Keyboard Development

Technology Domain 1 training module

Target competencyCan develop and train others to develop custom keyboard and data-entry tools.

Why it matters

If keyboarding solutions are non-existent or poorly adapted to input of local languages, a Language Technologist may be needed to develop a new solution.

Progression

Each rung is a level a learner is at; its activities are what carries them to the next one. How to read these levels

Typing Keyboard Development

1. 0No Competency

   Examine local and nearby keyboards to learn the strategies used for text input.

   Carries a learner to 1 — Has Knowledge

2. 1Has Knowledge

   Learn the keyboard coding environment and how to compile a typing keyboard.

   Carries a learner to 2 — With Assistance

3. 2With Assistance

   Create and distribute a custom typing keyboard solution.

   Carries a learner to 3 — Independent

4. 3Independent

   Work with individuals to create custom typing keyboarding solutions. Submit keyboards to appropriate repositories for web distribution.

   Carries a learner to 4 — Expert

5. 4Expert

   Teach a group how to create custom keyboard solutions for redistribution. Create and submit OS-native keyboards to appropriate repositories.

   Top of the ladder

Touch Keyboard Development

1. 0No Competency

   Examine local and nearby keyboards to learn the strategies used for text input on mobile devices.

   Carries a learner to 1 — Has Knowledge

2. 1Has Knowledge

   Learn the keyboard coding environment and how to compile a touch keyboard.

   Carries a learner to 2 — With Assistance

3. 2With Assistance

   Create and distribute a custom touch keyboard solution.

   Carries a learner to 3 — Independent

4. 3Independent

   Work with individuals to create custom touch keyboarding solutions. Submit keyboards to appropriate repositories for web distribution.

   Carries a learner to 4 — Expert

5. 4Expert

   Teach a group how to create custom touch keyboard solutions for redistribution.

   Top of the ladder

Language Model Development

1. 0No Competency

   Learn how to create ordered word lists with frequency counts.

   Carries a learner to 1 — Has Knowledge

2. 1Has Knowledge

   Collect texts and use a tool to create a language model.

   Carries a learner to 2 — With Assistance

3. 2With Assistance

   Create a predictive keyboard by adding a language model to an existing keyboard.

   Carries a learner to 3 — Independent

4. 3Independent

   Work with individuals to create language models for text entry. Submit language models to appropriate repositories for web distribution.

   Carries a learner to 4 — Expert

5. 4Expert

   Teach a group how to create language models for redistribution. Explore configuration of morphological options in language models.

   Top of the ladder

Description

Knowledge of the tools to develop custom keyboards and data-entry tools.

Further Information

• KeymanSite · keyman.comHome of Keyman, free open-source keyboard software for typing many languages on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
• Keyman Unicode KeyboardsSite · scripts.sil.orgArchived SIL list of Unicode Keyman keyboards by region, for locating an existing keyboard before building one.
• How to Identify International Physical KeyboardsGuide · keyshorts.comIllustrated guide to about 80 Windows keyboard layouts, for identifying which physical keyboard layout a laptop has.
• Dell Keyboard TroubleshootingGuide · dell.comDell guide to keyboard use and troubleshooting, covering unresponsive keys, connection problems and wrong characters appearing.
• How to change keyboard layouts in Windows 11Guide · windowsreport.comArticle on changing keyboard layouts in Windows 11, useful when adding or switching input languages.

More in the resource library.

Descriptor last updated 2026-09-02.