For over 75 years, Schuhfried GmbH has been synonymous with digital psychological testing of the highest standard. The Vienna Test System (WTS) is considered the international benchmark in aptitude and neuropsychological diagnostics—whether in personnel selection, clinical psychology, traffic psychology, sports psychology, or aviation psychology. The WTS is particularly used in the certification of pilots, where reaction speed and coordination skills are crucial.
The test keyboard
Upgrade for a central component
A central input device in the WTS (Wiener Testsystem) is the so-called test subject keyboard, a specially developed control device for the precise recording of relevant dimensions in many tests for special performance diagnostics and sensorimotor skills, such as eye-hand or foot coordination.
In addition to various color, number, and sensor keys, as well as rotary controls and joysticks on the device, the test subject keyboard also has connections for foot keys and pedals, a tone generator, and a USB interface for a PC. After many years of successful use, the device had to be made fit for the future. The solution? Expertise from Ginzinger electronic systems.
The challenge: Durable, precise, cost-efficient
The mechanical design was largely fixed, especially the key layout and feel. The scope for creativity lay in the technical substance: durable electromechanical components, precise input recognition, and all of this within an economically efficient framework. There was no room for compromise on quality or robustness while maintaining an optimal price.
“The highest requirements were in electromechanics. Buttons and joysticks must not get stuck or respond slowly. We also had to tailor the software precisely to the requirements of the psychological tests.”
The solution: customized electronics and optimized software
The new generation of test keyboards is based on the following technical features:
- STM32 microcontroller
A stable and long-term available component. - Real-time operating system EvCore from Ginzinger
Proven in safety-critical systems, robust, scalable, and easy to maintain. - Completely newly developed hardware-oriented software
Key presses are recorded and debounced precisely, always within clearly defined latency limits. - Backward compatibility
Existing interfaces have been neatly integrated to enable seamless exchange in existing systems. - Mechanics with maximum service life
Selected keys and joysticks have been tested and qualified for durability. - Windows driver development in cooperation with partners
for smooth system integration.
The test keyboard has been in series production since 2025 and is now used worldwide in the Vienna Test System. A modern classic for the next ten years.
“The cooperation with Ginzinger went very well overall. The team is very solution-oriented and flexible, and they strive to find a practical solution (both technically and economically).”
About Schuhfried
Schuhfried GmbH, based in Mödling near Vienna, has been a global leader in digital psychological diagnostics for 75 years. The company develops solutions for clinical neuropsychology, traffic psychology, aptitude testing, and research. With the Wiener Testsystem (WTS), Schuhfried offers a scientifically sound, computer-based platform that is used in over 60 countries.