Single-handed, Offline, Portable Data Input?

One Armed Bandit asks: "By now everyone knows the available single handed keyboard alternatives. What I've not seen available is a true portable one-handed offline input device. Gary Friedman's final concept for the DataEgg is a fantastic one. Unfortunately, it never made it to the market. I - for one - would pay a premium for this kind of device. I think one of the reasons that this hasn't been built is because of the requirement for users to learn a new input mechanism. In my experience, this is a more difficult perception to overcome than a skill to acquire. How many of you can navigate your various electronic devices by touch? Is anything on the market? Does anyone have a pet project?"

"The high points would be:

• Single handed operation (probably chorded)
• Local file storage
• On-board display for visual feedback and document review
• Uplink to host (USB, IR, Wireless)

I can't count the occasions which I'm walking down a noisy street (hence no voice recognition) and dying to jot down my stream of consciousness (without using two hands for a stylus and walking in front of a bus)? I would kill for something like this!"

Comments

Handykey

[rqqrtnb]

Handykey, in New York, used to make a device that was both a keyboard and mouse. I got mine about 3 years ago, it had DOS drivers and they apparently came out with Windows and PS/2 drivers later. Plugs into the serial port for data, the keyboard port for power (only drew 9 mA or so.) It's chord based, most characters are two fingers, with the modifiers on the thumb; it had a velcro strap to wrap around the back of your hand to hold it in place.

There used to be a FAQ about such keyboards; look at any of the RSI resources. Also look at the pages about the "Behemoth" nee' "Winnebiko" project, they used the one of the "bat" keyboard sticks.

You might also look at some of the one-handed layouts for conventional typewriters that Dvorak came up with, along with the more well known layout. It depends on what you're trying to do...

CyKey

[FesterDaFelcher]

CyKey uses a wirless connection to a PDA. Leave the PDA in your pocket, have the CyKey in one hand, and you are ready to Rock, I mean WALK!