Re: OT: A Better Keyboard

From: Asetnil (skearney_at_accessbee.com)
Date: 11/09/04 

Date: 8 Nov 2004 23:18:15 -0800

"*** T. Winter" <***.Winter@cwi.nl> wrote in message news:<I6vxyu.BC4@cwi.nl>...
> In article <1099896255.852085.194600@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com> skearney@accessbee.com writes:
> > *** T. Winter wrote:
> > > In article <a8dc57d5.0411062312.6fc2ed65@posting.google.com>
> > skearney@accessbee.com (Asetnil) writes:
> ...
> > > > Maybe you could type a few words with etni-dfjk transposed
> > > > letters. You would be one of the first in the world to do so.
> > >
> > > I do not think so. I do touch-type, although I use only about seven
> > > fingers and my hands move quite a bit when typing. As an example, my
> > > typing speed is lowered very much when I type on a split keyboard as
> > > sold by Microsoft.
> >
> > I was just reading about a study done on the kinesis ergonomic
> > keyboard that found a slower typing speed even after twenty hours
> > practice. I've never used a split keyboard but always assumed that it
> > would be easy to adapt to.
>
> I would not easily adapt to it. Always when I type on such a keyboard,
> regularly one of my hands tries to find a key that is on the other
> half of the keyboard. For instance, when I type the letter 't', I
> use my left or right hand, depending on context. In 'the', I will type
> (in general) the 'th' part with my rigth hand, in 'type', I will (in
> general) enter the 'ty' part with the laft hand.
>
> > Which seven fingers do you use?
>
> Mostly middle and index fingers, and sometimes ring finger. And one of
> my thumbs.
>
> > The shift is the big exception, since it has to be held down.
>
> This is indeed one of the uses of my left thumb (together with the space
> key).

    I once met a fellow who had lost his right index finger in an
industrial accident. He said his other fingers automatically filled
in when he typed. It is interesting that a persons handwriting is the
same whether on paper or a blackboard. Once your mind knows where
something is suposed to be, you can use either hand to reach it
without thinking.
    I often have to look for the shift and sometimes use my index
finger. Where would you put the shift, or make other changes?
    You sound like someone who types like a painter.
    It's off topic of this topic, but if you get a chance to google up
the 'itrans prt' site, I would like to know what your insights and
opinions regarding the various urban transit proposals are. Your
photo collection of past trams and trains is a treasure.

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