Community interview with Professor Eiiti Wada, HHKB creator.

[livingspeedbump]

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

[rowdy]

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?

[osi]

Cool -  I've submitted my votes! I'd love another chance to praise and laud the HHKB!!

[iamtootallforthis]

Thanks for doing this! Voted on the poll!

[demik]

Ask him if he can adopt me

[livingspeedbump]

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.

[livingspeedbump]

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?""

 

[Binge]

This is awesome.  Amazing gets LSB :3

[Air tree]

Voted, and it's really surprising to see this happening!


Very exited. 

[livingspeedbump]

This is awesome.  Amazing gets LSB :3

Thanks! Really surprised/grateful he is doing this for us

[livingspeedbump]

Voted, and it's really surprising to see this happening!


Very exited. 

Thanks!

I'm incredibly stoked as well 

[tp4tissue]

So..... This is the entrenched Japanese management I've been hearing about..

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

[CPTBadAss]

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?

[livingspeedbump]

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

[rowdy]

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

[iamtootallforthis]

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?

[livingspeedbump]

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

Dude, you have a bad*** forum signature. niiiceeee 

[ssdt]

any news on when the interview is being released?

[Air tree]

Hey, is there any time line when this will take place, I'm still quite exited for to see the interview. 

[livingspeedbump]

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!

[HoffmanMyster]

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. 

[livingspeedbump]

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. 

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

[HoffmanMyster]

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. 

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.    I kind of figured I knew the answer to the question about the colors, but wanted to ask anyway.    And now I know new things!  Well I will patiently await the official release of the interview before asking for more tidbits of info. 

* HoffmanMyster folds his hands in his lap

[livingspeedbump]

Hey Guys, updated the OP with the link to the published interview     

[rowdy]

A fantastic read - thanks for posting

[geniekid]

Just read the interview. 

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.

[livingspeedbump]

Just read the interview. 

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.

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  )