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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,

The Frogpad is no longer made.

A British company, Maltron, does make single-handed keyboards. They can be purchased in the U.S. here at Enablemart. But these keyboards are pretty pricey, so it might not be worth the investment to get one, unless you expect your injured hand is going to be out of commission much longer than a few weeks.

About thirteen years ago, I had sustained a horrific injury to my left arm that resulted in my arm being put into an immobilization cast for the better part of fourteen weeks and a brace for months after. My fingers, however, were still functional. The immobilization cast kept me from positioning my hand over a keyboard. I rigged a dowel using some duct tape so I could at least press the shift, option and command keys with on my left while I typed with my right hand. I definitely couldn't type as fast, but I was able to get the job done.

If you have an Apple Macintosh computer, it already has the Dvorak one-handed keyboards built into it. Just go to the Language and Text pane in the System Preferences application to switch to one or the other. Look up the keyboard layout and download the image so you have something to look at while you learn to type the layout. This will be a LOT cheaper than buying a specialized keyboard for a condition that you say will only last a few weeks.

If your hand is immobilized for just a few weeks, it probably is not worth the effort to learn a new layout like that. It takes a couple of weeks at least to become proficient using a new layout to make it productive, and a couple of months to really develop the reflexes needed to touch type using the new layout without having to glance at the keyboard to find the key you want. If your hand is out of commission for a couple of months or longer, then it is certainly worth the effort to learn a new keyboard layout to maintain productivity. If your hand is out of commission for longer than a year or perhaps permanently, then a one-handed keyboard would be worth the expense.

Above all, don't panic and think through what you really need. And DON'T skimp on your physical therapy! P.T. is what will bring the usability of your hand back to you. Shirk your P.T., and your hand could heal permanently out of order.

Here's a product that will allow mouse control with the eyes and requires no electrodes: http://www.enablemart.com/Catalog/Head-Eye-Controlled-Input/EyeTech-TM3

Enablemart - This seems to be a third party seller but I've yet to find out who makes all the equipment they sell
3M Ergonomic Products - Notable is the Ergonomic Mouse that looks kind of like a joystick
Kinesis Corporation - Another third party place that sells ergonomic items (they have chairs also)
Perific - Their main product is the Wireless Dual Mouse
Evoluent - They are known for the VerticalMouse
Contour Design - Best known for the RollerMouse and the PerfitMouse (Contour Mouse)
Combimouse - Combination Keyboard and Mouse
Adesso - They make a lot of products
Aerobic Mouse - Looks a lot like the VerticalMouse except it has a plastic area to hold your hand
Nohands Mouse - Control your mouse with your feet
Zero Tension Mouse - seems like a mix between the VerticalMouse and 3M's Ergonomic Mouse

Take a look at this as a good example for someone who is blind:

http://enablemart.com/productdetail.aspx?store=10& pid=601&dept=22

Lots of ALT text for the graphics, but still has pictures, more text based, no flash nonsense.

Kind of reminds you of a web site from 1995, not a lot of visual nonsense.

http://www.naturalpoint.com/ cost $199 - $399
http://www.cameramouse.com/ cost $299 - $429

http://web.mit.edu/atic/www/tools/mice.html $45 touchpad - $299
http://www.enablemart.com/productdetail.aspx?store =10&pid=174&dept=12 cost ???

Even when I'm on a desktop, I use a touchpad (see http://www.enablemart.com/productGroupDetail.aspx? store=10&dept=24&group=58). I tried trackballs for a while, but they're kinda cumbersome and they required too rigid a position - my hand still hurts. Touchpads allow you a relaxed enough position that you shouldn't start hurting. Only problem is that if you are playing a game, your fingers get sweaty and it loses sensitivity... Oh, and they don't squeak!

Such devices already exist, although I think they only provide one line at a time (for some reason).

Expense.

This was the first advertised hit on google, but at this store you're looking at $10,000 for a one-line 81 character display.

For 25 lines, I'd rather just hire someone to read my screen for me.

My girlfriend has one called a QuickPad and she uses it a lot. it has a 4 line LCD, and transmits to your computer over IR. it comes with an IR receiver which taps into the PS/2 jack. here's a quick google: http://www.enablemart.com/productDetail.aspx?store =10&pid=945&dept=15

Huh, I thought this had already been solved? I was reading about this issue on CNN's similar story last week, and they mentioned the outcry from the blind and mute community over this issue. However, they also said Microsoft had already come up for a solution with regards to hotmail (M$'s free internet based e mail service) by simply not applying the test to the blind. WindowsXP checks to see if a Braille translator is hooked up to your computer, and relays this through your .NET passport to Hotmail. If it is, you don't have to go through that mess.

Sounds like a good solution to me! Besides, if they do this for the blind, and use that audio test thing instead, the deaf will be all over them.

Heck, I've darn near already built this (yes, out of a lazyboy), although this version lacks a few key features.

1. An ajustable chair. Being the long-torso'd type, standard chairs require me to either slouch (goodbye lumbar), or stare at the ceiling when I rest my head. The all-one-piece thing just doesn't work for me.

2. A split keyboard. I'm not talking about the type of keyboard where the spacebar is curved like a smileyface, either, I'm talking a truly split keyboard. Half of each attached to each armrest, so I don't have to hold my arms out in front of me to type. (try typing with thumbtacks under your palms for an hour or so, and you'll see what I mean).

3. A monitor holder that allows me to dynamically adjust the location of the monitor. I've designed two ways to do this, why can't they even come up with one?

4. A place for a telephone. You expect me to get up from such a comfy spot every time the phone rings? Get serious.

5. An eject button. Even my lazyboy has a lever on the side, so I don't have to ooze my way down to the foot of it when I want to grab a reference manual. In the world of ergonomics, comfortable and easy-to-get-out-of tend to be opposing concepts.

There is a lot of amateur engineers working on gadgets to improve the lives of people with disabilities. The market is often small but the rewards are tremendous. Enablemart shows has a lot of stuff that was invented in garages and small shops.