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Build A Custom-Fit One-hand Keyboard
EyesWideOpen writes: "The New York Times (free reg. req.) has an article about a guy who has invented a one-hand keyboard that really isn't a board at all. The 'Stealthy Keyboard', which is in the prototype development stage, is designed to fit in the palm of the hand and uses the fingertips, the middle of the fingers and combinations of those to generate characters. More information (white paper, downloadable engineering plans, photos, etc.) can be found on this website." Inventor John McKown adds "The kit includes (open) source for the firmware. The code is for a PS/2 port but a USB version is slowly progressing."
I'd really love this in USB. Better yet would be a wireless version with a little USB plug (no cords)! Looks like I have a new project to try out in the workshop this weekend...
I know gaming is probably one of the last things a keyboard designer should consider, but in this case it poses an interesting question: how hard is it to press multiple keys at once? I guess this applies outside of gaming as well. If you use both the middle of fingers as well as the tips, is it easy to press them both? I know for my gaming I need about 15 easily accessible keys. With 5 keys, and all combinations of those you get quite a few more than 15 keys, but I dont want to have to stop running forward while I switch weapons. :)
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. --Winston Churchill
Sounds really good to me. Sure - you'd have to learn how to use it, but thats no big deal. I learned how to message pretty fast on my cell phone so I'm sure learning the key "chores" he talked about wont be to hard. Sounds like a good application for Bluetooth. You have the thing with you at all times and can use it to input text into your PDA, phone, Laptop or machine at home. And two years later that guy can release version 2 of his keyboard with built in wristwatch...
Hank! White!
This is a fine example of why patents are often a tremendous resource to the technical community. Go download the patent from the USPTO and you'll find the blueprint on how to build one of these yourself.
Patents are in a way the source code for an invention. By law, they must be detailed enough to allow one skilled in the arts to reproduce the invention. Without patents, inventors would be forced to hid the details of the implementation of their invention (or even the entire invention) from others. With a patent we can have all the details on how an invention works and the inventor can still be protected if he or she wishes to sell the invention. Remember, a patent doesn't prevent you from building something as long as you don't do it for profit.
Why the slasdot community is so hostile towards patents in principle I shall never understand. Sure, in practice there have some screwy patents issued that shouldn't have been, but in general patents spread rather than restrict knowledge.