Software virtual on-screen keyboard. Built-in Windows virtual keyboard. Features of using an electronic keyboard

An on-screen keyboard is a keyboard that is located on the screen of your computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, or other device. Like a regular keyboard, it contains full set required letters, symbols and numbers. Keystrokes are made using the mouse cursor, and if the device’s screen is touch-sensitive, then using your fingers or a stylus.

Today there are enough big choice virtual keyboards, which often differ appearance. Some of them are paid. Free analogue Such a program exists in Windows operating systems, but I will talk about it below. In the meantime, I’ll answer one very popular question among users.

What is this keyboard for?

I understand perfectly why this question came up. I myself once used the most ordinary mechanical keyboard, but in Lately increasingly began to resort to using screens. There are many reasons for this and here are the most popular ones.

• First of all virtual keyboard you will need it then if you do not have its mechanical analogue or the latter simply died at the most opportune moment.

• Secondly, software version A keyboard is required if one or more buttons do not work. Let's say your Spacebar key has stopped working. What to do? You can, of course, copy the space from various documents and texts, but this, you see, is stupid. An on-screen keyboard will help temporarily solve the problem, although using it for a long time is quite problematic because it is inconvenient.

• The on-screen keyboard is often used by people who have problems with finger mobility, as well as those without them.

• Finally, this type of keyboard allows you to fight against keyloggers. For those who have forgotten what it is, I remind you: a keylogger is malware, installed on the user’s computer, which collects all information typed on the keyboard and sends it to the attacker. Often among the typed information there are account passwords social networks, mail servers and even plastic cards. Having a keylogger can be very costly for the user. However, according to numerous statements, the virtual keyboard is not always able to protect the user, since modern keyloggers can do this, where valuable information is often indicated.

How to enable the on-screen keyboard?

As I wrote above, screen keyboard built into the operating system. I'll show an example of running it on Windows based 7.

Click on the “Start” button, then select the “All Programs” section, the “Accessories” subsection - “ Special abilities" - "Screen keyboard". After that, this type of window with buttons will appear in front of you, copying a regular mechanical keyboard.

It can be launched in another way. To do this, go to the “Control Panel”, select the “Ease of Access Center” subsection and click on the “Enable on-screen keyboard” button, as shown in the screenshot.

There is a third, and the simplest method. Click the “Start” button, add the phrase osk.exe to the “Search programs and files” window and press Enter.

If you need the panel to load when the operating system boots, go to the “Settings” section.

Did you manage? Well done, because it’s difficult this process there is nothing. As, however, in using the virtual keyboard. However, there are a couple of interesting nuances here. Firstly, it works in parallel with your main (read: mechanical) keyboard. Secondly, some versions do not allow you to switch between languages. Switching between English and Russian can be done either using the control panel in the operating system or by pressing the Win button (Microsoft logo).

We ask questions on the topic through comments.

Screen Windows keyboard 8 is a special feature of the operating system. It is available for everyone Windows versions, including the G8. Why is it needed? The fact is that there are cases when there is no keyboard on the computer, but you still need to type some text. Of course, doing this with a mouse on the screen is less convenient than on full keyboard, but still in certain situations we have no choice.

The Windows 8 virtual keyboard has the same capabilities as the regular keyboard. That is, you can switch the layout on it, use everything standard features and so on. It can only be used with the mouse.

It is worth noting that this tool was also present in previous versions OS, however, in the G8 approached this issue more carefully. The fact is that Windows 8 was developed not only for computers, but also for tablets, smartphones, and so on. And if on a PC such functions are used very rarely, then on mobile devices they will work constantly.

The on-screen keyboard for Windows 8 was developed by an entire department. the main objective developers' goal was to bring the tool to perfection and make it as convenient and functional as possible. Of course, on mobile devices such tools open automatically at the right moments. But how to open it on a computer with Windows 8?

On-screen keyboard in Windows 8: Video

Where is the virtual keyboard located?

This function is located in the “Special Features” section. You can find this service in the control panel. There are actually two options for how to launch the virtual keyboard:

• Through search.
• In the management console.

Launch via search

The first option is to move the mouse cursor to the right top corner on your desktop or Metro menu. In the menu that appears, open the search. In the line, write the name of the tool you want to open. Next, simply select the desired option from the search results.

Launch via management console

The second way to enable the on-screen keyboard in Windows 8 is to find it in the Control Console. You can launch the Control Panel using the Start + X key combination. After clicking them, a menu will open in which select the appropriate item.

Now you have two options further actions. First, you can go to the Accessibility section. Next, go to the “Special Features” item. A window will open showing additional functions, among which you can find the on-screen keyboard.

Secondly, in Control Panel you can use search bar. It is located in the upper right corner. Write the appropriate phrase in it. In the results, you will see the “Accessibility” section and the “Enable on-screen keyboard” sub-item. Click on it.

Hot keys in Windows 8. Hot keys Windows 8: Video

Setting up the virtual keyboard

It's not enough to just run the tool. It is important to know how to use it. In addition, it can be customized to improve ease of use. First of all, you should know how to change the layout. In a normal situation, this is done by simultaneously pressing two keys - Alt+Shift or Ctrl+Shift. However, we won’t be able to press at the same time on the screen. To change the language, first press Alt. It will light up. After this, click on Shift key, which should also be highlighted. Now again on the Alt button. After these steps, the layout will change.

In order to go to additional settings, you need to press the “Options” key. It is located in the bottom row on the right side of the keyboard. Here you can configure some functions.

For getting detailed information about the functionality of the tool, press the "Help" key.

It is worth noting that if you are not satisfied with the built-in virtual keyboard for Windows 8, then you can download a more advanced version from additional functions for working on the Internet.

Keyboard does not work in Windows 8: Video

Free Virtual Keyboard - convenient utility, intended primarily for owners tablet computers, as well as for laptops that have a touch screen. This utility useful in cases where your keyboard is too inconvenient for you, or it is missing altogether for some reason. It is in such cases that you can use the utility Free Virtual Keyboard. The program differs in that it allows you to resize the virtual keyboard so that you see the information you need in a window in addition to the keyboard. Also, the Free Virtual Keyboard program allows you to easily adjust the transparency of this window. In addition, the Free Virtual Keyboard program has an auto-repeat character function. It works if you keep your finger on the button for a long time. Those. Everything here is like a regular keyboard. If you do not have a touch screen, then the program can work with a regular mouse. Moreover, the auto-repeat function will work exactly the same - you just need to keep the mouse button pressed. Another feature Free programs Virtual Keyboard - its portability. The program can run from almost any media and does not require installation.

- The utility runs under almost any operating system of the Windows family.
- Convenient user interface.
- Low system requirements.
- High speed work.
- Ability to work with touch screens.
- Ability to adjust window transparency.
- Ability to resize the program window.
- Availability of auto-repeat function.
- The program works from any media and leaves no traces on the system after launch.
- Free utility Virtual Keyboard is completely free product.
- There is support for the Russian language.

Disadvantages of the program