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Alphagrip... http://www.alphagrip.com/ It's nifty. I had my pre-order in 26 months before they shipped. Well worth my $100 IMHO. I have a 19" viewsonic hung with a mig-torch modified 3-joint articulated bracket over my bed, and I can now look up and type with my hands resting down by the boys...

Yes, you do have to re-learn how to type.
No, it doesn't take that long.
It's very funny to watch your friends try to use it.
It's 100% *NIX compatible!

Look at this site: http://www.alphagrip.com/

It may be a brilliant piece of technology, but they really need to reconsider their marketing materials. They suggest that basic touch typing has an average speed of 50 WPM, while their expensive keyboard replacement offers "up to" 50 WPM. As someone who types in the area of 80 WPM, that's not sounding like a compelling replacement for a laptop or desktop keyboard.

Things like this do happen! Look at this site: http://www.alphagrip.com/

I first saw this over two years ago. They accepted pre-orders a year ago. I was sufficiently interested to get in on the deal. I finally got my unit last week (my wife called it a "valentine's present" so I can't get my hands on it for another two weeks, though).

The AlphaGrip is innovative, but not as technically challengin as the Optimus. But things like this do happen.

But the Optimus looks cool. I hope they don't wait a year to ship.

Maybe you wanna head over to http://www.alphagrip.com/. Just another option. Or hire a typist ;P

although they are not expected to ship until august .. this looks like the most interesting alternative to a standard keyboard yet .. text input .. mouse .. trackball actually .. and highly programmable game controller all in one ..

http://www.alphagrip.com/index.html

also with regards to RSI the Datahand is a very good .. although expensive alternative .. even with the new pricing ..

http://www.datahand.com/

This sounds like a job for... http://alphagrip.com/

You will look apparently look like this

Aargh! That photo looks *exactly* like it came out of the "Future Publishing circa early-90s" school of magazine photography.

(British readers who read ST Format, Amiga Format or anything similar will probably get this. 16-year old Yanks won't).

Maybe I need a hobby since I'm looking at "corporate" images too closely, but it doesn't look like this fellow would really know what to do with (maybe he does reps of 20 or something).

She, on the other hand looks like the go-getter from the 22nd century and uses the keyboard as she waits in line for the CokeMobil food packets.

This lady would probably try to make a call using that device to her friends in Santa Monica.

Maybe I need a hobby since I'm looking at "corporate" images too closely, but it doesn't look like this fellow would really know what to do with (maybe he does reps of 20 or something).

She, on the other hand looks like the go-getter from the 22nd century and uses the keyboard as she waits in line for the CokeMobil food packets.

This lady would probably try to make a call using that device to her friends in Santa Monica.

Maybe I need a hobby since I'm looking at "corporate" images too closely, but it doesn't look like this fellow would really know what to do with (maybe he does reps of 20 or something).

She, on the other hand looks like the go-getter from the 22nd century and uses the keyboard as she waits in line for the CokeMobil food packets.

This lady would probably try to make a call using that device to her friends in Santa Monica.

You won't look cool. You will look apparently look like this

"The Problem: Limited Productivity of Desk-Free Computing"
"The Solution: A Patented Handheld Touch Typing Device" (Emphasis mine.)

"Lean Back, Relax, and Type as Fast as You Think -- Maybe Faster" (Is this a statement on how fast I could type, or on how slowly I think, or on how slowly this company thinks I think?)

This, followed by a timeline of input devices: chisel, quill, keyboard, AlphaGrip.

Am I too sensitive?

Unique grip allows the device to be held between the palms, freeing up the fingers for typing

99 USD doesn't sound that insane to me. I'm definitely considering pre-ordering one!

How are we supposed to use this with one hand?

LK

... for these people.
They've designed an entire keyboard around the concept of the game pad.

I've written that I specially study the keyboard problem in order to make some progress in that area. And seeing the half-QWERTY keyboard I have immediately found the prototype dated 08-Mar-1997: here.

The IBM has produced the research IMHO exclusively for use in handhelds and other devices where the user must manipulate the computer with one hand. I fear there is no more application where such a keyboard can find it's place. Since it uses one hand only, the input speed should be theoretically decreased a half. The amount of fingers movement is the same which means that the errors caused by imprecise movements is the same. The keyboard does not divide the load evenly meaning the twofold increase of dreaded carpal tunnel syndrome.

And even in the field of PDAs there are a lot of more compact and efficient designs, from Alphagrip which does not require tricks with a space bar since it's not chording - to lots of chording keyboards - BAT, Twiddler/clones, Wlonk, DataEgg/MicroWriter/Agenda, Monomanus a.s.o.

Remove CARPAL TUNNEL from my addressto answer.

I have studied the problem specially (for desktop though) and I see no good method of text input at all.

Firstly, forget about direct neural interface and speech input. The neural interface is terribly slow, the speech input cannot deal with programming language texts.

Then, forget about a stylus and touchscreen. Stylus is simply too slow, touchscreen will cover your screen with grease from your hands.

There is a nice product that looks promising - Alphagrip - but AFAIK it's still not in production, and I fear it has a lot of other problems, for instance, I cannot imagine how it can be used as a game device as claimed by inventors, or how the index finger can press UP.

Datahand looks the best and is ergonomic enough but is simply too big to fit in a laptop.Twiddler IMHO requires too non-ergonomic fingers movement severely limiting the input speed.

The following methods look promising:
Keybowl that can be emulated with a pair of analog joysticks taken from Sony PS Doubleshock joysticks,
Wlonk - a 10-key macroprogrammable chording keyboard (You should design the mouse, driver and formfactor yourself),
and variations of TheBAT, DataEgg, 7KEY a.s.o (7-key 1-hand chording keyboard. Are you going to study the chords?)

Remove all SPAM from my email to answer.

The idea of controlling something with head movements is not new. At least there are rumors that we Russians have successfully implemented it to control the rockets by means of magnet in pilot's helmet and magnetometer above.

But the pilots simply have no other means since they control the fighter with hands and feet, they are paid really high and they have no enough rockets to turn their heads every day.

We can imagine the pain in the neck which is much more terrible than any RSI. The problem of ergonomic control is being studied by us and we see no satisfactory methods for now. Even the AlphaGrip - the last cry of technofashion - seems inadequate.


We are Admin of FreeBSD. Windows is irrelevant. You will be assimilated.

The products website might dispel some of the design misconceptions that are being had as a result of that one picture. Based on the further info from their page, the design looks actually somewhat useful.

to get the real info