Re: suggestion for an open letter to keyboard manufacturers

I already agreed with many of these. Most of the others I hadn't thought of.

I'm actually currently doing scientific research related to (a) in case
you're interested in.

Unless they are engraved with something, (I hadn't thought of this before.)
keys shouldn't have symbols on them; you shouldn't need to look, so these
are just distractions.

I would really like to see a radically different input device that doesn't
use hands but is easier to use. That's not going to happen for a while
though.

On 10/29/07, Dragomir T <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>   Here's my suggestion for an open letter to all keyboard
> manufacturers. I would be happy to see it reach as many keyboard
> manufacturers as possible but before "releasing" it, I need your
> feedback on the draft. Please share your criticisms and suggestions.
> Corrections in English are more than welcome as I am not a native
> speaker.
>
> Here it is:
>
> Open letter to keyboard manufacturers: suggestion for the adoption of
> a new standard in the design of conventional keyboards
>
> Address to the manufacturers of conventional keyboards
>
> Dear keyboard manufacturers,
>
> I would like to suggest to you to implement a new standard in the
> design of conventional keyboards. I am suggesting a number of small,
> yet effective improvements in the design of keyboards. Let me comfort
> you that what I am suggesting is not a radical change from we are
> already used to type on. Actually some of the suggestions outlined
> below can be seen on the market, gaining in popularity, though quite
> slowly.
>
> Address to the manufacturers of alternative keyboards
>
> Dear keyboard manufacturers,
>
> Little improvements like those suggested below will not make the
> current keyboard design completely friendly to the human body. But
> unlike the paradigm-shifting keyboard designs, their benefits can be
> felt in a matter of minutes.
> Adoption of the proposed standard would not make people rush to the
> stores for even better, utterly ergonomic solutions. But it might
> bring forward the concept of ergonomic typing a step ahead; and that
> is something we are missing on the large scale.
>
> List of the suggested improvements:
>
> a) separated number pad, attachable to both the left and right
> ends of the keyboard
> explanation: the number pad takes up space which limits the area of
> movement of the mouse. The latter makes up for more reaching and
> stretching of the hand.
> learning curve:
> models on the market with this feature:
>
> b) USB ports on the keyboard + legacy mouse port
> explanation: convenient for plugging the pointing device; a standard
> on Macs since long ago
> learning curve:
> models on the market with this feature:
>
> c) ports for headphones and mic on the keyboard
> explanation:
> learning curve: none
> models on the market with this feature:
>
> d) scroll wheels for vertical and horizontal scrolling built in
> the keyboard
> explanation: helps distribute evenly the strain exerted on the
> pointing device
> learning curve: minimum
> models on the market with this feature:
>
> e) built-in additional keys for repetitively used commands such
> as copy, cut, paste, change keyboard layout, etc
> explanation:
> learning curve:
> models on the market with this feature:
>
> f) a number of additional keys for user-defined shortcuts
> explanation:
> learning curve: minimum
> models on the market with this feature:
>
> g) a mechanism to make keys easy to unscrew or label for those
> who would like to try out an alternative keyboard layout
> explanation:
> learning curve:
> models on the market with this feature: http://www.artlebedev.com/
> everything/optimus
>
> h) keys with letters engraved on them, sold separately, to make
> touch-typing easier
> explanation: letters engraved on keys would supply tactile guidance
> in touch-typing
> learning curve:
> models on the market with this feature:
>
> i) straight vertical lines of keys
> explanation: touch-typing is easier with straight lines
> learning curve: medium to high for those already touch-typing
> models on the market with this feature: http://www.typematrix.com/
>
>  
>


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