Solved! Go to Solution.
Sorry to hear about your accident.
You should be able to use AutoCAD fairly efficiently. The only typing that is essential is for number input. Everything else is available from on-screen buttons and menus.
I use the classic toolbars which makes all the main commands instantly accessible with one click, but everyone has their own preference.
I agree with @peterm you should be able to learn to use AutoCAD one handed. I would say you have a choice, do most things with mouse or most things with the keyboard, both are possible.
You could use a wacom tablet too. I would think getting a job that allows you to work from home when you are just starting out in the field is going to give you more trouble than using cad with one hand.
Nick DiPietro
Cad Manager/Monkey
Sebastian
i know many people who work the application with one hand, they have two but only use one. Everything is available on toolbars, tool palettes, menus or ribbon. If you're working from home you might wish to look into Dragon Naturally Speaking for audible input. I had great success setting up my brother sister-in-law after an accident left her only gross motor function from the shoulders up. She drives a "mouse" with her tongue on a mouthpiece from a headset rig with a vocal mic. She has just enough motor function in her right forearm to "bump" a pad for an "enter" and speaks commands (custom shorthand). I am impressed with how well she's done, and how quickly she became very proficient.
kbaza
As @Anonymous mentions, I know a few who only use the one hand as well.
One in particular almost looks like he sits on his non used hand. Most of the time he looks like he's sleeping as well.... However he's just as productive as any of the others.
The thing I noticed about his set-up was the amount of icons/toolbars and ribbon usage he used. Obviously once he got used to it he could fly.
Get trained up... once you get comfortable with the software I don't believe you'll have too many problems.
Mark
Although this thread is a little old.....
Look into using Dragon Naturally Speaking or some other voice software package. A lot of people joke around about walking by and saying "Erase All" or something similar - and depending on your equipment and office environment, that could happen IF you have such a command and if you work with people who go out of their way to make life miserable. I have experience with DNS and the later versions perform much better. Microphones have also gotten much better to where even with a fan blowing directly at me and a radio playing music nearby DNS will hear my commands as they are being whispered. You do have to remember to turn off/on the micrphone - when you talk any programmed word that has been assigned will be heard. Having an individual office or working at home is best.
You could download a trial and see if it would work for you. It works very well starting commands by voice and using a mouse for selecting points.
Take a look at this short video demonstrating a few AutoCAD commands with DNS.
Can't find what you're looking for? Ask the community or share your knowledge.