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Programming for the Single-Handed

Posted by Cliff on from the one-handed-jack-arrrr dept.

NullProg writes "Yesterday I was diagnosed with wrist-drop, and now my right arm/hand is in traction for a spell. It may or may not be related to me sitting behind a keyboard for the last twenty years. How have other programmers dealt with the loss of a hand or even multiple fingers? I moved my mouse to the left of the keyboard and can still type faster than my wife using one hand, but upper case keys are giving me problems. Has anyone experience with the smaller keyboards from Happy Hacking? Do they help one handed people? What editors did you find the most keystroke friendly. Gvim is bearable, is there a better one I can use for single key operations? What other tips do you have for someone in my situation?"

17 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. Dvorak one-handed by amcnabb · · Score: 5, Informative

    I know that there is a left-handed Dvorak and a right-handed Dvorak keyboard mapping (in addition to the more common two-handed Dvorak layout). It would take a little learning, but it's probably the most efficient solution.

  2. One handed? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    They just make it oh-so-easy... :)

  3. Accessability options by linuxwrangler · · Score: 4, Informative

    Don't know your OS/desktop/etc. but check out the accessibility options. For instance, the KDE control center has accessibility options to "stick" the control, shift and alt keys so you don't have to press them simultaneously (press shift then f to get F for example). I've seen similar options for other systems.

    --

    ~~~~~~~
    "You are not remembered for doing what is expected of you." - Atul Chitnis
  4. Get a twiddler by Sevn · · Score: 5, Informative

    handkey.com

    I gots one just because. I can pick it up every few months and maintain 45wpm.

    --
    For every annoying gentoo user, are three even more annoying anti-gentoo crybabies. Take Yosh from #Gimp for example.
    1. Re:Get a twiddler by Sevn · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Sure. Just because.

      The same reason people buy a samurai sword or a dimestore trinket or an espresso machine that's collecting dust. I had some disposable income and thought "hey, wouldn't it be neat to never have to take my hand off my mouse?". So I put the thing in my left hand and got pretty fast with it. I eventually got bored with it. If anything I noticed a slight improvement in my guitar fretwork. Otherwise I'm about twice as fast with a normal keyboard.

      --
      For every annoying gentoo user, are three even more annoying anti-gentoo crybabies. Take Yosh from #Gimp for example.
  5. One Handed Keyboards by EverLurking · · Score: 5, Informative
    I've played around with the one handed typing modes executed in software (holding down the spacebar to mirrror the right half of the keyboard while the left hand keeps typing). Takes some getting used to, but it looks like there are keyboards made for this.

    The original Half Keyboard very basic and compact. Half QWERTY keyboards looks nice but a bit pricy. This Frog Pad looks cool.

    or how about this more extensive Maltron One Handed Keyboard.

    Lots of links if you google around a bit. Might even be a good thing to use with a tablet PC? I can imagine building one into the back side where you grip it.

    DaveC

    --
    There are no stupid questions...just stupid people.
    1. Re:One Handed Keyboards by FrenZon · · Score: 2, Interesting
      I've played around with the one handed typing modes executed in software (holding down the spacebar to mirrror the right half of the keyboard while the left hand keeps typing). Takes some getting used to, but it looks like there are keyboards made for this.
      FWIW, Matias corporation own the patents to that technique, so any software you're using may get taken down. I once wrote some software to do it, but was asked to take it down within 12 hours of releasing the first alpha (which was fair enough in a way, since I did knowingly base my work on their idea).

    2. Re:One Handed Keyboards by moosesocks · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Could someone explain to me the logic behind the Maltron?

      Honestly, the thing looks like a badly-designed torture device. It looks like one-handed typing would be easier on a full-size qwerty.

      If that thing doesn't give you carpal tonel, NOTHING will.

      Besides, who the heck names a product beginning with 'mal'?

      Oh well... it's expensive, so it must be good!

      --
      -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
  6. Talk to RMS by T-Ranger · · Score: 2, Insightful
    ...he spent at least a few years dictating code to someone else his hands were so screwed up.

    But in all seriousness, Dvorak, of the alternat two handed keyboard fame, also developed keboards for one handed use, both right hand and left hand. Unfortunatly, on quick googling around I can only find reference to this as a component of the Dvorak history - no pages where you can purchase one.

    (I have no idea if mentioning RMS in a non software section will be good or bad for my karma... hmm...)

  7. Foot pedals? by fingers.benefitpoint · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I recently cut off three fingers from my left hand, and have learned to remain effective on the keyboard. As you mentoined, the shift, ctrl, and and keys are my biggest problems, particularly when using them in conjunction with the mouse.

    I've considered modifying a junker keyboard and soldering in a few external connections for foot pedals to activate these three keys. Of course, this never happened because I could still use my elbow. :)

    I use a laptop keyboard most of the time, and haven't found to much really difficult, but the small size, low profile and short stroke makes work easier than on a conventional keyboard (or worse yet an ergo keyboard), except the single control key on the bottom left. If you're considering a mini-keyboard, it's probably a good idea if your dexterous in your left hand.

  8. Are you sure you really have wrist drop? by Mawbid · · Score: 4, Funny
    A wrist drop is the characteristic deformity of a radial nerve lesion.

    In order to demonstrate this phenomenon, if not already obvious, direct the patient to flex the elbow and pronate the forearm and ask him to extend the wrist. In a radial nerve injury causing wrist drop a patient will not be able undertake this manoeuvre.

    Doctor: Flex your right elbow please.
    Patient: <flexes elbow>
    Doctor: Good. Now pronate your right forearm.
    Patient: <blink>
    Doctor: Aha! As I suspected! Yet another case of wrist drop!

    --
    Fuck the system? Nah, you might catch something.
  9. Get a "chording" keyboard by n1ywb · · Score: 2, Informative

    Chording keyboards have been around for a long time. I remember reading about one called "The Bat" in Macworld many years ago. The idea is that you use one hand on a limited number of keys, and you press multiple keys simultaniously to generate the various letters. It sounds strange, but most people actually learn to use them pretty quickly. Also, most people never manage chord quite as fast as they can type. But you can still go pretty fast (50, 60wpm). Most of them have one key for each finger, although I've seen some with more. Anyway a quick google search http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie =UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=chording+keyboard turns up plenty of links.

    --
    -73, de n1ywb
    www.n1ywb.com
  10. No Happy Hacking keyboard for you. by ptaff · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm a proud user of a Happy Hacking keyboard, and though I feel I'm more productive typing on it, when I can only use one hand (holding a coffee, mouse, cigarette, name them all minus one :) it's more of an annoyance than a regular keyboard.

    That keyboard is really intended for touch-typists; they have less keys, so to compensate for F-keys, Home, End, Insert, and so on you have yo use key-combos. The lack of two "Control" keys would also be a nightmare for you (hey folks try to do a Ctrl-P with your left hand using the left Control key).

    And, should your other side be okay, I really suggest these keyboards - the feel is really right. On the downside, watch out after you're used to them: I just recently noticed most of all other PC keyboards are broken (ctrl/caps misplaced, Escape too high, Backspace too far away, ...) :)

  11. Watch it... by cmowire · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Watch it... In cases like these, I've heard of the left-hand getting major RSI symptoms just as soon as you switch to one-handed typing on the left hand.

    You might consider taking a break and making some major lifestyle changes, not stressing out your other hand.

    --
    Gentoo Sucks
  12. One-handed QWERTY keyboard by Meowing · · Score: 2, Informative

    This one might be a bit easier to get used to than some of the freakier chorded setups.

  13. Programmable foot switches by Bushcat · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You could try a set of programmable foot switches, such as Kinesis. You need to program the actions from a Windows machine, but the unit can then be used with other OSes. I used this together with a small programmable keypad a few years back.

  14. "sticky keys" by HughsOnFirst · · Score: 2, Informative

    If you are using a recent windows machine, press the shift key 5 times in a row. This starts "sticky keys" ( oh no , I think some more one handed typing joke attempts are about to erupt )
    "sticky keys" allows you to use the shift, alt, and control keys while typing with one hand ( or one finger ot one stick held in your mouth or one...)