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Triangular Buttons Make On-Screen Keyboards More Usable

Posted by timothy on from the anything-that-helps dept.

As someone targeted for perpetual failure by the designers of most keyboards, I'm happy to read The Register's report that "A British inventor has submitted a patent application for a wacky touchscreen keyboard design which, he claims, could spell the end for accidental key presses."

5 of 287 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The Best Thing To Do by sakdoctor · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Logitech wave keyboard has a little "moat" around Capslock and Numlock keys, making them far less easy to accidentally press.
    You can also disable those keys in software, which I did straight away.

    Best keyboard I've ever owned.

  2. Re:Stupid by Brandee07 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Next thing we know, someone will be inventing a "capacitive stylus" touting "higher precision" while using your iPhone. Well yes, but that's SO not the point of a capacitive, finger-friendly touchscreen.

    You're late to the party: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/a31f/

    Also, you can get gloves with capacitive tips on the fingers, for iPhone use when it's too damn cold outside (less relevant in summer...) http://www.tavoproducts.com/

  3. Re:The Best Thing To Do by Jurily · · Score: 4, Informative

    You can also disable those keys in software, which I did straight away.

    Both X and XP/Vista can do that with any keyboard.

  4. Hah! by beadfulthings · · Score: 3, Informative

    They may make commercials about butt-dialing. But on the day after I got my iPhone, I hung up on a customer and dialed the veterinarian's office all without being aware I was doing it--with the side of my face. I therefore invented face-dialing. It took several days to get used to the keyboard, but it took longer to accustom myself to not mashing down on crucial icons while talking. I can use the keyboard efficiently now, but I suspect the learning curve would have been less with the keyboard described in the article. And it's not a mental learning curve. It's a physical skill like typing on a full sized keyboard.I'd also like to see them add a very slight lip around the perimeter of the screen where the silver metal is located. It would be a tactile reminder to keep the damned thing away from my face.

    --
    "Here's what's happening. You're starting to drive like your Dad..." - Red Green
  5. Re:make users adapt to hardware by noidentity · · Score: 3, Informative

    Speech recognition has become more prevelant since then (BING 411 anyone? http://www.discoverbing.com/mobile/411/ )

    Goog-411 anyone? Been around for years too...