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One-Thumb Keyboard

Posted by timothy on from the thumbs-don't-clap dept.

pagercam2 writes "As Japanese teens are so used to typing one another messages on their cellphones, they are now more comfortable with one thumb typing than the old two handed QWERTY. So a Japanese company has come out with a one-thumb keypad that allows a user to enter alphanumberic text and control the mouse with only one thumb. Sort of a cross between a TV remote and a phone keypad, with a USB connection, although wireless seems to be an obvious next step. Maybe not a revolution for the desktop, but this could advance data input on handhelds." Pictures transcend language barriers.

7 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. Gimme a break by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    As Japanese teens are so used to typing one another messages on their cellphones, they are now more comfortable with one thumb typing than the old two handed QWERTY.

    Bull. Shit. While I don't doubt the increased popularity of cell phones has led many to grow accustomed to typing in this manner, this is a ridiculous and untrue claim.

  2. Typing speed? by GoatEnigma · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I wonder how proficient anyone could ever get on this thing. It clearly is not a solution for desktop, but it seems doubtful as a handheld replacement either. Typing speed is the major problem with handhelds these days anyway - Graffitti for Palm lets me do about 15 wpm and that's after 3 years of practice.

    I would bet on voice recognition or blackberry-style data input for handhelds before I bet on thumb-only input.

    [aside]It kind of reminds me of those old Colecovision controllers....[/aside]

    1. Re:Typing speed? by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Japanese makes just as much sense with 10 buttons as it does on a qwerty keyboard. Some Japanese cell phone users can get up to 200 wpm in SMS messages (supposedly). I always thought they used two thumbs simultaneously, but I don't know for sure.

      --

      There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
  3. They'll be sorry.. by grub · · Score: 2, Insightful


    A few years ago I had DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis which was terribly painful problems with my thumbs. Sort of like carpal tunnel I guess. Anyhow some therapy and an ergonomic keyboard suggestion from a friend (thanks Nugget!) saved me from surgery.
    Using a thumb that much will cause problems..

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  4. not cordless.. by Suppafly · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It would seem like this would go over better if it were cordless, much like a tv remote control. If you look at the pictures, it looks corded, this decreases the utility for me, if I have to be that close to the computer, I might as well use my regular corded keyboard and mouse.

  5. Re:Thumb dexterity by Smartcowboy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Could you please post your source (URL, bibliography, ect)? While I can't say this is totally impossible, it sound, well, a bit exagerated. If this is true, I'm much interrested in the actual paper.

  6. Re:Thumb dexterity by Trick · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "..a physical mutation had developed in the under-25s, the researchers have found ... The thumbs of today's electronic-gadget generation of children have become more muscled, more dextrous and often more used than fingers."

    Since when is increasing musculature and dexterity through exercise a "mutation?"

    To most Slahdot readers the concept may be alien, but it's hardly a mutation.