Re: suggestion for an open letter to keyboard manufacturers

Engraved keys: Would make finding the "home keys" harder and most people do
not have the level of tactile response to tell the shapes of letters
quickly. That's why braille is dots - dots are easier to be felt quickly.

--Keith R.

On 10/29/07, Thomas Levine <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>   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] <drago66%40abv.bg>> 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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>
>  
>


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