geekhack

geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: livingspeedbump on Fri, 31 July 2015, 02:19:53

Title: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: livingspeedbump on Fri, 31 July 2015, 02:19:53
Here is the link to the interview!
https://www.massdrop.com/article/eiiti-wada-interview?mode=guest_open


Hey guys,

I am honored to be able to tell you that Professor Eiiti Wada, "Japan's first hacker" and creator of the HHKB has agreed to do a community wide interview!

For more information please see the KeyChatter post here:
https://www.keychatter.com/2015/07/31/the-saddle-of-the-horse-community-interview-with-professor-eiiti-wada-creator-of-the-hhkb/

To go directly to the poll to submit a question/vote go to the Massdrop post here:
https://www.massdrop.com/vote/What-would-you-like-to-ask-Professor-Eiiti-Wada-creator-of-the-HHKB

It is a huge privilege to be able to talk to Professor Eiiti Wada, and all I'd ask is that the conversation stay respectful and relevant.

After the interview happens I will start another thread where I'd like people to post pictures of their HHKB's (if applicable) and leave a comment about why they enjoy the HHKB, and why it is still relevant. I will then send these links to Professor Eiiti Wada as a community "thank you" note. 

You may also state your questions here and I will do all the work of adding and compiling them. Obviously votes can't select the questions exclusively as some will be irrelevant after he begins answering them, so I will ask questions accordingly.

I am also going to ask for a brief history of the HHKB for the duration of his involvement  and for any pictures that he can provide.

Please feel free to further discuss here or PM me if you have any pressing questions.
andy/livingspeedbump
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 31 July 2015, 05:43:14
Voted - and congratulations on the opportunity to talk to such an influential figure.

He seems to embody the true Japanese spirit and despite the fact that we love our HHKBs (using mine to type this) and constantly applaud the layout and feel, few have probably ever heard of Professor Eiiti Wada.  I know I haven't.

And yet he does not (seem to) seek constant recognition for his work.  Very humble.  Very inspirational.

BTW I love his quote on the KeyChatter page - may I use it in my GH signature please?
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: osi on Fri, 31 July 2015, 06:40:31
Cool -  I've submitted my votes! I'd love another chance to praise and laud the HHKB!!
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: iamtootallforthis on Fri, 31 July 2015, 06:54:46
Thanks for doing this! Voted on the poll!
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: demik on Fri, 31 July 2015, 08:16:00
Ask him if he can adopt me
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: livingspeedbump on Fri, 31 July 2015, 10:51:27
Voted - and congratulations on the opportunity to talk to such an influential figure.

He seems to embody the true Japanese spirit and despite the fact that we love our HHKBs (using mine to type this) and constantly applaud the layout and feel, few have probably ever heard of Professor Eiiti Wada.  I know I haven't.

And yet he does not (seem to) seek constant recognition for his work.  Very humble.  Very inspirational.

BTW I love his quote on the KeyChatter page - may I use it in my GH signature please?

From speaking to him some humble seems to be an understatement. He also didn't seem to recognize what a big deal the HHKB still is to the community, or that it is still a very relevant device.

And yes, help yourself to the quote. It is probably one of the most epic keyboard quotes I've ever seen.
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: livingspeedbump on Fri, 31 July 2015, 10:52:59
Ask him if he can adopt me

This could be hilarious. "Come to find out sir, the top question that was voted on my over 200 community members was "will you adopt me sir?""

 :confused:
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: Binge on Fri, 31 July 2015, 11:08:05
This is awesome.  Amazing gets LSB :3
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: Air tree on Fri, 31 July 2015, 11:17:15
Voted, and it's really surprising to see this happening!


Very exited.  :)
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: livingspeedbump on Fri, 31 July 2015, 11:45:30
This is awesome.  Amazing gets LSB :3

Thanks! Really surprised/grateful he is doing this for us :)
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: livingspeedbump on Fri, 31 July 2015, 11:45:48
Voted, and it's really surprising to see this happening!


Very exited.  :)

Thanks!

I'm incredibly stoked as well  :thumb:
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 31 July 2015, 11:51:59
So..... This is the entrenched Japanese management I've been hearing about..

Holding back TRUE keyboard science for 30 Years....



(http://www.msgking.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/onion-avatar122.gif)
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 31 July 2015, 20:07:11
This is exciting! I'm not sure how to do this but could the question "Are there any non-HHKB keyboards that you like?" be asked?
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: livingspeedbump on Fri, 31 July 2015, 20:28:27
This is exciting! I'm not sure how to do this but could the question "Are there any non-HHKB keyboards that you like?" be asked?

Absolutely, I actually love that question! I will add it to the poll for you :) Also, many more than 10 will probably be answered as he will undoubtedly answer more than just 10 as he goes, so I'll get to ask more :)
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 02 August 2015, 01:09:35
From speaking to him some humble seems to be an understatement. He also didn't seem to recognize what a big deal the HHKB still is to the community, or that it is still a very relevant device.

And yes, help yourself to the quote. It is probably one of the most epic keyboard quotes I've ever seen.

Thank you :D
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: iamtootallforthis on Sun, 02 August 2015, 03:13:22
I forgot to put this in the poll but would it be possible to ask him on his thoughts on an aluminum case for the HHKB?
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: livingspeedbump on Sun, 02 August 2015, 07:18:59
From speaking to him some humble seems to be an understatement. He also didn't seem to recognize what a big deal the HHKB still is to the community, or that it is still a very relevant device.

And yes, help yourself to the quote. It is probably one of the most epic keyboard quotes I've ever seen.

Thank you :D

Dude, you have a bad*** forum signature. niiiceeee  :thumb:
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: ssdt on Thu, 20 August 2015, 14:38:00
any news on when the interview is being released?
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: Air tree on Tue, 06 October 2015, 01:08:53
Hey, is there any time line when this will take place, I'm still quite exited for to see the interview.  ^-^
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: livingspeedbump on Tue, 06 October 2015, 12:02:40
Hey, is there any time line when this will take place, I'm still quite exited for to see the interview.  ^-^

Should be this week!
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Tue, 06 October 2015, 12:57:02
I didn't see this until you mentioned it this past weekend.  It looks like polling is closed and the interview will be taking place soon (or already did, from your comments).

A curiosity just occurred to me that I never thought about until now; did he design the white or black HHKB?  Did he intend/prefer for it to be one color rather than the other?  I'm assuming it was originally white, since that's what the older models always are - assuming that's the case, does he have an opinion on the black one?  Maybe someone in the community knows the answer.  :)

Regardless, I will be reading the interview when it publishes.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: livingspeedbump on Tue, 06 October 2015, 13:44:25
I didn't see this until you mentioned it this past weekend.  It looks like polling is closed and the interview will be taking place soon (or already did, from your comments).

A curiosity just occurred to me that I never thought about until now; did he design the white or black HHKB?  Did he intend/prefer for it to be one color rather than the other?  I'm assuming it was originally white, since that's what the older models always are - assuming that's the case, does he have an opinion on the black one?  Maybe someone in the community knows the answer.  :)

Regardless, I will be reading the interview when it publishes.  :thumb:

Well it wont spoil anything if i answer a few of those questions, as they are documented elsewhere.

Professor Wada only designed the OG HHKB, with some involvement if later releases but not a whole lot. The lite series, along with the Professional series were all done by PFU. You can wait to see some of his personal pics to see if he likes the white or black more ;)
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Tue, 06 October 2015, 14:44:42
I didn't see this until you mentioned it this past weekend.  It looks like polling is closed and the interview will be taking place soon (or already did, from your comments).

A curiosity just occurred to me that I never thought about until now; did he design the white or black HHKB?  Did he intend/prefer for it to be one color rather than the other?  I'm assuming it was originally white, since that's what the older models always are - assuming that's the case, does he have an opinion on the black one?  Maybe someone in the community knows the answer.  :)

Regardless, I will be reading the interview when it publishes.  :thumb:

Well it wont spoil anything if i answer a few of those questions, as they are documented elsewhere.

Professor Wada only designed the OG HHKB, with some involvement if later releases but not a whole lot. The lite series, along with the Professional series were all done by PFU. You can wait to see some of his personal pics to see if he likes the white or black more ;)

Ahhh, I didn't realize his involvement was more or less limited to the original only.  :thumb:  I kind of figured I knew the answer to the question about the colors, but wanted to ask anyway.  :P  And now I know new things!  Well I will patiently await the official release of the interview before asking for more tidbits of info. 

/me folds his hands in his lap
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: livingspeedbump on Mon, 04 January 2016, 13:39:52
Hey Guys, updated the OP with the link to the published interview  :thumb:  :thumb:  :thumb:
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 04 January 2016, 19:07:10
A fantastic read - thanks for posting :)
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: geniekid on Mon, 25 January 2016, 13:21:00
Just read the interview.  :thumb:

You know what's interesting?  Given that PFU doesn't target the international market (with respect to the HHKB), Wada using LISP as his primary language is likely the only reason the ANSI-like version of the HHKB even exists.  If the JIS layout had the quote and parentheses keys better placed we might all be using Realforces for our Topre needs. :p
Title: Re: Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.
Post by: livingspeedbump on Mon, 25 January 2016, 15:31:55
Just read the interview.  :thumb:

You know what's interesting?  Given that PFU doesn't target the international market (with respect to the HHKB), Wada using LISP as his primary language is likely the only reason the ANSI-like version of the HHKB even exists.  If the JIS layout had the quote and parentheses keys better placed we might all be using Realforces for our Topre needs. :p

Yeah, this is an interesting point. Without that, it probably never would have been in a layout that would appeal to the western world. So glad it did though  :))