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geekhack Community => Ergonomics => Topic started by: msiegel on Wed, 14 October 2009, 20:43:06

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: msiegel on Wed, 14 October 2009, 20:43:06

Half-Keyboard Computer from IBM Almaden Research Center - 1997

(http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/user/inddes/open.gif)
http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/user/inddes/halfkb.html


QuadTri Pad - 2008

(http://www.ubergizmo.com/photos/2008/1/quadtri-pad.JPG)
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2008/01/quadtri_pad_prototype_on_display.html

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: majestouch on Thu, 15 October 2009, 13:50:38

It's curious that MS toyed with the idea. I've always been interested in trying a dual pad like that or the Frogpad, I wonder how efficient one can become with them.

The different size keys on the Quadipad probably makes it easier to remember which keys are which by feeling them, but it probably creates more guesswork and groping in between key presses methinks.

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 15 October 2009, 13:57:22

What could you possibly want a one-handed keyboard for?

Oh wait...

=P

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: AndrewZorn on Thu, 15 October 2009, 14:02:26

I think the FrogPad looks the best.

(http://www.2trubki.ru/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/frogusb-fullview.jpg)

and then there's this awesomeness to go with it:

(http://www.frogpad.com/Images/frogWearable01.jpg)

but there's always one-handed Colemak.

For a little while I tried one-handed typing on normal QWERTY, hand centered on F-J.

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: timw4mail on Thu, 15 October 2009, 14:10:28

Everybody knows that Maltron has the best one-handed layouts :p
(http://www.maltron.com/images/press/maltron-lefthand-keyboard1.jpg)

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: msiegel on Thu, 15 October 2009, 14:18:15

now *that's* a tsunami

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 15 October 2009, 14:19:15

That's a clusterf*ck.

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: msiegel on Thu, 15 October 2009, 14:20:27

Quote from: itlnstln;125745

That's a clusterf*ck.

ohh... i always wondered what people meant when they said that :)

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: TWX on Fri, 16 October 2009, 13:24:41

There was a keyboard for a wearable that I remember that looked really slick.  It had a nice modifier to switch to the other hand, and it was nice and compact, but seemed more like a traditional keyboard in key travel and touch.  It was even beige.

If you want to learn to type one-handed in a desktop setting, look at dvorak-left or dvorak-right.  Those are just rearrangements on the standard keyboard if memory serves.  I've considered learning dvorak-left, but since I do PC service and literally touch thousands of keyboards a year it's not been worthwhile to learn any alternate layout.

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: BucklingSpring on Fri, 16 October 2009, 17:56:04

Quote from: msiegel;125746

ohh... i always wondered what people meant when they said that :)

That's why the Urban Dictionary is a MUST when it comes to understand Post Shakespearian English

 Click Me (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cluster****)

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: msiegel on Fri, 16 October 2009, 17:58:43

a "compound fiasco" :D

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: hyperlinked on Fri, 16 October 2009, 23:57:55

Anyone ever tried the half-qwerty?
http://matias.ca/halfkeyboard/demo/

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: rdh on Sat, 17 October 2009, 16:06:15

Quote from: hyperlinked;126293

Anyone ever tried the half-qwerty?
http://matias.ca/halfkeyboard/demo/

I've always thought it was a cool idea, but they want an awful lot of money for their half-qwerty boards.

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: hyperlinked on Sat, 17 October 2009, 23:17:06

Quote from: rdh;126457

I've always thought it was a cool idea, but they want an awful lot of money for their half-qwerty boards.

Apparently, there used to be software emulation out there that could do the same thing, but Matias has successfully blocked those from distribution.

Yeah, the price is a bit daunting to say the least. I considered one of these boards when I was really getting bad tendinitis and there was no decent speech recognition software for the Mac yet. It was also partly because I wanted a mechanical switch keyboard and hadn't yet known about all the other options available... still a cool idea. I started to get the hang of one handed typing after 15 minutes.

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: JBert on Sun, 18 October 2009, 07:46:10

Quote from: hyperlinked;126293

Anyone ever tried the half-qwerty?
http://matias.ca/halfkeyboard/demo/

I think it doesn't work except for when you can take a long time to practice or when you started out on one. While your fingers won't protest to mirror the keyboard, you still need to think when to press the spacebar.

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: hyperlinked on Sun, 18 October 2009, 09:16:48

Quote from: JBert;126567

I think it doesn't work except for when you can take a long time to practice or when you started out on one. While your fingers won't protest to mirror the keyboard, you still need to think when to press the spacebar.

Well, perhaps Matias makes it sound a little too easy on their website. Nothing's instantaneous, but it didn't seem like it was that hard to pick up on a basic level.

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: rdh on Sun, 18 October 2009, 12:31:07

Quote from: ripster;126586

I have a half keyboard too.

Well, you might once you decide on the switch type and actually wire it up.  :-)

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: roadblock2thesun on Sun, 18 October 2009, 13:18:23

@ripster: are you actually going to program for onehanded typing? Or just for gaming?

Title: One-Handed Keyboard Prototypes
Post by: roadblock2thesun on Mon, 19 October 2009, 00:51:53

Thats a shame, I had considered developing a ahk script to work with the nostromo or some such similar product. One handed keyboards are actually the reason I ended up on this website... many hours and, more money than I had to spend down the line... still no one handed keyboard...