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Markov Keyboard: keyboard layout that changes by Markov frequency (2019)

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Re: Markov Keyboard: keyboard layout that changes by Markov frequency (2019)

#61

Post by tetrisgm »

shae wrote: post #33
tetrisgm wrote: post #30

This project brilliantly points out that we are limited and shaped by how keys and layouts are presented to us. What I don’t understand is why not go all the way. Why not also change the concept of what’s needed to enter a character? It would make sense that keys aren’t the ideal affordance to express a key every time. Use a volume slider for a letter, use radio buttons, on/off toggles. What if I could draw the lette…

We're also limited and shaped by keyboards. Why only one letter per finger? The datahand does five! Why are key switches only press? What about analog partial key press? There are Hall effect keyboard switches that do that, I want to try some. What about finger twist for input? I don't think anything exists? Would that be a volume knob on a key switch?

This is true. We’ve been so formatted by big keyboard that I never considered just the tip of my fingers. I hope you’ll make good use of our opposable thumbs in this new keyboard paradigm

Re: Markov Keyboard: keyboard layout that changes by Markov frequency (2019)

#62

Post by tetrisgm »

CaptainFever wrote: post #35
tetrisgm wrote: post #30

This project brilliantly points out that we are limited and shaped by how keys and layouts are presented to us. What I don’t understand is why not go all the way. Why not also change the concept of what’s needed to enter a character? It would make sense that keys aren’t the ideal affordance to express a key every time. Use a volume slider for a letter, use radio buttons, on/off toggles. What if I could draw the lette…

> What if I could draw the letter on my trackpad? The Apple Newton did that! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Newton#Notes

That feels like Siri dictation, minus Siri, and minus the dictation

Re: Markov Keyboard: keyboard layout that changes by Markov frequency (2019)

#64

Post by Kuraj »

atomer wrote: post #28

Took me 1 year to rewire my brain to switch from Qwerty to Dvorak (I struggled with from RSI for nearly 6 years) and nearly 2 years to gain full speed. It is hard, very hard for the brain. It is mentally tiring to rewire your brain like this and you will do your job at a much worse efficiency (forget pair programming for a while). You need new keyboard stickers also. Great job at making this idea but it is not practi…

This entire discussion reads like perfect satire because I still can't decide whether we are being serious or not

Re: Markov Keyboard: keyboard layout that changes by Markov frequency (2019)

#65

Post by pandemic_region »

all2 wrote: post #5
jslezak wrote: post #3

Yes! I have been wanting this forever. Keys are in too predictable a position

There were, for awhile, some security systems had on-screen keyboards that would change layout on every key press.

I occasionally still get this in certain petrol stations. Always catches me off guard.

Re: Markov Keyboard: keyboard layout that changes by Markov frequency (2019)

#66

Post by f1shy »

tugu77 wrote: post #57
smartmic wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For those who type on German keyboards or in German, there are a number of layouts that have evolved around the Neo 2 layout [1]. The main driving force is ergonomics, but since not everyone works the same way, many variants have emerged (and still do) [2]. Interesting is the craftsmanship, including customized programs to optimize the layouts [3]. [1] https://www.neo-layout.org/Layouts/ [2] https://maximilian-schill…

German layouts with [ ] { } in such horrible positions are killing all joy when programming, especially in curly brace heavy languages. Changed to US qwerty 30 years ago, never looking back.

I always changed to ANSI layout, independent of the layout of the actual keys. Now I carry a HHKB with me, and connect through BT to whatever computer I want to work on. No matter what human language I write in (I do some) I prefer using accidents like tildes and umlauts with modifier keys.

Re: Markov Keyboard: keyboard layout that changes by Markov frequency (2019)

#67

Post by bux93 »

CaptainFever wrote: post #35
tetrisgm wrote: post #30

This project brilliantly points out that we are limited and shaped by how keys and layouts are presented to us. What I don’t understand is why not go all the way. Why not also change the concept of what’s needed to enter a character? It would make sense that keys aren’t the ideal affordance to express a key every time. Use a volume slider for a letter, use radio buttons, on/off toggles. What if I could draw the lette…

> What if I could draw the letter on my trackpad? The Apple Newton did that! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Newton#Notes

Also the palm, they called it graffiti. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti_%28Palm_OS%29

(Google's gboard offers a handwriting keyboard, but it's on the touch screen and doesn't count. Also, it's not graffiti, so a bit more error prone. It does recognize joined-up handwriting though.)

There's also some keyboards on f-droid for braille text input and morse code input.

Re: Markov Keyboard: keyboard layout that changes by Markov frequency (2019)

#68

Post by niek_pas »

encom wrote: post #54
atomer wrote: post #28

Took me 1 year to rewire my brain to switch from Qwerty to Dvorak (I struggled with from RSI for nearly 6 years) and nearly 2 years to gain full speed. It is hard, very hard for the brain. It is mentally tiring to rewire your brain like this and you will do your job at a much worse efficiency (forget pair programming for a while). You need new keyboard stickers also. Great job at making this idea but it is not practi…

And there's also the problem of using computers that aren't yours. I haven't tried (and I will never), but I imagine switching between layouts is at least very inconvenient.

I switched to Dvorak ±8 years ago, and I can still type qwerty almost as well as I could back then. I could imagine it being a problem if you're using other people's machines on a daily basis though.

Re: Markov Keyboard: keyboard layout that changes by Markov frequency (2019)

#70

Post by Shorel »

tetrisgm wrote: post #30

This project brilliantly points out that we are limited and shaped by how keys and layouts are presented to us. What I don’t understand is why not go all the way. Why not also change the concept of what’s needed to enter a character? It would make sense that keys aren’t the ideal affordance to express a key every time. Use a volume slider for a letter, use radio buttons, on/off toggles. What if I could draw the lette…

> What if I could draw the letter on my trackpad?

I have been proposing to adapt Shorthand* to computer tactile input many times. Touchpads and touchscreens can use it. It seems faster and easier for both the computer and the person than having to recognize slow handwriting.

Secretaries used this for many decades, because it allowed them to record speech in real-time.

There is always a dismissive comment about how this is not a good idea for one reason or another, but I still think it would be a great feature to have.

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorthand

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