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One of my dreams is to be able to move freely -- take walks! -- while editing text in my head. I'd absolutely spend hours and hours to learn to have a keyboard'

One of my dreams is to be able to move freely -- take walks! -- while editing text in my head. I'd absolutely spend hours and hours to learn to have a keyboard's functionality with, say, fingertip movements in the air. I don't know how a display would work. Of course the real dream is editing the text directly in the mind, some kind of thought-files, but I've imagined that glasses might be best as they're the least intrusive and possible in my lifetime. But even some kind of physical monitor might work: hold with one hand and write with the other. Isn't that a pencil and notebook? Yes, so far that's the best for walks, but I'd love to have a computer's functionality, be able to code, pull up files, copy and paste, etc., while moving, as opposed to stopping to jot something down and then moving again. Slowly walking is just so great for thinking. I'd even thought of a walking harness for my laptop, but it's just so absurdly awkward and even dangerous... :) So what about a smartphone or tablet? A great new input method might do the trick. I already use Swype on iOS despite the many (often embarrassing) mistakes I make. It's the second-best for walks after a pencil and notepad. But a wrist sensor that let me type with little finger movements? I'd be so so so into that.

Magnap 9y ago
Have you considered learning stenography? The Open Steno Project is very DIY, and I'm sure they'd be thrilled to help think up an even more mobile design for a steno writer (though AFAIK they're already very usable when walking around with a harness). When it comes to novel input methods, I really think it's a great idea far too few people know about.
nfoz 9y ago
Sounds like you'd be interested in this: https://www.tapwithus.com/ https://www.tapwithus.com/ It's probably junk if not vapourware; at best maybe a stepping stone towards our VR-ified future. I ordered one just to check it out.... so we'll see :)
nfoz 9y ago
It sounds like text-to-speech narration is honestly your best bet, for walking-and-writing. I can't imagine much that will help with walking-and-coding because of the concentration required. I'll trip on stuff even without any impediment to my vision. Just my guess!
nanomonkey 9y ago
I use a twiddler while walking. It took a couple of weeks to learn to type with one hand, but eventually it becomes less of a headache. I don't use it with any device, I just use it to write down my thoughts while I walk the dogs and get some air. When I get back home I just dump what I've written. You can easily use it for other things such as a specific cord to key off starting a voice recording, or other computational tasks.
lam 9y ago
Hi. I've got something to show you. I have the same problem as what you describe, and that's the inspiration for what I've built. I can let you try it if you'll give me feedback. How can I reach out to you? My contact is my username @opdig.com.

Magnap 9y ago

Have you considered learning stenography? The Open Steno Project is very DIY, and I'm sure they'd be thrilled to help think up an even more mobile design for a steno writer (though AFAIK they're already very usable when walking around with a harness). When it comes to novel input methods, I really think it's a great idea far too few people know about.

nfoz 9y ago

Sounds like you'd be interested in this: https://www.tapwithus.com/ https://www.tapwithus.com/ It's probably junk if not vapourware; at best maybe a stepping stone towards our VR-ified future. I ordered one just to check it out.... so we'll see :)

nfoz 9y ago

It sounds like text-to-speech narration is honestly your best bet, for walking-and-writing. I can't imagine much that will help with walking-and-coding because of the concentration required. I'll trip on stuff even without any impediment to my vision. Just my guess!

nanomonkey 9y ago

I use a twiddler while walking. It took a couple of weeks to learn to type with one hand, but eventually it becomes less of a headache. I don't use it with any device, I just use it to write down my thoughts while I walk the dogs and get some air. When I get back home I just dump what I've written. You can easily use it for other things such as a specific cord to key off starting a voice recording, or other computational tasks.

lam 9y ago

Hi. I've got something to show you. I have the same problem as what you describe, and that's the inspiration for what I've built. I can let you try it if you'll give me feedback. How can I reach out to you? My contact is my username @opdig.com.