5.
In my prior post, I omitted the most important part ¡ª Cherry MX keyswitches have a longer travel than the membrane keyboards almost universally used today. ?The "brown, tactile click" model has a pressure release (drop) when you depress it to the click point. ?Cherry is a German company.
I just found the details online:
Brown tactile click: ?
Red linear, silent: ?
I discovered they have a newer range of MX keyswitches that includes an Ergo Clear that has a tactile pressure drop like Brown but without the clicking sound:
Cherry also makes complete keyboards, but the Mac models all have membrane keys, not MX keyswitches.
6.This company is my go-to source for input devices for folks with special needs:
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Here are a few ideas that may be useful:
Bob Gerard