geekhack
geekhack Community => Ergonomics => Topic started by: shrap on Sun, 07 April 2013, 01:02:11
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In case you don't remember from *ten years ago*: http://combimouse.com/index.htm
It's a completely split keyboard where the right half is also the mouse, so your hand movement between the two is minimal.
Looks like the inventor is going to give it a shot on Indiegogo: http://combimouse.com/Funding.htm
Here's his funding video: !
Good luck to him, this is a much more ambitious project than something like a "truly" ergonomic layout and backers will be hard to find. I don't even use a mouse anymore.
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Crowdsourcing the funding is the right way to go about it - especially when compared to the TE.
Be aware that the pictures/video are of an old design. He's keeping the newer stuff close to his chest at the moment.
I'm planning to get one.
The ten years bit was new to me. Here's a picture courtesy of the wayback machine.
(http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/ae356/hoggyboard/mainpic_zps2ac8d926.jpg)
Here's a more recent image
(http://www.combimouse.com/Assets/home%20page/Combimouse%20730%20x%20579.jpg)
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QWERTY? Staggered layout? Eh...
Also, no doubt the mouse side is heavy. There are other reasons too, but this particular design? No.
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The mouse has to be light so it likely has crappy switches, but even if it doesn't if you do manage to make it light it will slide when you're typing on it, as his video here shows (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuap7sKHCSU#t=71s). Make it heavy enough or stable enough to type on without sliding, and its function as a mouse will be more difficult.
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It'll be a while before we find out if it's any good.
The fund raising campaign is to be split into 2 stages. Stage 1 will raise funds to finish off the prototype and apply for patents.
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This two stage fundraising campaign sounds a little fishy. Even if Stage 1 completes, there's no guarantee that Stage 2 will actually happen, in which case all we've done is help a guy create a prototype and patent it. He can then go on and license the technology to anyone, and forgot the second campaign, and our Stage 1 donations are rendered moot. The ten year delay between concept and
release prototype crowdfunding campaign doesn't exactly fill me with confidence that this guy has got the hustle to get it done.
I am utterly baffled why a donation of $190 gets you two keyboards, and a donation of $500 gets you... one keyboard.
Maybe I'm just burned out on these crowdfunding things... the one project I backed is already one year past its deliver date and doesn't look like it has any chance of ever delivering. It's just an iPhone case, for crying out loud.
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This seems pretty interesting.. Like you guys said though, it can't be too heavy or else the mouse will be almost unusable but it's sacrificing switches. Also, Shrap, if the campaign reaches the goal, and he doesn't come back for a part 2 he's gonna get a bunch of law suits haha.
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He says he's fixed the problem with the keyboard sliding around when you type on it, and some of the funding will go towards a patent application for the solution.
He's planning software for remapping the keys!
He's also responding to feedback in a very positive way. We don't often get the opportunity to influence the design of a new keyboard - I think we should take it when we can.
http://igg.me/at/combimouse/x/2928806 (http://igg.me/at/combimouse/x/2928806)
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Wow! That thing has been buzzing around the web since before I found GH, summer of 2009...
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New render
(http://d2oadd98wnjs7n.cloudfront.net/medias/755639/pictures/full/20130413204019-Computer_Rendering_-_Combimouse_right_-_With_text.jpg)
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This seems pretty interesting.. Like you guys said though, it can't be too heavy or else the mouse will be almost unusable
He doesn't go into how he's made the keyboard immobile, but he's shaved off some serious weight - 74 grams!
http://combimouse.com/Blog/?p=84 (http://combimouse.com/Blog/?p=84)
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(http://d2oadd98wnjs7n.cloudfront.net/medias/810378/pictures/full/20130514163226-Combimouse_Pre-Production_3264x2448.jpg?1368574355)
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I just don't get the appeal of this thing. Seems like a conglomeration of compromise.
What I could see as potentially appealing would be a mouse that had the cursor/navigation keys cluster along with a 60% keyboard. Not too much bulk and you'd have those keys separate (cursor, pg up/dw, home/end, ins/del).
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Wow, that thing looks truly terrible to use and the antithesis of ergonomically friendly. And where is the right mouse button?
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Weird. I don't think I could use that.
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OR ergodox............:D