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I agree about the very first Natural keyboard, and still use mine, but
instead of reaching way to one side to use a mouse I have a trackball
mounted just under the numeric keypad on the side of the keyboard.
not perfect but sure beats a mouse.
Bob
On Fri, 20 Jun 2008, Steven Marzuola wrote:
> Here's my perfect keyboard: Ergonomic, like the first MS Natural
> keyboards, but with a cursor device between the hands. Either
> operated with the thumbs, like the RollerMouse [1], or a joystick,
> like the ThinkPad and other computers had (or still have?)
>
> [1] http://www.contourdesign.com/rollermouse/rmpro-sm.jpg
> [2] http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/sj/384/zhai4.jpg
>
> I'm getting really tired of moving my arm a foot to the right to use
> the mouse. That surely wastes at least as much time and effort as the
> Qwerty layout.
>
> I asked the makers of RollerMouse about this a few years ago. They
> replied that it would take $150,000 to make the first one. That seems
> *way* high, but of course I'm not in the business. I would pay a few
> hundred to buy two: One as a proof of concept, and one more with
> improvements.
>
> Steven
>
> --- In [email protected], "dmwhetstone" <dmwhetstone@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > About a year ago, I started doing just this. I had an idea, and I
> wanted to see it happen.
> > I've designed the keyboard, had keycaps made (expensive), and
> written the firmware
> > around an Atmel AT90USB chip. I've built a rudimentary non-working
> prototype using
> > keyswitches scavenged from an old keyboard (Alps blue--best
> keyswitches ever made,
> > IMHO). I've tested the hardware and firmware in another keyboard, so
> I know that it
> > works. I just haven't yet had the time or money to complete the
> project. Building a one-
> > off keyboard is expensive. The keycaps alone cost me $500. I'm
> hoping at least the
> > members of this group won't think me insane for spending that kind
> of money on
> > something like this, as most people would. I just really want to
> see one of my ideas
> > become a reality for once.
> >
> > If anyone else is seriously interested in designing their own
> keyboard, I would love to
> > share my ideas and my experience so far. I also have no problems
> sharing my firmware
> > for anyone who thinks they could use it. I also plan on
> retrofitting my Kinesis Contoured
> > keyboard with the same internal hardware and firmware. Even though
> it's programmable,
> > there are some things I cannot do with it that I can with my firmware.
> >
> > David
> >
> > --- In [email protected], "Chuck Esterbrook"
> <Chuck.Esterbrook@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > --- In [email protected], "Giles Orr" <gilesorr@> wrote:
> > > > My idea of the perfect keyboard would be the Model M15 (the Model M
> > > > with the ability to split) with straight keyboard rows and the
> Dvorak
> > > > layout. And perhaps Kinesis scooping. I just said it was my idea of
> > > > the perfect keyboard - I didn't say it was likely.
> > >
> > > I've been meaning to post about custom keyboards for awhile now and
> > > Giles thoughts above are the perfect segue.
> > >
> > > Many of us have our own idea of the perfect keyboard. Given one's own
> > > specs, what would it take to get it made? Can such a task be
> > > outsourced to one company? How much would it cost? Is there a minimum
> > > volume? Where would one even start?
> > >
> > > I imagine the answers might vary as a function of the specs and yet
> > > there is probably much in common even between different designs.
> > >
> > > Any thoughts?
> > >
> > > -Chuck
> > > --
> > > Aging: The Disease, The Cure, The Implications
> > > June 27, 2008 at UCLA
> > > http://www.mfoundation.org/Aging2008/
> > > ::
> > > http://cobra-language.com/
> > >
> >
>
>
>
-
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