Custom Keyboard Products
Throughout its history Access IS (formerly Access Keyboards) has manufactured custom keyboard products customised to satisfy customer-specific requirements.
Custom keyboards are either designed from scratch or based on one of Access' wide range of existing designs, providing a fast time to market and reduced design costs when compared to full custom keyboard designs. Smaller volume users may also take the option to minimise their tooling charges by taking a machined modification of an existing molding. Base keyboard and keypad designs exist with between 48 and 127 keys, and are available with QWERTY and matrix layouts.
We have dedicated custom keyboard pages for the following industries: retail point of sale, retail banking, dealer rooms and finance, airport and rugged industrial and kiosk keyboard types.
The key switch
The standard Access key switch has a full travel of 4mm with operation occurring at half the travel length, ideal for fast data entry and operator comfort.
Our technology is faster than membrane or elastomer switches or touch screen devices. Standard key switches have gold contacts and a lifetime of over 50 million operations: low-cost switches are also available for price sensitive applications. Two-shot moldings are used for heavy-duty applications, where printed lettering is likely to wear.
Optimising the layout and pre-programming
Reduced keysets provide compact keyboard designs providing less opportunity for operator error. Colour-coding, the use of double or quad keys and clear legends improve ease of use. Macros can be programmed into the keyboard so that they operate by a single key press and the keytop legend can identify the function.
With the Access Windows SoftProg utility, users can design and create their own key code settings and download them into the keyboard's non-volatile memory.
Biometrics
In applications where access to sensitive data or the execution of financial transactions needs to be restricted to authorised users, biometric fingerprint readers have been found to be more secure alternatives to a typed password, which can be seen, and user ID cards or tokens, which can be lost or stolen.
Furthermore, the use of such a system also protects employees from identity theft and the risk of fraudulent activities being carried out in their name. Finger print modules are available on most keyboard layouts, using the proven 'U.are.U' biometric engine manufactured by Digital Persona. Click here for more information on our range of biometric finger print reader keyboards.
Integrated OCR, MSR and Smartcard readers
An increasingly common enhancement to customised keyboard design is to integrate combinations of MSR, OCR and smartcard readers into the keyboard. The physical location of these devices within the keyboard enhances workstation ergonomics, ensures a consistent workstation set up and reduces cable and desktop clutter.
Glide points, trackpoints and trackerballs
A range of mouse pointing devices such as glide points, trackpoints and trackerballs can also be integrated into a custom keyboard. The keyboard can also be configured to operate with external keyboard, mouse and video switches to control multiple processes running on several computers.
PS/2 to USB converters for keyboards
A low cost solution to convert PS/2 style keyboards to USB connection, this converter is able to handle high data transfer rates, for example for custom and standard keyboards with integrated magnetic stripe readers (MSR). Click here for more information.
Custom Keyboards Key Market Sectors
Access has been providing custom keyboards to the following vertical markets world wide:
Airports
For check-in, the departure lounge and immigration our keyboards are used in airports throughout the world.
Retail Point of Sale
Programmable, custom keyboard products used by many of the world's leading retailers.
Retail Banking & Dealing Rooms
From keypads for dealing rooms and trading floors to full sized-bank tellerkeyboard devices.
Industrial Keyboards
Suitable for harsh environments, stainless steel keyboards for industrial and public access areas.