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A different kind of keyboard

ianthehenry.com

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Re: A different kind of keyboard

#21

Post by ianthehenry »

vedosity wrote: post #13

The page seems to assume that semicolon's keyCode is 59 so the modifier key in the demo only works with Firefox according to this table on MDN[0]. The keyCode for semicolon varies not only by keyboard layout but also by browser. Mine is 186. [0]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/KeyboardEve...

Hey, thanks! TIL. Indeed, I only tested Firefox.

Re: A different kind of keyboard

#22

Post by andreareina »

avodonosov wrote: post #5

I use https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MessagEase on my phone and tablet. Pretty convenient. Wanted to use https://software-lab.de/penti.html but have difficulty learning all the chords.

Oh man I remember ME from when I had my Palm V, it was such an improvement. I think these days swipe input on querty has got it beat, at least for words that are in the dictionary. A one-touch way to switch between the standard keyboard for swipe and ME for the rest would be killer.

Re: A different kind of keyboard

#23

Post by dotancohen »

This is terrific. As a VIM user, not Emacs, I love the idea of a chording keyboard but just cannot get the hang if it. The arpeggio idea is perfect.

I just bought the hardware recommended in the fine article, let's see how that build goes!

Re: A different kind of keyboard

#24

Post by least »

Kiro wrote: post #19
lelandfe wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Typically this was T9: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T9_(predictive_text) I still miss being able to compose messages in my pocket...

Speed typers did not use T9. A friend of mine used to compete in texting.

This isn't surprising given that T9 is predictive and a typing contest would probably not coincide with your typical typing habits, though I am very skeptical that typing by pressing successive numbers on a number pad is faster than T9 for general texting purposes, at least after you've trained it. Perhaps I'm underestimating the speed of which these people could press buttons in succession, just it seems like depending on the word you're pressing significantly more buttons to type the same thing.

Re: A different kind of keyboard

#25

Post by skohan »

Kiro wrote: post #19
lelandfe wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Typically this was T9: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T9_(predictive_text) I still miss being able to compose messages in my pocket...

Speed typers did not use T9. A friend of mine used to compete in texting.

But was that because it was bad or because it was slow on those old microprocessors? T9 would fly on a modern smartphone chip

Re: A different kind of keyboard

#26

Post by pjerem »

laumars wrote: post #15

This reminds me of how we used to type on pre-smart phone era phones. Eg https://phonesdata.com/files/models/Nokia-E51-807.jpg The funny thing with those little handsets was, with a bit practice you could actually get very quick at typing. Quicker even than on QWERTY keyboards on touch screen phones (at least you had tactile buttons).

Maybe it’s just nostalgia, but I also remember that typing on those keyboards was way more reliable. Even with or without T9. I probably typed a little slower than on a virtual keyboard but at a more predictable pace. On my iPhone, I totally rely on autocorrect and I lose a lot of time if it get a big word wrong.

Typing on those phones required some practice to get muscle memory but it was accessible to barely anyone that had to use it. Even people who use computer keyboard all their life but are still watching they keycaps succeeded to type SMSs with the phone in their pockets.

I’m sad that we are getting nothing that stands between the old closed feature phones and the mini computers we call smartphones.

Re: A different kind of keyboard

#28

Post by deanclatworthy »

If you want to see an example of this taken to the extreme then check out Olafur Arnalds semi accompanying piano. It plays along with him using a lot of music theory to create generational music in real time on the same piano:

https://www.npr.org/2018/07/19/630111211/one-key-many-notes-...

I tried to create something similar using web audio and a midi piano a while ago but the reason this works is you are applying digital processing to analogue output, along with Ólafur being one of the most talented composers alive at the moment.

Re: A different kind of keyboard

#29

Post by laurent92 »

funnybeam wrote: post #7

I love how honest this is about the limitations and the whole design process. Truly a great example of a real hacker project I have a Georgi keyboard (mentioned in the article) which I started getting to grips with then put aside during a way too busy period at work. This has made me want to dig it out and try again. I’m also thinking that two of those faunchpads put together on the long edges could make an even bett…

Sure, but if you have a few keys to press, why not go all the way and make it a Braille keyboard? It would teach sight-able people how to write braille.

Re: A different kind of keyboard

#30

Post by diplodocusaur »

I'd love to see a progression of typing speed over time. That's the real test.

I believe this idea can have potential for breaking the world record because there is no finger-to-key travel. But maybe it is diminished by the having to press a key multiple times over to get to the target just like in old cellphones [0].

Alternatively maybe one could brute force the problem of optimal keyboard layout/etc using simulations. Like that robot (human) hand that solves rubik's cubes by learning through simulation (apparently, from OpenAI [1]).

[0] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Telephon...

[1] https://openai.com/blog/solving-rubiks-cube/

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