Filter Keys
For all people suffering from a physical disability which makes typing on a computer keyboard difficult, filter keys is an option Windows provides. Difficulties in using the keyboard would mean that the person presses a particular key for a very long time or has difficulties in releasing the keys quickly. Not many people are aware of this tool and hence cannot help people with a typing problem.
Filter Keys Settings
To make use of the filter keys option, click on the Start button and select control panel option. In the control panel window that opens, double click on the accessibility options icon and an Accessibility Properties window will appear on your screen.
You will find a tab marked as Keyboard on the window. Single click on this tab. The option is somewhere in the middle on the window. Click on the little box which says Use Filter Keys and again click on the Settings option. A Settings for Filter Keys window will open and you will notice a small box at the top of this window, and you can single click on it to enable a keyboard shortcut which controls the working of the filter. The keyboard shortcut which you have activated is pressing the right shift key for 8 seconds, to enable it.
Below this option is the same window, is the Ignore Repeated Keystrokes option. Selecting this option will ensure that the computer ignores any repeated pressing of the same key, with a pre-defined time period. You can set the time limit for ignoring repeated keystrokes as well by clicking on the Settings option besides the Ignore Repeated Keystrokes box. On clicking it, an Advanced Settings For Filter Keys window opens. Set the time you want to, by dragging the scroll bar provided for the same, Apply your settings and click on Ok.
In the Settings for Filter Keys window, below the Ignore Repeated Keystrokes you will find a Ignore Quick Keystrokes and Slow Down the Repeat Rate option. This tool is helpful for people who face the problem of accidentally brushing adjacent keys while typing. Click on the box and select the Settings option. These are various setting options in the window that opens to suit your specific needs. The option at the top lets you decide the speed with successive keystrokes would be displayed. Below this option is the Slow Keys setting, which allows you to set a lag time between the time when you press a key and the appearance of the letter on the screen. Set the speeds as per your requirements and click Ok.
How to Fix Filter Keys
There may be a possibility wherein the setting is unintentionally activated leading to problems while typing for people without any problems. As not many are aware of this tool, they assume there is a major problem with the computer. However, this problem can easily be fixed by you, using instructions to turn off filter keys given below:
- To start with, you need to determine whether this is a related problem or not. There is an easy way to figure this out. Look at the space near your clock on the right-hand bottom corner of your screen, and see if you find a stopwatch icon there. If you do, then the filter keys are enabled and proceed with the next step.
- Click on the start button and open the Control Panel window. Select Accessibility Options by double clicking on its icon.
- Single click on the keyboard tab and uncheck the dialog box next to the option Use Filter Keys.
- Click on the Settings option next to the Use Filter Keys button, and uncheck the dialog box which says Use Shortcut.
- Click Ok and apply your settings to see your problem been solved.
- In case the problem still persists, try holding down your right shift key for a while and simultaneously press the other shift key 3 times.
