Recently I have been thinking about one handed uses, one handed keyboards, and one handed layouts. I have some use for them.
I started watching for x-keys 24 keys and Genovation 24 keys online, since these seem to be the most promising for a simple, portable one handed layout. I also bought a 60% keyboard, my first, from another gher. (The Pure is definitely too big for one handed operation and for regular carrying around.)
None of my musings made it very far, although Dustinhxc’s recent giveaway has given me some impetus to think more about one handed layouts.
Geekhack resources on this topic seem rather modest. There are a few threads. Like me, most ghers probably feel that a one handed layout is needed only occasionally. When you need such a layout, you are irritated not to have one. But after a while the need passes and you forget about it.
However, one handed layouts are essential to some people – the disabled, those affected by stroke, injured people, etc. They are also enormously useful when you have to use one hand for other things.
Now I would like to think about a keyboard small enough for one handed layout, that is also functional for normal use with 2 hands. I think the JD40 fits that list, but is too high/ thick. Surely we can shave 3mm/ or 1/8 inch off its thickness?
I am surprised that there are so few resources on one handed typing on miniature keyboards.
EG only one geekhacker has ever mentioned that he uses a frogpad (and that was 3 years ago).
Aren’t most ghers crazy for ever smaller layouts? What about 20%? A frogpad can certainly be contained within a 20 key numpad, although the software is beyond me now.
I found this interesting thread on Deskauthority,
http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/onehand-20-keyboard-t6617-270.html?sid=46c33538bc2635e2e04f9943c2ec38e3Anybody know anything? That keyboard has a weird shape, but the basic chording concept and teensy positioning is very nice.
Based on the Deskauthority author's experience, a small PCB is only $25 for 10. If we could build our own 20% one handed boards that would probably be helpful to many people.
