Tag Archives: large-print

Most Wanted: ReaderBoard, Alias: BoomerBoard

Posted by on June 10, 2011 No comments 


Chester Creek is best known for its Children’s mice and its large-key keyboards.


Our VisionBoard and VisionBoard 2 feature huge, bold, easy-to-read lettering on a key a full inch across.  This keyboard is perfect for individuals who suffer from vision and/or motor impairment.  You can see below how easy to read the legend is.  Notice also that the keys are sufficiently large and spaced that even user with arthritis or impairments that cause shaking can use.  We now offer our VisionBoards in a wireless model, to make them even more portable, adaptable, and usable for you.  For users who have an especially difficult time hitting the correct key or hitting only one key at a time, we also offer the KeyGuard, making every key stroke a bullseye.




What many of our consumers don’t realize is that our VisionBoard has a younger brother, the ReaderBoard.   The Reader is the perfect solution for individuals who work in low light or suffer from slight to moderate vision  impairment.  The ReaderBoard has the same layout and key size as a standard keyboard, making a switch absolutely seamless.  What sets it apart from standard keyboards (apart from that stylish design, of course) is that the ReaderBoard features a legend 250% the size of a standard keyboard.  I’d like you to take a moment now to look at the keyboard you’re using now.  See the letters, numbers, and commands?  How much of the key do they take up?  I’m guessing about one quarter – maybe they’re in the top left corner of the key, like my laptop.  The ReaderBoard’s labels fill the entire key with bold white lettering, so you can read it whether you’re working late in low light, getting a jump start before the sun is shining in the window, or even when you just don’t feel like grabbing your reading glasses.




That’s the beauty of the ReaderBoard.  For many individuals, standard keyboards can be hard to read.  This doesn’t mean those users need or want to transition to a large-key keyboard.  Chester Creek has created a middle ground.  With thousands of Boomers reaching the “mature-but-not-old-yet” stage, the ReaderBoard, or the BoomerBoard as we like to call it, is the perfect solution.  There’s no reason you need to wear reading glasses just to use a computer or transition to a large-key keyboard just because the tiny letter on a standard board strain your eyes in certain light.  As always, you can rely on Chester Creek to be working on bringing you exactly what you need for every stage of your life  From toddling to school to work and to retirement, we’re there for you.


(Don’t forget to check out our Wireless Mice to match the Vision Boards and our super-comfortable ReaderMouse to match the ReaderBoard.)

		

	

		

		
Moderately Magical Mondays and High Visibility Keyboards

		

			
				Posted by 
				on January 3, 2011
							
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The only fun hijinks in the office here today include adventures in boxland and a heated discussion about the inadequacy of cordless phones.  With the rolling in of the new year comes the rolling out of old files.  Box them up and put them some place, never to be seen again. Of course, this involves assembling the boxes.  Watching Tasha do so? Mildly entertaining. Watching Karen make the attempt?  Hilarious.  They come in a big flat package, perforated cardboard sheets you magically fold into a box, the way a square of paper magically becomes an oragami crane.  Magic.  If you know how.  If you don’t, hilarity.


 


High Visibility Keyboards







For some, using a keyboard can be a challenge.  Small keys and smaller letters can be a struggle to identify.  For those who need their reading glasses just to type a quick note, who squint at their keyboards and strain their eyes, we introduce the ReaderBoard.  A relatively new product from Chester Creek, the ReaderBoard is a standard sized keyboard, with the standard offset QWERTY layout.  What sets our ReaderBoard apart from most keyboards is the size of lettering.  Each letter, number, function, and punctuation mark is 250% larger than standard.  This clear, bold, white lettering on a black keyboard drastically improves readability for those who struggle with sight but are accustomed to the standard keyboard. 



















For other users, who do not touch type or who are willing to adapt, we also offer large-key keyboards.  These keyboards all feature 1 inch keys with large, bold print.  Visibility is improved, and large buttons are often easier for those with shakiness or motor impairment of any kind.  These large-key boards are our VisionBoards2 series, and come in black on white, white on black, and black on yellow (Think caution sign — particularly beneficial for those suffering from macular degeneration).



















For the young and young at heart with vision impairment, Chester Creek also offers a line of large-key keyboards in bright colors, coded by character set.  The differentiation of character set by color can also help those with poor vision to find the keys they want more quickly. 













		

	

		

		
Top Five Words of 2010

		

			
				Posted by 
				on December 22, 2010
							
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Continuing our countdown of Merrian-Websters top words of the year, we start off with number five.


5.  Bigot.  M-W defines bigot as “A person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.”


Bigot earned its place on this list when Rick Sanchez, formerly a CNN anchor accused comedian Jon Stewart of being “a bigot,” and implied that everyone running CNN was Jewish.  


Even the greatest bigot in the world is forced to admit that the radical coloring on some of Chester Creek’s products is rather attractive.


4. Landing in the top four is socialism: “Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.”


The term popped up surrounding a good number of news stories throughout the year, particularly stories about the federal bailouts and the health-care legislation.


Chester Creek does not endorse socialism; FunKeyBoards and Tiny Mice for everyone! But you’ll have to buy your own.  


3. The second runner up for the year is moratorium.  I’m sure most of you in the US immediately think of the moratorium President Obama placed on off-shore oil drilling after the Gulf spill, and that is exactly why it made the list.  A moratorium is “a legally authorized period of delay,” or “a suspension of an activity.”


There are no moratoriums on production at Chester Creek this season. We’re working as hard as always to bring you our great products, in great time, and with great customer service!


2. Pragmatic made it almost to the top of the list.  M-W defines pragmatic as “relating to matters of fact or practical affairs often to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters : practical as opposed to idealistic.” 


After the mid-term elections in November, politicians across the country began to talk about more pragmatic solutions to the nation’s problems, in response to evidence that that voters were unhappy with the way things had been done lately.


Pragmatism need not prevent you from getting a fun new keyboard for yourself or a loved one any time soon.  Our keyboards and mice are fun and practical, with large-print, colorful keys, and sturdy construction all year round.


1.  And the number one word of the last year?


“Austerity”


When:

Lookups on Merriam-Webster began spiking around May 1, 2010.

Why:

Austerity figured prominently in news coverage of the economic panic and protests triggered by the debt crisis in Greece.

For example, as the New York Times reported,

“The Greek Parliament passed a package of tough austerity measures on Thursday, trying to stave off economic collapse and help prevent debt contagion from spreading.” (Dan Bilefsky, May 5, 2010)

The definition for this sense of austerity says it all: “enforced or extreme economy.”

The word’s origins are – coincidentally – Greek; austerity comes from austēros, meaning “harsh” or “severe.”


-Merriam-Webster


Even austerity in your budget need not preclude purchase.  Chester Creek is offering 15% off our FunKeyBundle for the holiday season – plus free shipping!