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While we're rethinking the human interface, could we please stop staggering typing keys and put frequently used keys like carriage return and backspace under st

by tc 17y ago

While we're rethinking the human interface, could we please stop staggering typing keys and put frequently used keys like carriage return and backspace under strong fingers? [1] I was disappointed to see at the end of the 10gui video a concept keyboard with staggered keys and with backspace way over in the corner. If we can't move keyboards past the constraints imposed by mechanical typewriters, what hope do we have at changing the mouse paradigm? [1] Typematrix is the only keyboard maker I know of that currently does this while still building a relatively standard keyboard (and something that could be integrated into a laptop).

RevRal 17y ago
Colemak layout turns your caps lock into a backspace. This works surprisingly well, but I really wish the spacebar was split in half. And I've always felt shift+spacebar should = backspace.
- mjgoins 17y ago
  I use a keyboard with Control where Caps Lock would be on most keyboards (a sun unix keyboard). That combined with the fact that Control-H is backspace in a standard unix environment means I don't have to reach for the backspace key.
icefox 17y ago
If you have a Kinesis Advantage keyboard the backspace,delete space,enter are under your thumbs
lief79 17y ago
Not sure about the final released product, but the fingerworks prototypes were completely customizable.
atlei 17y ago
Hmmm.. I actually have both types of products. The Kinesis keyboard with backspace, ctrl, alt, enter, home etc using my thumb AND the iGesture pad from Fingerworks ( http://www.fingerworks.com/ http://www.fingerworks.com/ ) which is a large "mouse pad" where you can use gestures with 5 fingers (and it works for all applications). The brilliant part is that the iGesture pad fits perfectly on the top of the Kinesis keyboard (the left and right part of the keyboard is separated for ergonomic reasons). I've had the iGesture for a couple of years now - it will be a sad day when it dies as there are no replacements that I know of....maybe Apple will release a similar "mousepad" in the future ?

by tc 17y ago

RevRal 17y ago

Colemak layout turns your caps lock into a backspace. This works surprisingly well, but I really wish the spacebar was split in half. And I've always felt shift+spacebar should = backspace.

mjgoins 17y ago
I use a keyboard with Control where Caps Lock would be on most keyboards (a sun unix keyboard). That combined with the fact that Control-H is backspace in a standard unix environment means I don't have to reach for the backspace key.

icefox 17y ago

If you have a Kinesis Advantage keyboard the backspace,delete space,enter are under your thumbs

lief79 17y ago

Not sure about the final released product, but the fingerworks prototypes were completely customizable.

atlei 17y ago

Hmmm.. I actually have both types of products. The Kinesis keyboard with backspace, ctrl, alt, enter, home etc using my thumb AND the iGesture pad from Fingerworks ( http://www.fingerworks.com/ http://www.fingerworks.com/ ) which is a large "mouse pad" where you can use gestures with 5 fingers (and it works for all applications). The brilliant part is that the iGesture pad fits perfectly on the top of the Kinesis keyboard (the left and right part of the keyboard is separated for ergonomic reasons). I've had the iGesture for a couple of years now - it will be a sad day when it dies as there are no replacements that I know of....maybe Apple will release a similar "mousepad" in the future ?