Author Topic: Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?  (Read 7694 times)

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Offline JustCallMeCrash

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 13:02:34 »
So I came across this on the 'bay.  WTF is going on here???  Why would anyone set up a board like that?  There's no way to type on this thing.
Seriously.
ErgoDoxen 6 total: Cherry MX Browns, Cherry MX Clears, NovelKeys Box Royal, 80g Gateron Yellows, NovelKeys Pale Blues, NovelKeys Box Navy.
Preonic 2 total: OG Gateron Yellows (GMK silencer clips), TBD (unassembled v2).
XD-75 (mixed Gateron Yellows, MX Blacks, MX Clears on layer toggles).
Das S Professional (was MX Blues, now Ghetto Reds).
G80-11900.
ML-4400 (2x) Cherry MY boards.

Offline litster

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 13:09:49 »
Quote from: JustCallMeCrash;447395
So I came across this on the 'bay.  WTF is going on here???  Why would anyone set up a board like that?  There's no way to type on this thing.
Seriously.
You have good eye sight, don't you?

Offline JustCallMeCrash

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 13:16:40 »
Quote from: litster;447398
You have good eye sight, don't you?
Sure, but I don't use my eyes to type.  This would take longer to learn than Dvorak did.
ErgoDoxen 6 total: Cherry MX Browns, Cherry MX Clears, NovelKeys Box Royal, 80g Gateron Yellows, NovelKeys Pale Blues, NovelKeys Box Navy.
Preonic 2 total: OG Gateron Yellows (GMK silencer clips), TBD (unassembled v2).
XD-75 (mixed Gateron Yellows, MX Blacks, MX Clears on layer toggles).
Das S Professional (was MX Blues, now Ghetto Reds).
G80-11900.
ML-4400 (2x) Cherry MY boards.

Offline litster

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« Reply #3 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 13:25:05 »
You think everyone is touch-type baller like you and me?

Offline JustCallMeCrash

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 13:33:21 »
They sure won't ever be if they try to learn on this abomination.
ErgoDoxen 6 total: Cherry MX Browns, Cherry MX Clears, NovelKeys Box Royal, 80g Gateron Yellows, NovelKeys Pale Blues, NovelKeys Box Navy.
Preonic 2 total: OG Gateron Yellows (GMK silencer clips), TBD (unassembled v2).
XD-75 (mixed Gateron Yellows, MX Blacks, MX Clears on layer toggles).
Das S Professional (was MX Blues, now Ghetto Reds).
G80-11900.
ML-4400 (2x) Cherry MY boards.

Offline peda

  • Posts: 206
Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 13:46:59 »
Actually I can see quiet a market for this keyboard.

I remember the mobile telephone my grandparents had... I forgot the name but very simple with huge buttons. They loved it and it was the only one they could really use.

OP, please consider that there are other people with other needs than yours!


EDIT : I actually make a educated prediction here: if this would be placed in one of the big electronic chains in europe, it would be the best selling keyboard.
« Last Edit: Mon, 07 November 2011, 13:49:51 by peda »

Offline JustCallMeCrash

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 13:50:32 »
I'm not slamming the size of the font or the color scheme... WHY would they make a KB with the rows of keys that far out of the norm?  If you're going to skew it that much, why not make it square?
ErgoDoxen 6 total: Cherry MX Browns, Cherry MX Clears, NovelKeys Box Royal, 80g Gateron Yellows, NovelKeys Pale Blues, NovelKeys Box Navy.
Preonic 2 total: OG Gateron Yellows (GMK silencer clips), TBD (unassembled v2).
XD-75 (mixed Gateron Yellows, MX Blacks, MX Clears on layer toggles).
Das S Professional (was MX Blues, now Ghetto Reds).
G80-11900.
ML-4400 (2x) Cherry MY boards.

Offline slueth

  • Posts: 577
Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 14:06:03 »
I seen this at my school.  its ment to be used with the peck and prod style.  Big buttons for poor eyesight.  Horrible to use.

Offline fohat.digs

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 16:48:02 »
This is my ebay listing. These sell from time to time, and they are best for people with arthritis and macular degeneration.

The last time one of these was listed on ebay (a month ago) it went for $35. I contacted the guy, he was buying it for his grandmother, and it was all she could see and use.

No serious keyboard user would ever bother with it. Those jokes on the other thread about the guy with giant fingers were hardly serious, but I wondered whether someone would want to do anything with it on that basis as mild amusement.

I never dreamed that anyone would buy this who did not need it for their own specialized needs. Either that would be a 3-year-old, or else somebody that I feel deeply sorry for.
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline litster

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« Reply #9 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 17:02:26 »
JustCallMeCrash, seriously.

Offline Oqsy

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 17:38:50 »
As a victim of degenerative eye disease, I approve of this product. I also approve of any jokes made at my expense. ;)
[sigpic]Currently in use: Rosewill RK9000 and CH DT225[/sigpic]
"Private misfortunes make for public welfare."

Offline demik

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« Reply #11 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 18:38:50 »
Quote from: JustCallMeCrash;447404
Sure, but I don't use my eyes to type.  This would take longer to learn than Dvorak did.


tell that to those that live for backlit keyboards!
No, he’s not around. How that sound to ya? Jot it down.

Offline jpc

  • Posts: 363
Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 07 November 2011, 19:22:55 »
That's what most flat boards look like to us enlightened Kinesis users.

RSI prevention recipe:[/B] Kinesis Contoured, Colemak layout, touch typing, Contour Design Rollermouse,  Logitech TrackMan Wheel, Logitech m570 trackball, "workrave" break timer software, "awesome" window manager, tenkeyless boards, cherry browns, Wang 724 with "ghetto green" ALPS, standing desk and/or comfy adjustable chairs, stress reduction, computer time reduction.

Fun non-ergonomic things: bolt modded Model M Space Saving Keyboards with new springs, Kensington Expert Mouse v7, Unicomp Endurapro, Northgates

Offline cactux

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #13 on: Tue, 08 November 2011, 02:30:47 »
I would not mine buy one of those for my kids
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Offline fohat.digs

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« Reply #14 on: Tue, 08 November 2011, 07:21:03 »
Precisely, neither would I.

That is why I am selling it as a keyboard for elderly or handicapped people with special needs.

Although it is not blatantly branded "Milton Bradley" that's what it is (look at the model number) and it was originally sold as an educational keyboard for kids.

Only later did it find a better place for itself in the market as something to help people who had trouble using "real" keyboards.
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline Internetlad

  • Posts: 710
Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #15 on: Wed, 09 November 2011, 18:29:12 »
Quote from: peda;447434
I remember the mobile telephone my grandparents had... I forgot the name but very simple with huge buttons. They loved it and it was the only one they could really use.

Cricket, IIRC

EDIT: nope, Jitterbug, I didn't RC at first, but then i did.
"Beep . . . Beep . . . Beep" -Sputnik I


Visit the Typing Test and try!

Offline dorkvader

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #16 on: Wed, 09 November 2011, 20:10:51 »
Quote from: Internetlad;448849
Cricket, IIRC

EDIT: nope, Jitterbug, I didn't RC at first, but then i did.
With that godawful commercial.

I wonder how this compares to Maltron's tonguestick keyboard.

Offline Ekaros

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #17 on: Mon, 14 November 2011, 04:47:05 »
Who ever thought that white on yellow is a good idea? I do see uses for some people though...
So I should add something useless here yes? Ok, ok...
Filco 105-key NKRO MX Browns Sw/Fi-layout|IBM Model M 1394545 Lexmark 102-key Finnish-layout 1994-03-22|Cherry G80-3000LQCDE-2 with MX CLEAR
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Offline nathanscribe

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« Reply #18 on: Mon, 14 November 2011, 15:55:51 »
They're not aimed at the visual impairment field, I'd say that much.  Most of the VI folk I've worked with have preferred standard keyboards coupled with auditory feedback from screen-readers.
Conquering the world with BASIC since 1982

Offline Internetlad

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« Reply #19 on: Mon, 14 November 2011, 16:47:02 »
maybe it's a joke like those giant remotes.
"Beep . . . Beep . . . Beep" -Sputnik I


Visit the Typing Test and try!

Offline hcry4

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #20 on: Mon, 14 November 2011, 17:16:45 »
Hey! Are you implying that the HHKB is a joke?

Offline hcry4

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #21 on: Mon, 14 November 2011, 20:46:45 »
Well, at least the HHKB is USB.

Offline dorkvader

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #22 on: Tue, 15 November 2011, 01:03:12 »
Quote from: ripster;452075
At least it has dedicated arrow keys.

The HHKB doesn't have those.
Wrong again! The HHKB lite has arrow keys (and rubber domes).

Offline fohat.digs

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« Reply #23 on: Tue, 15 November 2011, 10:24:06 »
Hard to believe my ebay listing has stirred up this much noise, with no results.

The last one of these on ebay sold for $35 about 2 months ago, to a guy who bought it for his elderly relative with macular degeneration and arthritis.

I listed this one at the same price and have been dropping it to its current $15 price.

Before it was "discovered" here, I had 40 views and 2 watchers. Now I have 450 views and 6 watchers.

I need to get the thing out of my garage. It is very clean and nice, with little use. I would have thought that the switches are worth the current price, much less the novelty keys, even if nobody was going to actually use the thing.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 32073[/ATTACH]
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline Oqsy

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #24 on: Tue, 15 November 2011, 16:11:03 »
$15 makes it a reasonable switch donor for ALPSheads.
[sigpic]Currently in use: Rosewill RK9000 and CH DT225[/sigpic]
"Private misfortunes make for public welfare."

Offline bootstrap

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« Reply #25 on: Tue, 15 November 2011, 16:58:14 »
I can see how someone who has limited finger dexterity (?arthritis) and mild visual impairment will find this keyboard useful.
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Offline Internetlad

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #26 on: Tue, 15 November 2011, 17:16:55 »
If i needed some Alps i'd jump on this. I love Alps but have no need for em.

EDIT: This might be a good gag gift for Xmas.
"Beep . . . Beep . . . Beep" -Sputnik I


Visit the Typing Test and try!

Offline fohat.digs

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« Reply #27 on: Tue, 15 November 2011, 20:30:25 »
It really would be good for these purposes, which we healthy people take for granted.

I have known people with macular degeneration who literally had to put their eyeballs inches away from things to see them.

With limited finger use, the big keys, light touch, and satisfying "click" of the keys make this board very easy for a 1-finger typer.

To us it is obviously a gag or a joke, but it does have a place in the world.
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline Oqsy

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #28 on: Tue, 15 November 2011, 20:48:42 »
I have to get inches from stuff to see it. Keratoconus. Thank god for radio polymerization, plexi glass implants, and hybrid contact lenses or I'd be so disabled I'd be unable to drive, read, maybe even eat. :/
[sigpic]Currently in use: Rosewill RK9000 and CH DT225[/sigpic]
"Private misfortunes make for public welfare."

Offline Input Nirvana

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #29 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 00:45:46 »
Quote from: jpc;447663
That's what most flat boards look like to us enlightened Kinesis users.

Di-tto!!!

Anyhow, y'all should shut your sinning pie holes, you know you want the keyboard, so just go to fleabay and earn some fleabay bucks, do a review on GH, put a ClickClack on it, and sleep with it under your pillows.

You guys are really, really weird.
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Offline fohat.digs

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« Reply #30 on: Fri, 23 December 2011, 10:19:27 »
Interested? No?

This keyboard finally sold, after almost 3 months and 770 views with 3 watchers on ebay (mostly bored Geekhackers, no doubt).

It sold for less than half the price of the previous one, which sold in a one-week auction in September.

Here is the comment I got from the buyer when I told him that I was hoping to sell it to somebody that needed it:


My oldest daughter has been looking for a keyboard with large characters for her ex-husband's grandmother. She is 83, and has a hard time with her desktop keyboard. Looks like your wish is about to come true. I e-mailed a picture of it to my daughter, and she likes it.
« Last Edit: Fri, 23 December 2011, 20:15:59 by fohat.digs »
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline fohat.digs

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« Reply #31 on: Sat, 28 January 2012, 08:23:31 »
I recently asked teh guy who bought the keyboard, for his elderly gandmother-in-law, how it had worked out.

Here is his reply:


Dear topvendor1,

"Grandma Tone" loves it! It's surprising how well she's adapted to it. She double-back taped two foam rubber blocks under the back of it to raise the back up to slant it so she can see the keys better. Now she calls her PC the "Dell from hell". Customized by Grandma!

Thanks again!

Steve
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline GeorgeStorm

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Board for the Elderly/Children? Are you kidding me?
« Reply #32 on: Sat, 28 January 2012, 08:44:32 »
Glad to hear it's being put to good use :)
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Offline litster

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« Reply #33 on: Sat, 28 January 2012, 11:24:58 »
That is really cool!  A keyboard design that enables elderly folks to be part of the computer generation!

Offline bazemk1979

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« Reply #34 on: Sat, 28 January 2012, 15:48:49 »
What I would like to know if someone from GH have the balls to buy one LOL
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Offline litster

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« Reply #35 on: Sat, 28 January 2012, 15:57:03 »
You don't need balls to buy one.  Grandma has one of these, doesn't she?

Offline fohat.digs

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« Reply #36 on: Sat, 28 January 2012, 16:18:21 »
You can see by the length of this thread that I had tried like hell to sell it here, or anywhere else, for a couple of months.

It was a nice clean board with simplified white Alps.

No touch typer would bother with it, but for certain people it is perfect.
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30