Grippity Back-Typing Keyboard

[itlnstln]

Umm... yeah.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/04/grippity-back-typing-keyboard-is-one-step-closer-to-existing/

I posted something on this before thinking it might be somwhat interesting, but after getting a clearer picture on what this will end up being, I think there might be some fail involved with this product.

[lowpoly]

Maybe for industrial use.

[itlnstln]

Or non-use.

[Mercen_505]

The outer most columns look painfully difficult to reach. The concept might be a viable solution for console gamers who want to chat in MMOs, with a little redesign up top.

[itlnstln]

I also think that the keys should be split in half and rotated 90 degrees so that it matches a standard keyboard layout from the finger perspective.  In its current configuration, it would be like you're typing sideways.

[Eclairz]

all they need to do is put a touch thumb screen above the keyswitches and make all the keys programmable so we can move the keys whereever we want and then it doesn't feel such a failure anymore.

As a Console controller it looks promising but would make it impossible to hold as you'd be trying to press buttons on both sides of the machine.

And one more thing the keys are in a grid format which makes them easy to manufacture but keyboards are not grid shaped because it is more easier to type in a stuttered grid.

I remember there was another gamepad which had buttons on the front back and sides and was supposed to be really quick

edit: found it here

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.joystiq.com/media/2006/01/alphagrip_front.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/09/keyboard-and-gamepads-unholy-love-child/&usg=__aGVE1vvUrvXE4CFlg4T5aLSLRo0=&h=400&w=425&sz=36&hl=en&start=26&sig2=iYfD3ud0HOW0pIPRm_PCow&um=1&tbnid=ou5x7ALdhlBWjM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=126&ei=il05See0IorB-QaunIzPBg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkeyboard%2Bgamepad%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26sa%3DN

[kodos96]

I also think that the keys should be split in half and rotated 90 degrees so that it matches a standard keyboard layout from the finger perspective.  In its current configuration, it would be like you're typing sideways.

I actually have a design I've been sketching up on the back of napkins for awhile now that's kind of similar to what you're describing. I actually find the basic idea of these kind of gamepad-inspired keyboards really interesting - not for gaming use, but for ergo purposes - I think that a lot of what causes 'RSI' (although I don't really like that label) is that any keyboard, no matter how ergonomically designed, forces you to stay in a static position relative to the board position on your desk.... with a device like this you could set it on your desk and use it kinda like a cross between a kineses contoured and a safetype vertical board... but you could also pick it up, lean back in your chair and keep typing with it handheld... allowing you to continually shift your sitting position through your full range of motion without being constrained by having to keep you hands tied to the desk.

But yeah, this PARTICULAR design looks kinda epic-fail-y with its effectively sideways qwerty layout. The AlphaGrip looks better thought out, although I would rather a more traditional qwerty layout, with traditional keyswitches/caps rather than the gamepad style rocker switches or whatever they're called.

But the basic idea of a gampad grip style device is not, I think, a fundamentally silly idea.

[bhtooefr]

I often use the computer lying down, laptop on my chest, looking at the screen, reaching to the keyboard on my lap.

So, no desk keeping things confined.

And, that's one reason that I hate desktops - because then I have to sit at a desk to use them, or have a huge monitor and REALLY LONG keyboard and mouse cables.

[itlnstln]

Comfy chairs and beer makes desktop work easier to deal with.  Unfortunately, I can't drink beer at work.

[kodos96]

I often use the computer lying down, laptop on my chest, looking at the screen, reaching to the keyboard on my lap.

So, no desk keeping things confined.

Yeah, but the thing is that a) laptops don't have ergo split keyboards (or decent keyswitches).... and b) that doesn't really change the equation much - everything I said above still applies, just substitute 'lap' for 'desk' - you've moved your 'desk', but it's still effectively a static surface you have to conform your body position to - you can't cross your legs, lie sideways on the couch, or even sit upright in a traditional 'desktop' pose (which isn't, in and of itself, bad... it's just being forced to STAY in that position for 8 hours straight that's bad).  

The idea of a gampad style device is that it doesn't require a flat surface to rest on - a laptop still does.

[itlnstln]

For clarification, bhtooefr, I believe, uses a separate keyboard on his lap and not the laptop kb.

[kodos96]

And, that's one reason that I hate desktops - because then I have to sit at a desk to use them, or have a huge monitor and REALLY LONG keyboard and mouse cables.

Incidentally, my home setup consists of a wireless kbd, wiimote, and 55" monitor (my HDTV), in front of the couch.

It's more comfortable than sitting in my cubicle at work, but actually not by as much as you would think, for exactly the kind of reasons I'm talking about - you can't really kick back on the couch the way you can when watching TV (or gaming), cause the keyboard forces you to sit in a basically desktop-like position.

[kodos96]

For clarification, bhtooefr, I believe, uses a separate keyboard on his lap and not the laptop kb.

Oh, that's kinda cool... seems like the next logical step from there would be VR goggles - move from chest-mounted to head-mounted display

Of course, it STILL wouldn't solve the kind of problems I'm talking about, needing to stay sitting/lying in a position that produces a 'lap'.... seems like the obvious solution from there would be a data glove, and a VIRTUAL keyboard

[bhtooefr]

What'd you mean? I can cross my legs, whatever. As long as I'm lying down, there's a flat surface anywhere on my lap or legs to set the keyboard on. And, if my legs are elevated, the keyboard has a slant.

And, I move around all the time. Also, sometimes, I'll sit up, have the keyboard on my lap, and the laptop beside me.

[kodos96]

What'd you mean? I can cross my legs, whatever. As long as I'm lying down, there's a flat surface anywhere on my lap or legs to set the keyboard on. And, if my legs are elevated, the keyboard has a slant.

And you can type with the keyboard at a slant?? That doesn't work for me.... maybe if I had one of those lapdesk things with a beanbag bottom to even things out.

[bhtooefr]

I can, although I do adjust my leg positioning, or move the keyboard forward. Basically, the keyboard and laptop go where it feels comfortable.

(And, sometimes, I use the laptop's keyboard.)

[Eclairz]

As I said with my previous post instead of marketting it as a keyboard market it as a complete computing/console solution. Just put a screen on it and make each key programmable so you can use its current layout or convert it to a 90 degree layout mentioned above. Would be a perfect solution for travelling notebook replacement for people who cannot type while sitting in a nice area e.g. tube, standing, walking, etc.
Alternatively use it as a console with even more buttons still keeping the screen.