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Ditch Your Keyboard? Not Likely — Parallax Forums

Ditch Your Keyboard? Not Likely

ercoerco Posts: 20,259
edited 2012-10-04 01:31 in General Discussion
Different ain't always better... http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1362&doc_id=249848

For instance, the basic design of a bicycle diamond frame hasn't changed much in over a hundred years. People have tried, and will continue to try to build a better mousetrap.

Comments

  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-10-03 11:17
    I guess it would work for touch typing Tsang Jie Chinese input as well, but I'll stick with QWERTY. Of course, there are some web surfers that always having one hand busy doing other things that might benefit, but I don't visit those kind of sites.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-10-03 11:21
    Whoa! Just because I eat buttered popcorn while surfing the web and don't want a greasy keyboard, no reason to stereotype me!!! :lol:
  • blittledblittled Posts: 681
    edited 2012-10-03 11:43
    Somehow I don't take this seriously when the footer on every page of his white paper has a typo "This input technology is covered but US Patent #6542091" Is he trying to cover his "but"? :).
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2012-10-03 11:43
    As they used to say in school "Keeps your hands above the desk".

    All I want is a regular kind of keyboard, the bigger the clunkier the keys the better. BUT can we please chop off that pesky num pad area that I never use and makes the distance from keyboard to mouse unecessarilly long. Also the Windows keys and caps lock should be banned.

    Such a simple desire and so hard to find.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2012-10-03 11:47
    Patent!? WTF? This idea is as old as the hills See wikipedia

    "Douglas Engelbart introduced the chorded keyset as a computer interface in 1968"

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorded_keyboard
  • blittledblittled Posts: 681
    edited 2012-10-03 11:59
    I would rather switch to a Dvorak keyboard.
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2012-10-03 12:39
    erco wrote: »
    Different ain't always better... http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1362&doc_id=249848

    For instance, the basic design of a bicycle diamond frame hasn't changed much in over a hundred years. People have tried, and will continue to try to build a better mousetrap.

    I know why you posted this link. It looks like it is made from wood......

    If my memory is correct I seem to recall some old BYTE magazine issues that talked about alternate keyboards (late 70's or early 80's) and I think there was something similar to this.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-10-03 12:44
    I get into enough trouble with numeric 10 key choices. The calculator and the adding machine have 789 on the top row, but the telephone and the cell phone have 123.

    Can't anybody keep it simple. I am beginning to hate permutations.

    Ban permutations!!!!!

    The keyboard may be made of wood, he may have a real patent.... but it looks like he carved it out of a bar of soap -- not the way to troll for investors.
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2012-10-03 12:57
    blittled wrote: »
    I would rather switch to a Dvorak keyboard.

    My favorite combination: a programmer Dvorak on a Kinesis keyboard. I've been QWERTY free for two years now.

    500-blk.jpg
    http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/

    KB_Programmer_Dvorak.svg
    Programmer Dvorak Stickers
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2012-10-03 13:10
    Heater. wrote: »
    All I want is a regular kind of keyboard, the bigger the clunkier the keys the better. BUT can we please chop off that pesky num pad area that I never use and makes the distance from keyboard to mouse unecessarilly long. Also the Windows keys and caps lock should be banned.

    Well, you could get a lefthanded keyboard instead of your normal one. They're exactly like a noral one, except the numeric keypad is on the other side.
    In fact, I'm thinking that it's all a coverup; that most keyboards sold today are the lefthanded version because they suit us perfectly...
    I also know of some 'beancounters' that insist on using leftie keyboard because they use the left hand to punch numbers, and the right hand for the mouse.

    Both the Winblows and the Caps keys can be pulled off. Then it's just a matter of filling in the holes with Plastic Padding or something.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-10-03 13:18
    Dvorak keyboards seemed to make a lot of sense, but I type well over 50 wpm with QWERTY if I practice and have a good keyboard. I just wish I could spell correctly at 50 wpm.

    I am almost ready to remove the CTRL and the ALT and that Windows logo keys. I tend to hit them and get bizarre results interrupting my flow of output. We have reached the point of saturation of GUI features. WE WERE suppose to use F1-F12 for all that.

    Just pull off all the unnecessary bottom row key caps and fill the space with hot glue.

    More is less, and less is more!!!!!! Keep it simple and ergonomic.

    Actually removing that whole bottom row except the space bar would provide a nice space for cleaning out all the debris that falls behind the other keys.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2012-10-03 13:30
    Loopy,
    Just pull off all the unnecessary bottom row key caps and fill the space with hot glue.
    What execellent advice. And a hot glue blob for the caps lock key.

    Now, I want to hack the num pad keys off but I suspect things stop working if I take saw to it.
    Probably need to install a Propeller to scan what is left.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-10-03 13:48
    Someone actually makes these laser projection vitrual keyboards, I just Googled it. The lack of tactile feedback must be virtually dreadful.

    http://www.amazon.com/AGPtek%C2%AE-Celluon-Projection-Bluetooth-Keyboard/dp/B008ZZ67NG
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2012-10-03 14:31
    erco wrote: »
    Someone actually makes these laser projection vitrual keyboards, I just Googled it. The lack of tactile feedback must be virtually dreadful.

    Hey, you made a funny...

    Bean
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-10-03 14:38
    Heater. wrote: »
    Loopy,


    What execellent advice. And a hot glue blob for the caps lock key.

    Now, I want to hack the num pad keys off but I suspect things stop working if I take saw to it.
    Probably need to install a Propeller to scan what is left.

    I just bought a mini-keyboard without the 10-key off to the side. In fact, that is what Parallax was shipping for use with the Propeller in the days that it was first released. There are also tiny keyboard that are great for kids with small hands.

    If you really do use hot glue, cover it with some plastic or dirt with stick to it. I would just cut a piece of laser transparency to the size of the hole and smooth that over the top. I have done this with other hot glue projects and it works well.
  • blittledblittled Posts: 681
    edited 2012-10-03 15:06
    Don't get rid of the Winblows key if you plan on getting Winblows 8. As far as I can figure out, you need it to exit the Metro apps.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2012-10-03 15:16
    I'm not trying to talk anyone out of taking something apart but almost all operating systems have ways to disable and remap keys and if they don't third party software exists to do it.

    You can drag Metro off with the mouse or finger (from top to bottom of screen).
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-10-04 01:31
    Disabling those bottom keys and relocating to other places might work.
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