The App

The Tecla App is an input method for the Android platform, this is a special kind of application that integrates tightly with the operating system enabling access to most of its functions.

Tecla supports wireless control of Android, via an on-screen keyboard, directly from a powered wheelchair or adapted switches connected to a Tecla Shield.

Tecla Android App Screenshots

Features:

  • Provides access to the whole device, not just to apps written for it.
  • It scans in full-color on the built-in on-screen keyboard, so you don’t have to be looking at a separate screen.
  • Affordable, end-to-end, standards compliant solution: Use your powered wheelchair or adapted switches to control your Android device!
  • Google Voice Actions integrated: Control the device and enter text using your voice!
  • Scanning: Step, auto or inverse scanning with fully configurable scan speed.
  • Completely usable via a single switch (and up to 4 switches) with auto-scan or reverse-scan. That means, no switch gestures required (e.g., double click, press and hold, timed sequences).
  • Any switch event from Tecla Shield wakes up and unlocks the device (no need for someone to swipe the lock for you before being able to use independently).
  • Any switch event from Tecla Shield answers an incoming call.
  • Full-screen switch mode: Use the entire screen as a single switch

Download

The latest release version is 0.6 beta. There are a few different ways to install Tecla Access App on your Android-powered device:

  1. Scan the QR code on the right with your Android phone or
  2. Visit the Android Market on your device and search for “tecla” or
  3. If you are visiting this page on your Android phone, you can:
  4. Alternatively, if your device does not have access to the market, you can download the apk file from here and follow these instructions to install it manually.
Tecla Access App QR code

Scan or touch this QR code to download The Tecla Access App to your Android phone

Prepare

Before you can use the Tecla Access App, you first have to activate, select and configure it through the Android settings.

  1. To activate the Tecla Access App, go to Settings > Language & Keyboard and check the box beside Tecla Access.
  2. A pop-up window will appear warning you about the sensitive nature of an input method and prompting you to confirm whether you still want to activate it. Read and accept the prompt.
  3. Once the Tecla keyboard is active, the next step is to select it as your input method. In order to do that, go to any text input box (hint: finding a search box is probably the easiest) and long-press (press & hold) on it.
  4. Select the Input method entry in the pop-up window that appears. Then select Tecla keyboard from the list on the second pop-up window. The process is summarized on the images below:
    Screenshots showing how to select the Tecla keyboard
  5. Finally, you can configure the Tecla Access App by going to Settings > Language & keyboards > Tecla keyboard settings