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My dream workstation setup (keyboard included) would be one that allows me to have full access to everything without requiring me to move my arms around much, all while allowing me to position myself comfortably. I want the following:

- "VR" display. Does not need to be stereoscopic, but needs to be careful that my eyes focus on it correctly. Must be a "normal" field of vision, and allow me to turn my head to look at the out-of-view portions of my desktop. (Every major OS already supports this in theory. A virtual desktop with a display only showing part of that virtual desktop. Just tie the viewing rectangle to the VR glasses' motion/positioning sensors, and give me a key combo to "re-center" as needed.) Bonus points for good built-in headphones. Extra bonus points if you design your VR glasses to get out of the way of other headphones, so I can supply my own (and replace them whenever I want, without replacing the VR glasses). These don't have to be wireless. It would be nice to provide a built-in USB hub as well.

- A handheld keyboard/pointer combo. I'm picturing something akin to a game controller, but with a chording keyboard built in. There's the AlphaGrip, but I want at least the option for an analog joystick instead of a trackball, or maybe even that Steam Controller touch-D-pad thing. (A user-swappable module would be nice!) Also, Bluetooth would be great, and no, your proprietary bullshit RF dongle that ties up yet another USB port and attempts to use the already-overcrowded 2.5GHz band is not a worthy replacement. (Do you hear me, peripheral makers?) Wired USB would be acceptable as long as the VR display has a built-in hub. But I'd really prefer not to get smacked in the face with a USB cable every time I move, so BT is preferred.

- A recliner. I'm sure La-Z-Boy stock will go up when the first two become a reality.

- A tray-table similar to the vertically-adjustable, wheelie ones they use in hospitals. Making them not quite so hospital-y would be a nice touch.

The computer itself can be a normal desktop, as far as I care. The more power, the better.

That's my wishlist.

Why a tablet? Do you really want to spend all day holding the damned thing? Forget that.
Your problem is being hunched over the keyboard & mouse.
Your solution is to buy an Alphagrip:

http://http//www.alphagrips.com/

Then you can lift your screen to eye level, enlarge the fonts, and finally lean back just like in the old days, touch-typing away in full ergonomic comfort, just like I am now. I would _never_ go back to a crappy old qwerty board mate. Hell, just watch one of the typing demos and you'll get it:

http://www.alphagrips.com/typingdemo.html

No, I don't work for them, I just love the device. Oh, and comfort, I like that too.

Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

S

Or you could have something quite different, like this, or this, or this, or this (what I'm actually using to type this message).

Please, don't put just "this" in every link. Let me FTFY...

Or you could have something quite different, like Ergodex DX1, or Win Mini, or Optimus Maximus, or AlphaGrip iGrip (what I'm actually using to type this message).

Better?

Or you could have something quite different, like this, or this, or this, or this (what I'm actually using to type this message).

Please, don't put just "this" in every link. Let me FTFY...

Or you could have something quite different, like Ergodex DX1, or Win Mini, or Optimus Maximus, or AlphaGrip iGrip (what I'm actually using to type this message).

Better?

Even basic input, the keyboard and mouse, haven’t really changed in any meaningful way over the years

Maybe the reason for this is the basic form works. The design of the wheel hasn't changed much in a 5 thousand years either. I wonder why.

I beg to differ. The basic design requirement of a wheel is that it's round and rolls, and I'll certainly grant you that this aspect of wheels hasn't changed. However, a rough-hewn wooden round, such as used in the simplest of carts, bears very little other resemblance to the three-spoked carbon-fiber performance bicycle wheels I see with some frequency on my morning bicycle commute. Sure, both are round and roll, but otherwise, there's thousands of years of difference between them.

So what are the design requirements for computer input? You could start by looking at the requirements of a keyboard and a mouse: 1) Must have all the keys required to input at least ASCII. 2) Must have some kind of pointer-device control, ideally with at least two buttons.

So sure, you can have your basic flat keyboard, and a basic mouse. Or you could have something quite different, like this, or this, or this, or this (what I'm actually using to type this message).

And that's not even looking into other possible input schemes, such as voice recognition, eye tracking, etc.

I applaud Valve's efforts to look into better ways of doing things. This kind of exploration is exactly what leads to new and better things.

Cheers,

Alphagrip was also going to replace keyboards. I use the controller on occasion, it does function nicely as a game controller/keyboard but just like most people I am sticking with my QWERTY keyboard.

Piggybacking on this subject, does anyone have a favorite alternative keyboard? Has anyone actually used the FrogPad, AlphaGrip, or the OrbiTouch?

I am thinking of trying the alphagrip keyboard. http://www.alphagrips.com/ I was looking for the "gripped in your palm" type keyboard and ran across this.

I took a look at their keyboards once, but this image just scared me away:
http://www.alphagrips.com/Keyboard_AG5_backfingers.jpg

More keyboards for your one handed (or no handed) typing consideration:

http://www.maltron.com/maltron-keyboards.html
http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/19/actbrises-touchless-keyboard-for-your-laziness-handicap/

and here's a neat one for CTS, or if you just get tired of constantly moving your hand to the mouse and back:
http://www.alphagrips.com/ it has a wicked tough learning curve though (prolly about the same as frogpad) and if you are like me with twisted fingers that don't quite fit a gaming controller, forget it. Also, the alphagrips is kind of gimmicky and microsoft's curvy, split keyboard is actually pretty good for CTS.

if you just don't like to move your hands off the keyboard to grab the mouse, or if you have a one-hand keyboard for the obvious reason, try a foot-mouse:
http://www.footmouse.com/nohands.php
though I'm sure there are other manufacturers, this one seems kind of expensive. Or if you are handy (heh heh, a pun) you could probably rig one up with the spare mice you have lying around

This article hardly covers *every* category. I'm a full-time translator, sometimes spending far too much time at my keyboard, and RSI is a big issue. One big help I found in working around and avoiding RSI issues is the Alphagrip.

It looks like a PS2 controller on steroids. Sure, it's a bit funky and takes a while to get used to, but its different key layout means that learning it does not overwrite your muscle memory for regular QWERTY boards, allowing you to swap back and forth with no confusion -- unlike Dvorak layouts, for instance. Plus, it's portable. :) The one drawback is no wireless version yet, but word is they're working on that. I've found the Alphagrip to be very useful in recovering from RSI induced by generic keyboards.

(Note -- I have no relation to the Alphagrip company. I am merely a satisfied customer.)

Cheers,

Hey there, Blakey. I appreciated your post, it helps immensely in explaining where the heck the ribbon came from -- which is quite the question otherwise. :) That said:

Microsoft does do usability testing, you know.

Oh, I don't deny that. But I do happen to think that they've got so many basic assumptions already in place before they do their testing that the results are of limited relevance in the real world. One clear assumption in their ribbon design -- screen sizes. MS apparently thought that everyone has big screens. If you've got a small monitor, the unchangeably huge size of the ribbon crowds the screen and reduces your effective working area. Not very smart. Another assumption -- that folks don't mind losing all the time they put into learning the old UI (which also happens to be standard to all other non-MSO-2007 apps).

Their testing obviously shows that the ribbon is superior or they wouldn't have implemented it.

Perhaps you're stretching the point a bit -- it remains non-obvious to me that the ribbon is superior in any way except size. You could certainly say that their testing obviously convinced *them* that the ribbon is superior.

I think most people who hate the ribbon are simply those "tech-luddites" who use technology, but actually hate change at the same time.

Though admittedly anecdotal, my example was of a school full of teachers and office staff, who use tech to get other things done. They don't take kindly to that tech suddenly changing and making it harder to get those exact same tasks done. Change alone is not disliked -- rather, pointless unannounced change that increases the complexity of previously known processes is disliked, with a passion.

It's weird, but Slashdot is full of the type... why else would vi still exist?

The old adage "if it ain't broke..." comes to mind. :)

Seriously though, for me personally, I'm all about changing things around drastically from time to time. I cycle through different Linux distros every couple years. I've got a couple Macs. I use WinXP. I've got an AlphaGrip keyboard to really mess with my head (and keep RSI at bay). For office suites, I use Lotus Symphony, KOffice, OO.o, and, yes, MSO (though I use 2003 -- won't touch 2007 if I can avoid it). I even change languages, living in Japan and working in Japanese-speaking offices for years and actively studying other languages in my spare time (German, Mori, Mandarin, Ulster Gaelic, Korean, Java... my bookshelves are fun).

The key here though is that all this change *is on my own terms*. *I* choose when to switch interfaces in terms of OSes / apps / keyboards / languages. *I* choose what I'm going to spend my time learning. And I choose not to spend my time learning an inconsistent and confusing system that is effectively being forced on me (making me resent it), and that gets in my way (moving, hiding, and sometimes even completely removing, functionality that I have relied on in the past), and that doesn't come across, to me personally, as useful, intuitive, rewarding, or interesting.

Cheers,

Looks cool....I've tried to get proficient with the Alphagrip but it's taking a lot of time to get used to.

You should consider trying an AlphaGrip. I've been using one for over a year, and while it may have some flaws, being able to keep my hands glued to both the "keyboard" and the "mouse" (trackball) has been invaluable.

Well, first of all, there was a 6 button controller for the Genesis, specifically for games like SF and Mortal Kombat. I had Mortal Kombat for the GameGear. While it only had 2 buttons, the game was still playable. I think the way controllers have gone recently, cramming more and more buttons into the controller is the wrong way to go about things. We've even gotten to the point of having buttons under the analog sticks. Eventually, console gamepads will end up looking like this. Of the current generation (xbox, ps2, GC), I like the GC controller the most, because the buttons are easy to press, and don't all feel the same. Also, they didn't put tons of excess buttons. Most games don't have problems. The programmers just have to learn that they can do without 14 buttons.

A new and inovative input device has had some positive reviews floating around the net lately. It's called AlphaGrip and is basically a keyboard mapped onto a large game controller (with a track ball to boot). I ordered one a few days ago so I don't have first hand experiance with it yet but the reviewes come from some reputable sites (linked below). It clames to allow 50-wpm with only 30 hours of training. I'm not so sure about that but I'm willing to find that out for myself. Sorry for the short post but I'm eating a pizza with one hand and typing with the other and I have to be to work in five minutes and my wrist is killing me. http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1949084 ,00.asp http://www.alphagrips.com/ product page with live demonstratio0n video

I am interested in these alternative input devices, and even willing to invest some time and effort into practicing with one, but only if there is a payoff in speed. My typing speed on a standard qwerty is pretty decent, around 60 wpm. Any new input device has to offer the potential of beating that for it to be worthwhile. Speed is everything.

The wikipedia article on AlphaGrip says: "According to the site, users can achieve approximately 50 or more words per minute once the initial learning curve of the AlphaGrip's "Enhanced QWERTY" arrangement has been overcome"

And the AlphaGrip white paper does not mention anything above 50 wpm.

I have never seen any decent data on measured typing speed with various input device. I'd love to see a good controlled comparison of standard keyboard vs. natural vs. dvorak vs. AlphaGrip vs. the various chorded keyboards. If you (or anyone else for that matter) have any data like this please share.

From the website http://www.alphagrips.com/store/shopping.html

"The AlphaGrip may not be ergonomic. The company has not conducted the requisite studies to make that determination."

Whatever.

I use the normal controllers for games that are obviously at home on a console like Prince of Persia, and that's fine. Aiming in FPS games is *awful* though, and using a keyboard/mouse/trackball on your couch is no more convenient, though this would change my mind if it were console compatible.

A $700 video card is nothing but bling. My last one was $200. 3 years ago. A model you can't even buy except on eBay now, and it still works just fine. All the stupid raid-0, water cooling, over-clocking, brand-snooty PC shit *is* like driving an SUV, but PCs can also do the equivalent of a Geo Metro with a Porsche engine in it. The gap is narrowing, but simple preference still matters.

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.