Comments on: The keyboards of tomorrow?

CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos notes that the traditional QWERTY keyboard has been under attack for years. Now there's finally something to give it a run for the money.

[dmm]

How fast?

Sounds nifty, but the big question is: how fast can you type?
Second big question is: Since you're only using one hand now for everything, might this not be more likely to cause repetitive stress injury?
Third big question is: Since you only need one hand, are we now going to have idiots trying to drive and type at the same time?

[Steve Jordan]

Doesn't matter what the keyboard organization is.

Having used QWERTY, ABCDE, FITALY, mini-keyboards, and handheld on-screen keyboards for years, I've realized it doesn't matter how the keyboard is organized, or even how large or small it is... spend enough time working with it, and it will become second nature. (I can tap-type on a handheld faster than I can print.) If only engineers were having as much success with voice-reco, so we wouldn't need the keyboards in the first place...

[LANjackal]

Neat concept, but doomed to failure

Great product. Too bad it'll have to face off against one of the most ingrained traits of any computer user to be successful: QWERTY touch-typing. Doomed to the trash heap or niche mobile use.

maybe not so doomed

One hand keyboards aren't really about the desktop. They're about wearable (i.e., usable by pedestrians) computers.

Good point

But one really has to wonder what are the benefits of having one hand free. Like he said, are they going to try and drive and type at the same time? Try this... do a math problem with your left hand and simultaniously a completely different math problem with the right. The human brain can really only concentrate on one thing at a time with things that require any thought. The only real application I can see from this is for people with only one hand and those interested in surfing porn alot.

Point & type ?

Others have asked what useful function there is in typing with only one hand. I edit a lot of text, where I am adding and deleting text AFTER I have pointed to it with a mouse. I would very much like an arrangement where I point with one hand and type with the other. To me, that is just obviously better ergonomics.

As to repetitive stress injuries, I don't care how well the device is thought through, if a person insists on doing a particular task for over 10 hrs straight with almost no breaks, that person will inevitably have repetitive stress problems. I don't think that is the fault of the device, that is the fault of the person using the device. The only thing the designer of the device CAN do is make the device as comfortable as possible for reasonable use.

Too much money and Trouble

It might be a nice keyboard, but after reviewing them on their website, i could get 3 nice standard keyboards for the price and hassle of one of theirs.. I also think that keyboards in general should make way to better touch-screen and voice software/hardware.

[techvisor]

Type w/ gloves

Millions can't touch-type and don't want to because qwerty?s layout doesn't make sense. Originally designed after a typesetters case and marketing (Remington wanted "typewriter" on the top keys for salesmen), it wasn?t designed for touch-typing. What if you could type with gloves? You could find the most comfort and even be mobile. in10did.com is another new way to type. Ten keys, each one a shift lets you type w/ one hand or two.

Clicktext text input from Phonality

It's a tough nut to crack. One other alternative is Clicktext text input from Phonality. It uses six (alternatively eight) keys. Each letter requires a combination of two consecutive key presses. The keys are labeled (^, v, <, > -, |)such that the written form of each letter is approximated by its key combination. With a little practice, you can do no-look touch typing just as with QWERTY. Mail [e-mail]

[FrogPad]

FrogPad

FrogPad's real home run is the portable wireless internet market. Integrate a Bluetooth FrogPad to your PDA or SmartPhone. The ergonomic elements of FrogPad are clear, think of your body posture then you have to have two hands on your desk. And of course the masses who use a Qwerty may or may not swing over to FrogPad, yet we have identified the global market for an alternative such as FrogPad, and it is substantial. Think of Froggie just a a choice.