Slashdot Mirror
A One-Handed Keyboard For $25
Bruce Perens writes "Slashdot has often featured attempts at improvement upon the QWERTY keyboard. Here's a one-handed USB keyboard that you can buy for $25 online, or a bit more at the CompUSA. There's one catch: someone will have to design a keying pattern and hack up software for it. It's a task just crying out for an Open Source project." Bruce has also included on the linked page code with which to read the output from the device.
Dvorak allready has keyboards designs for both left and right hand only. These could probably be put on the new kb easy enough. Not that I can read the article, mirror anyone?
Mod this up. This isn't even close to a one handed keyboard. It's just a Belkin Speedpad that gamers use for FPSs. They've been out forever. The link is just some blogger speculating about what might be done with it. Belkin isn't marketing one handed keyboards. Just one handed keypads. Stupid post.
Support the First Amendment. Read at -1
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process ?Product_Id=157024
Seems the technocrat site is already slashdotted.
man xmodmap
As long as the one-handed keyboards gives any kind of output, it can be mapped al gusto.
Why this is in the "Linux" section?
The article contains some C code by Bruce Perens and further suggestions on how to get this device working on Linux.
"Madness is something rare in individuals - but in groups, parties, peoples, ages it is the rule." -- Nietzsche
the previous version of the nostromo, the n50 ( same thing w/ less keys and less orange ) had some linux software written for it avalible here
theres a device similar to this, called the space devilfish, thats ambidexerous.
it also supports force feedback and the ability to strap it to your leg. an astute reader will realize that these two features are complementary
was never any where near as popular as the nostromos (which were never that popular), and like them only officially supports windows/mac, so i dont know if theres any linux software avalible for it
I have one of these things and it works fine. You could probably use joy2key to use it as a keyboard. I'm not sure if the shift functions work or not.
Clickety Click
It's in the Linux category, because if you RTFA you'll see the story is not announcing the hardware, but announcing a call from Bruce Perens for a Linux driver.
~~~~~ BigLig2? You mean there's another one of me?
You could always use the right-hand Dvorak layout here - windows can switch to it pretty easily (i use the standard Dvorak layout myself on MS Natural Keyboard Pro), and there are online stores where you can get 'custom' keyboards and keytop labels if you want them. (I'm not impressed with the keyboards though, which appear to have just had the keytops switched)
Funny, but one handed keyboards have been around since the Englebart demo.
Except for CAD, they never really took off - until the modern video game.
And while I certainly would not want to type a comment like this with a one-handed keyboard, I can see where they would be damn useful in editing a document - click-drag, button press for bold, click-drag, underline (or click-drag indent, click-drag create-subroutine-skeleton, click-drag lookup-definition).
www.eFax.com are spammers
This one is smaller, and supports both a USB and a Bluetooth connection (so you can use it with your cell phone).
s p
I only wish they included flash memory on it.
http://www.frogpad.com/information/bluefroginfo.a
(please mod down parent, I accidently submitted before finishing editing)
I bought a nostromo n52 a couple of months ago. I definitely wouldn't consider it a candidate for a "one-handed keyboard" but it is a good complement to your existing keyboard. Don't let the goofy Slashdot editor limit the potential of this device. The software that comes with it is already quite good. You can assign any macro you want to any of the 14 keys (and with the "shift" key that lights up 3 different LEDs, you can basically multiply that 14 by 4). It also has a scroll wheel, thumbpad, and button. All can be set up to do whatever you want, launch programs, type snippets of text, etc.
If you shop around a bit for keyboards with a large number of programmable keys, you will find that most are quite expensive. In fact, there is a thriving market over on eBay for the Gateway Anykey keyboard with 124 programmable keys, which I don't believe is even manufactured anymore.
In reality, I don't actually use the nostromo all that much, as I rely more often on the terrific
Winkey to set up most of my macros. But I'm happy with my purchase of the $25 Nostromo and do use it from time to time.
slashsearch.org - slashdot search. powered by google.
Larger than an American pint, but quite a bit smaller than a British pint.
One US pint = 473.176475 ml
One UK pint = 568.261485 ml
Those Eurocrats will take my 68.261485ml from my cold, dead hands! Or, at least, from my incapably pissed hands...
Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
The Quinkey Microwriter... I had a left-handed one for a while, some ... 17 years ago, maybe?
Look here
for a review of one. This item has a picture of one...
I actually own the n52, upgrading from my earlier n50.
As a gamer (yes, I admit it), I do find these devices useful. After about 4-5 gaming sessions, I became extremely comfortable with the device, and began integrating its usefulness into more traditional applications (like 3DS Max). Given the included software (albeit Windows), you are able to map keystrokes (macros as well) to the device, to which you can reconfigure/reinitialize the mapping through an app that sits in the systray (Loadout Manager).
Now onto the bad stuff. The n52 makes some improvements over the n50 (extra row of keys, dpad, thumb shift key), however the response of the keys themselves seems to have suffered a setback. While I was never completely satisfied with the response of the n50 keys (not enough tactile feedback for these fingers), the n52 has this even less so. More importantly, the keys sometime stick, making you depress some of the keys more than once in order to execute the keystroke - a pretty large issue when it comes the one thing a keyboard should do well.
Hopefully, the problems I encountered with this n52 is a defect with this particular unit (/.er's, chime in!).
All-in-all, the n50/n52 are good and versatile products, and I recommend them for those looking for a one-hand input device - particularly if you come across them at a cheap price (I bought my n52 for $35). The software support is a little flimsy, but Belkin seems to be more focused on this as their products are growing in popularity.
Another extremely interesting input use... The ILL Clan (a Machinima team I co-founded) use these devices to puppeteer their virtual characters during their Machinima productions/live performances - mapping the keys to facial gestures, lipsync and triggered animations.
Rejected from about a year ago, even, so who says Slashdot doesn't keep up with the times? :)
Here's my old review, in plain text glory:
Review of the Belkin Nostromo Speedpad n52
The Belkin Nostromo Speedpad n52 is a reworked version of
the n50: both are gaming peripherals that combine a small keyboard,
a D-pad, and a scroll wheel into a small, ergonomic package. Using
the included software, you can bind keys and macros to the Speedpad
for use in games and applications. So, for example, instead of using the
typical WASD layout on your keyboard, you can map those keys to the
Speedpad, along with keys for throwing grenades, switching weapons,
etc.
With macros, you can initial multiple actions, such as targeting
the nearest enemy, following him, and going into attack mode, all
with a single keypress.
The n50 is probably the best gaming peripheral I've ever owned: I
find it indispensible for FPS and MMORP games. When news of the
n52 began to filter out, I was hoping that many of the flaws of
the n50 would be eliminated, but that the core utility of the
device would be maintained. I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed.
Firstly, some of the flaws with the n50:
* Lame "scroll" wheel was really not a scroll wheel, but more like
a throttle: it did not have full 360 degree motion.
* Shift state indicators in a bad spot: the n50 (and n52) has three
"shift modes" that you can switch between, allowing each key to have
more than one use, depending on the shift mode. However, the n50's
shift mode indicators are on the left side of the unit: when you are using
it, your hand blocks the ability to see those indicators.
Minor problems, really: the scroll wheel was easy to just disable, and after
a while, you didn't worry about the shift mode indicators.
The n52, though, fixes both problems: it has a 360 degree scroll wheel (that also
can act as a button when pressed, just like many mouses) making it actually
useful. The shift indicators have been movies to the right side of the
controller, near one of the new thumb buttons. Now you can see the shift
state at a glance.
There's a new row of keyboard buttons, adding 4 more buttons in good positions.
Your pinky will now be able to trigger death and destructions much more easily.
The new thumb buttons, though, are a disappointment. The idea is great: two
buttons above and below the dpad on the right of the controller. However,
the round orange button above the dpad is extremely difficult to press without
Pros:
* Great ergonomics
* More buttons
* Better positioning of shift indicators
Cons:
* New thumb buttons are a little annoying in placement and use
Vincent J. Murphy
Spandex Justice
:P you asked for it.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/nostromodriver/
I have the older model, and like it alot.
Look at the Left/Right handed Dvorak Layouts. They were desiged for normal keyboards, but remap the configuration into something designed for fast input by someone with only one hand.
The plus side is that it doesn't require new hardware on any system- it's just a software change (and in most graphical UI(windows, Mac, KDE, etc) you can switch with a simple keystroke)
I personally use the 2 handed Dvorak for my day to day typing, and I'm much faster with it than I ever was with Qwerty (except when I have to type "Qwerty")
Link-
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/
I also remember seeing 1 handed Handheld keyboards on Scientific American Fronteers a while ago, made by guys at MIT for wearable computers- Another completely different layout too- it used only 5 buttons, but used combinations to get all the keys on the keyboard.
I got one of these last year the the intention of doing this. The problem is that if you use the four way thumb pad as a shifter, it sends the finger key(s) held again when the thumb pad is released. I eventually got to typing on it, but that "feature" severely limited my speed.
funny munging
It actually does have Linux Drivers: "Project: Linux Nostromo Speedpad Driver" http://sourceforge.net/projects/nostromodriver/
__________
Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace!
Yes, exactly.
Its the same in germany: If you make your license on a automatic, its only good for automatics.
HI O WISE PRINCE. WHT TOOK U SO DAM LONG?
It seems they let just about anybody post to Slashdot these days.
when douglas englebart invented the mouse (and windows, and networking, and hypertext, etc.), he made the first machines to use a mouse and a one-handed keyboard so that both hands would be utilized.
then xerox parc had the alto, but their mouse didn't have a mouse ball -- it was apple that invented the mouse ball, and shipped the first commercial computer that came with a mouse as standard.
one of the devices that came out in the late 1980's was a device called 'the bat' -- a one-handed keyboard -- you can still by this device here.
regards,
j
Bruce
Bruce Perens.
I personally use and like Dvorak, but it has three problems. First, you can't learn only Dvorak, so you have to switch, and this still takes my brain a few seconds, egpcbi ,dcjd C yfl. icxx.pcodv (Mat.o a jrrn jre.w ydrgid) Second, with QWERTY you typically have runs of several letters on one hand, and you kinda queue those up, position your fingers, and type them in one handfall. With Dvorak, because the vowels are on the left hand, you alternate hands - some consider this an advantage, but as someone who learned QWERTY first, it's hard for my nerves to coordinate the hands to avoid transposition errors at high speed. And third, every word, every single one, needs both hands, unlike QWERTY where if you only have to type one word, there's a good chance you won't take your hands off the mouse.
...and an n50, incidentally...
Both of these models will actually output text in normal applications already, no modding required (running XP).
Maybe all that needs to be done to make this usable in a windows environment is to whip up a profile via the included customizing software
Howdy.
Generally keyboards that have chording problems don't give you break codes (key release) when you have more than 3-8 keys down. (depending on the model). Make codes work fine on all keyboards, to the best of my knowledge.
The symptom is that when playing a fps you might get stuck in firing or stuck crouching after a crouch-jump. etc.
Keyboard controllers only report the changes in the state. every few microseconds the keys are scanned (in a matrix pattern). And keys that are down are checked to see if they've been reported as down in the past, if not it's sent out. Keys that are no longer down are reported at up if they haven't been reported before. Generally it's easier to report down keys than up keys (because there are almost always more keys that are up than down). Cheap keyboard controllers have small queues rather than complete bitmaps because it's less memory (the microcontroller they chose might only have 16-32 bytes of RAM).
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
I used to have one of these. It was very handy after I had an accident that put my right arm out of action for 6 weeks, but after I healed I wouldn't give it up.
Unfortunately I dumped a drink on it and it broke, so I'm waiting for them to come out with a newer, cheaper model. It used to be $99. But I loved it, and it would let me type full speed.
it simply doesnt have enough keys to do more than keyboard shortcuts and macros.
Belkin's site states that you can program up to 104 functions using it -- that's enough to implement a full keyboard with (even SysRq and Scroll Lock)!
Teaching yourself custom chordings for all the different keycodes, now that'll be the challenge.
I can't read the article since it's slashdotted, but if you need to design the keying pattern and write your own software, then what are you buying for $25? Why not just make a keying pattern and write software to work with a normal 101/104-key keyboard to give it a one-handed mode?
It seems far more useful to me not to make a keyboard that must be used only with one-hand but to make a two-handed keyboard that allows one-handed use when you need it (the other hand's on the mouse, you dirty thinkers).
Enter OkayKeybees. It lets Windows users define keying chords to make your own one-handed mode. Its GUI is kind of clunky (I found it easier to edit the configuration file with a text editor), and it kind of sucks that you have to define your own key chords (Matias has a patent on their layout).
http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/
I found this site a few weeks back, and it caught my attention. It advertises the sale of a software product (or maybe just information...) designed to teach you how to type one-handed on a normal, full sized QWERTY.
At first I was interested but skeptical, and then I saw a diagram showing basically how it was pulled off, and the whole thing just clicked into place (home row == FGHJ, use pinky and index fingers to access most of the keyboard).
I expect it would be a bit harder to pick up than two-handed touch typing, but as I played around with going for the keys from the home rome, I realized that all it would take is training your muscle-memory for a new situation (the keyboard is still fully accessible, albiet requiring a stretch at times to get to the characters on the far right). The only other issues I can think of involve the Shift key... I can't figure out how to press the damn thing. Maybe just learn to switch CapsLock on/off for each capital letter?
It'd be a cool party trick, though, huh? One-handed typing on two different keyboards? At the least, it would be nice to keep my hand on the mouse at times.
And of course, if I was disabled in any way, being able to use my good hand anywhere I went would be priceless.
In case you don't have one of these Belkin Speedpad 52s already, they're awesome. I use it for gaming, and there's no limit to what you can program these things to do. In fact, I might even consider using one borderline cheating if you program the macros well enough.
Anyway, because I had some with the "profile editor" of the included software, I went ahead (after reading the article) and made a profile that does (what I believe) the original author had intended.
I did this in about 30 minutes, so bear with me if some keys are missing or if it's a little buggy. All major symbols and lettered keys are included but I still need to find where to put keys like "[", "]", and so on.
I broke the keyboard down into 4 logical secions:
1. All function keys / most symbols
2. Right lettered side
3. Left letter side
4. Numpad
From there, I made each of those sections one of the four "shifts" for the controller. Shifting is controlled via the 4-way D-pad with up being "cycle shift", right being right letters, left being the left letters, and down being the numpad. Function keys are the default. Additionally, because of the frequency of their use, the enter and space keys exist in all "shifts" on the circle button and button number 15, respectively.
I know this sounds complicated, but it's really not. Once you take a look at the design in the profile editor, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
I'm posting these files up on my university filespace. They're small, but if anybody wants to mirror, feel free to do so. Also, feel free to change my design and distribute as you see fit. (Patents/copyrights are for the birds, imo.)
To use these files, you'll have to already have to use the software that is included with the device. Directions, which consists of 2 steps, are included within the readme.
DOWNLOAD HERE
-Grym
Okay, I was wrong...
It took 30 minutes. I've posted the files on my university filespace. The link to the files is in another one of my posts HERE.
-Grym