Keypad and mouse are both things that are done with the dominant hand, though. As are arrow keys, for that matter, which is probably how we wound up in this mess...Right-handed people use WASD.
If you want to make the keyboard narrower without forcing the user to use his non-dominant hand for these things, you really only have two options: eliminate functionality (as in TKL or smaller layouts) or condense more functions into a given area (as in 96/"TK" layouts, compact Cherry keyboards, etc.). From my perspective, the second option wins on two fronts: firstly, you don't lose functionality, but secondly, if functions are condensed in a way that is ergonomic, efficient, and intuitive, the result can actually be an increase in comfort and input rate. So the question then becomes what the best way is to do that, which is what I'm trying to figure out (with a few exceptions that I just made for the heck of it, like the enormous one in the first post).Solution exists and is very simple: matrix keyboard with embedded keypad.
By the way, here's a quick diagram comparing how a standard and left-handed keyboard would compare in my setup:When I'm using the computer, I have primary display and alphanumeric part of keyboard right in front of me. Keypad or mouse/trackball are next to it, so my body and hands form a triangle or three sides of a rectangle. Angle > 90 degrees is just wrong.Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/1eeob.png)
As you can see, the mousepad does not move at all when switching to a left-handed keyboard. If anything, it would make things more uncomfortable and asymmetrical, since my left arm would have to be far more scrunched up than my right arm.
Anyway, if the left-handed thing works for you, then by all means, go for it. But I think a lot of people would be happier with something different.Don't forget that lot of people are so conservative that they refuse to change their habits at the cost of their health.
Right-handed people use WASD.For some games, yes, but in those games, the more dextrous hand is almost always already taken by the mouse. In a lot of older games, where the controls are very simple and the vast majority of dexterity demands are placed on movement controls, arrow keys are used rather than WASD, with the left hand handling secondary controls.
Solution exists and is very simple: matrix keyboard with embedded keypad.
When I'm using the computer, I have primary display and alphanumeric part of keyboard right in front of me. Keypad or mouse/trackball are next to it, so my body and hands form a triangle or three sides of a rectangle. Angle > 90 degrees is just wrong.
Don't forget that lot of people are so conservative that they refuse to change their habits at the cost of their health.
davkol... your monitor is not big enough, My TKL is narrower by more than a numpad than my monitor, closer to 2 numpads. That's not counting the 2nd monitor either :)I use a 30" widescreen as school. ~,^
So with my main typing group centered in front of the monitor I have room on either side for a numpad, but I use the space on the right for my trackball.
It took me about 30 minutes to adjust to keys in a grid. It makes B and Y (on QWERTY) much easier to reach. And I touch type — this would be a non-issue for people who only hunt&peck (majority of people, unfortunately).Quote from: davkolSolution exists and is very simple: matrix keyboard with embedded keypad.
I think that is a little too radical for many people. It's one thing to move around side clusters, modifiers, or even the occasional punctuation mark or two-- plenty of laptops do at least this much, and can be adapted to without an overly demanding readjustment period-- and quite another to perform a total overhaul on how all the keys are aligned with one another. Also, within the category of "matrix keyboard", there's still a lot of room for variation on layout configuration, so I wouldn't call it a "solution".
I think my point is still valid. When I type and have to reach for mouse too far, it's bad, m'kay?Quote from: davkolWhen I'm using the computer, I have primary display and alphanumeric part of keyboard right in front of me. Keypad or mouse/trackball are next to it, so my body and hands form a triangle or three sides of a rectangle. Angle > 90 degrees is just wrong.
The lines in the picture are sort of a combination of arms, shoulders, etc., so I wouldn't read too much into the angles.
It took me about 30 minutes to adjust to keys in a grid. It makes B and Y (on QWERTY) much easier to reach. And I touch type — this would be a non-issue for people who only hunt&peck (majority of people, unfortunately).Maybe I'll try working out an "ergonomic" design sometime with non-staggered keys, kind of like a TypeMatrix but with some shape and layout tweaks, and provisions for more features. Could be a fun project...
Keys such as Enter, Tab, Shift etc. are harder to re-learn, but hey! Keyboards should be programmable, and e.g. Enter&Backspace in the middle of the keyboard are so much better.
I think my point is still valid. When I type and have to reach for mouse too far, it's bad, m'kay?Unless you have free space on the left of where your keyboard is now, you have to reach just as far with the left-handed keyboard, because the width is the same. That's what the picture is supposed to show.
Re: Keyboards being programmable, when I am shopping for myself, I tend to agree. In fact, I'm still on the lookout for devices that could take "programmable" to the next level, offering something with power closer to that of AutoHotkey but run on the device itself (with a little ARM32 processor or something-- there are some devices like this, but they're almost always needlessly crippled by the implementation) rather than through software.Do you mean something like Arduino? (http://forum.colemak.com/viewtopic.php?id=1561)
Unless you have free space on the left of where your keyboard is now, you have to reach just as far with the left-handed keyboard, because the width is the same. That's what the picture is supposed to show.I don't get it.
Re: Keyboards being programmable, when I am shopping for myself, I tend to agree. In fact, I'm still on the lookout for devices that could take "programmable" to the next level, offering something with power closer to that of AutoHotkey but run on the device itself (with a little ARM32 processor or something-- there are some devices like this, but they're almost always needlessly crippled by the implementation) rather than through software.
Anyway, incremental changes seem to be a great idea, but it's probably not how the reality works. Variations of staggered QWERTY keyboards have been around for far too long, they've even survived the rise of (personal) computers. It's time for a change.
Unfortunately, you don't get any points/sales/kudos for giving people what they ought to want, only what they do want. Something it took me far too long to learn...but that's another story :(.You're right from the traditional business perspective. However, I don't know about you, but I'm not doing business here.
But just for the hell of it, here's something compact with non-staggered keys:This _does_ look interesting! But there are some pitfalls... e.g. number row shouldn't be moved so much to the left.Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/IbNbk.png)