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Archive-name: typing-injury-faq/keyboards/part1
Version: $Revision: 7.26 $ $Date: 1995/10/17 07:41:35 $ URL: http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~dwallach/tifaq/keyboards.html See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge
Prologue
This FAQ may be cited as:
Wallach, Dan S. (1995) "Typing Injury FAQ: Keyboard Alternatives".
http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~dwallach/tifaq/keyboards.html
World-Wide-Web users will find this available as hypertext:
* http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~dwallach/tifaq/keyboards.html
* (Dan Wallach's page) http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~dwallach/
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Answers To Frequently Asked Questions about Keyboard Alternatives (Part 1/2)
Copyright 1992-1995 Dan Wallach <dwallach@cs.princeton.edu>
The opinions in here are my own, unless otherwise mentioned, and do not
represent the opinions of any organization or vendor.
[Current distribution: sci.med.occupational, sci.med, comp.human-factors,
{news,sci,comp}.answers, and e-mail to c+health@iubvm.ucs.indiana.edu,
sorehand@vm.ucsf.edu, and cstg-L@vtvm1.cc.vt.edu]
Information in this FAQ has been pieced together from phone conversations,
e-mail, and product literature. While I hope it's useful, the information in
here is neither comprehensive nor error free. If you find something wrong or
missing, please mail me, and I'll update my list. Thanks.
All phone numbers, unless otherwise mentioned, are USA phone numbers. All
monetary figures, unless otherwise mentioned, are USA dollars.
Products covered in this FAQ:
* Using a PC's keyboard on your workstation / compatibility issues
("normal" keyboards - by normal, I really mean non-chording)
o Apple Computer, Inc.
o Comfort Keyboard System
o DataHand
o ergoLogic
o Ergo Max
o FlexPro (Key Tronic)
o Fountain Hills Systems
o Generic Split Keyboard (from Taiwan)
o Genovation ErgoMaster
o Infrared Keyboards (Two Bit Score) [- NEW!]
o Kinesis Ergonomic Keyboard
o Lexmark
o Light Link (Electronic Design Specialists) [- NEW!]
o Maltron
o Microsoft Natural Keyboard
o MiniErgo (Marquardt Switches)
o The MyKey
o Somers EK1 Ergonomic Keyboard
o The Tony! Ergonomic KeySystem
o The Vertical
o The Wave
* ("chording" systems / speech recognizers / other products)
o AccuKey
o Aria Listener (Prometheus)
o The Bat (Infogrip)
o Braille 'n Speak (Blaize)
o DataEgg (InHand Development)
o DragonDictate (Dragon Systems)
o Half-QWERTY
o IBM VoiceType Speech Recognition Family (formerly Personal Dictation
System)
o IN3 Voice Command / IN3 PRO
o KeyBreak
o Kurzweil VOICE
o Listen for Windows (Verbex)
o Microwriter
o The Minimal Motion Computer Access System
o Octima
o OfficeTalk for WordPerfect (Kolvox)
o Power Secretary
o Rover for Windows (Digital Soup)
o Step on It (Bilbo Innovations) [- NEW!]
o Telaccount Speech Recognizer for Windows
o Twiddler
GIF pictures of many of these products are available via anonymous ftp from
ftp://ftp.csua.berkeley.edu/pub/typing-injury I highly recommend getting the
pictures. They tell much more than I can fit into this file. Or, if you're
reading this page with a WWW browser such as Mosaic or Netscape, just scroll
down.
If you can't do ftp or WWW, send me mail, and I'll uuencode and mail them to
you (they're pretty big...)
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Using a PC's keyboard on your workstation / compatibility issues
What kind of computer are you using? Macintosh, X terminal, NeXT, SGI, IBM
RS/6000, HP, Sun, serial port hacks, and other stuff.
Macintosh
Kinesis Corp. now has an adapter to make a PC keyboard connect to a
Macintosh. They'll happily sell you the adapter without one of their
keyboards. The price is around $100. Call 800-4-KINESIS.
A similar product is made by the Silicon Valley Bus Company, which
supports PC mice and keyboards. It's called the KeyStone and costs $99
plus $6 shipping.
o Silicon Valley Bus Company
475 Brown Rd.
San Juan Bautista, CA 95045
Phone: 408-623-2300 or maybe 800-775-0555
FAX: 408-623-4440
X terminals
A number of X terminals (NCD, Tektronix, to name a few) use PC-compatible
keyboards. If you have an X terminal, you may be all set. Try it out with
a normal PC keyboard before you go through the trouble of buying an
alternative keyboard. Also, some X terminals add extra buttons - you may
need to keep your original keyboard around for the once-in-a-blue-moon
that you have to hit the Setup key.
Often, X termainals will use a small DIN-8 connector rather than the
larger old-style PC keyboard connector. Have no fear! Many newer PC's also
have this new smaller connector, so you can usually find adapters at good
computer stores. I've also seen this adapter in a number of mail-order
cable catalogs.
NeXT
NeXT no longer makes workstations, but the last batch of NeXTstations were
made with the Apple Desktop Bus. If you really need to be using NeXT
hardware, make sure it's the latest stuff, and you can use Mac keyboards
(or PC keyboards through an adapter).
Of course, you can also run the NeXTstep operating system on a PC, HP, or
Sun workstation, which are easier to adapt.
Malcolm Crawford <m.crawford@dcs.shef.ac.uk> recommends Kinesis users
remap their keyboard such that:
o Backspace = Backspace
o Delete = Command
o Caps Lock = Control
o Insert = Option
o And, in software, make Caps Lock settable with Command-Shift
Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics's newer machines (Indigo^2, Indy, and beyond) use
standard PS/2-compatible keyboards and mice. I don't believe this also
applies to the Power Series machines. It's not possible to upgrade an
older SGI to use PC keyboards, except by upgrading the entire machine.
Contact your SGI sales rep for more details.
For older machines, see if you can upgrade to Irix5 or later. The current
X server supports the XTEST extension, which allows a2x to function
properly. See "spoofing", below.
IBM RS/6000
IBM RS/6000 keyboards are actually similar to normal PC keyboards.
Unfortunately, you can't just plug one in. You need two things: a cable
converter to go from the large PC keyboard connector to the smaller PS/2
style DIN-6, and a new device driver for AIX. Believe it or not, IBM wrote
this device driver, I used it, and it works. However, they don't want me
to redistribute it. I've been told Judy Hume (512) 823-6337 is a potential
contact. If you learn anything new, please send me e-mail.
Several people have reported problems contacting IBM on this issue. Be
sure to bug your sales rep into doing the research. Again, let me know if
you learn anything new.
HP workstations
If you are using an HP workstation, you can buy a converter box that
converts the HP-HIL serial to PS2. The converter is made by Modular
Industrial Computers 615-499-0700. Apparently you can also get these from
Jon Simkovitz & Associates at 800-953-9262. At any rate, they're expensive
($400) because not many are made.
Newer HP workstations use PC-compatible keyboards and PS/2 mice! The
changeover occured in early 1995 with the model 712. You were planning on
upgrading your machine sooner or later, right?
Sun workstations
The only real solution is a hardware box sold by Kinesis (phone
800-4-KINESIS), for about $150 ($100 if you buy a Kinesis keyboard). The
adapter is compatible with all Sparc workstations. Plug it in and away you
go. The downside is the lack of Sun-specific keys. If you often use the
L-keys or other obscure keys, you're going to have to learn how to remap
your keys with xmodmap. For some info on this, check out
kinesis-sun-mappings in the typing injury archive.
Spoofing a keyboard over the serial port
If you've got a proprietary computer which uses its own keyboard (Sun, HP,
DEC, etc.) then you're going to have a hard time finding a vendor to sell
you a compatible keyboard. If your workstation runs the X window system,
you're in luck. You can buy a cheap used PC, hook your expensive keyboard
up to it, and run a serial cable to your workstation. Then, run a program
on the workstation to read the serial port and generate fake X keyboard
events.
A number of programs can facilitate this for you. kt and a2x support ASCII
input. a2x-RawPC and serkey support raw PC scancode input. Also, the new
version of kt (kt18) additionally supports raw PC scancodes.
For more info about a2x, check out this URL:
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/a2x-voice/
a2x is a sophisticated program, capable of controlling the mouse, and even
moving among widgets on the screen. It requires a server extension (XTEST,
DEC-XTRAP, or XTestExtension1). To find out if your server can do this,
run 'xdpyinfo' and see if any of these strings appear in the extensions
list. If your server doesn't have this, you may want to investigate
compiling X11R5, patchlevel 18 or later, or bugging your vendor. X11R6
works fine, too.
kt is a simpler program, which should work with unextended X servers.
Another program called xsendevent also exists, but I haven't seen it.
a2x will work better, when it works, but it requires an extended server.
kt doesn't work with every application, but it's more likely to work on
older servers. Don't you love compromises?
a2x-RawPC, serkey, and kt18 can take input from a device such as the
Genovation Serial Box which converts a PC keyboard into a normal RS232
serial device, but otherwise passes through the raw PC scancodes. This
approach has several advantages: a Serial Box is only $150, whereas the
cheapest used PC you may ever find is over $300. A Serial Box could easily
fit in your pocket, while PC's tend to be much bigger. Most important,
however, is the ability to use all the keys of your PC keyboard with your
workstation, like the function keys. Unfortunately, Genovation no longer
manufactures this box. kt includes a DOS program which can make your PC
simulate one of these boxes, but that seems like overkill.
a2x, a2x-RawPC, serkey and kt are all available via anonymous ftp from
ftp.csua.berkeley.edu.
Other stuff
Some vendors here (notably: Health Care Keyboard Co. and AccuCorp) support
some odd keyboard types, and may be responsive to your queries regarding
supporting your own weird computer. If you can get sufficient documention
about how your keyboard works (either from the vendor, or with a storage
oscilloscope), you may be in luck. Contact the companies for more details.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Normal" keyboards - things that look like "standard" QWERTY keyboards
GIF pictures of many of these keyboards can be found via anonymous FTP
ftp://ftp.csua.berkeley.edu/pub/typing-injury
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Apple Adjustable Keyboard
Apple Computer, Inc.
Sales offices all over the place.
Price
$119 (some dealers have it for less)
Shipping
Now
Compatibility
Mac
Apple's keyboard has one section for each hand, and the sections rotate
backward on a hinge. The sections do not tilt upward. The keys are
arranged in a normal QWERTY fashion.
The main foldable keyboard resembles a normal Apple Keyboard. A separate
keypad contains all the extended key functions.
The keyboard also comes with matching wrist rests, which are not directly
attachable to the keyboard.
Many peripheral keys, such as function keys, are "chicklet" keys, rather
than full size, normal keyboard keys.
(See the files apple-press and apple-tidbits on the ftp.csua.berkeley.edu
archive for more details)
Unfortunately, Apple has apparently decided to discontinue this keyboard.
They legitimized the industry, and now they're leaving it. C'est la vie.
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Comfort Keyboard System
Health Care Keyboard Company
Phone
414-536-2160 (sales)
414-536-2169 (technical info)
Fax
414-536-2170
Address
12040-G W. Feerick St.
Wauwatosa, WI 53222
E-Mail
hlthcare@EARTH.EXECPC.COM
Price (Suggested Retail)
$795 for Mac, PC, and IDEA version.
$815 for Sun version.
$895 for HP-IL.
Additional personality modules are around $150 each. Prices can
drop $100 if you get the "preferred price", usually by purchasing
through your company.
A footpedal is available for $74 (not offered for the Mac).
Shipping
Now.
Compatibility
PC, Mac, HP-IL, Sun, and IDEA. IBM 122-key in beta.
A carrying case is also available.
The idea is that one keyboard works with everything. You purchase
"compatibility modules", a new cord, and possibly new keycaps, and then
you can move your one keyboard around among different machines.
It's a three-piece folding keyboard. The layout resembles the standard
101-key keyboard, except sliced into three sections. Each section is on a
"custom telescoping universal mount." Each section independently adjusts
to an infinite number of positions allowing each individual to type in a
natural posture. You can rearrange the three sections, too (have the
keypad in the middle if you want). Each section is otherwise normal-shaped
(i.e.: you put all three sections flat, and you have what looks like a
normal 101-key keyboard).
Other features: full remapping and macros, programmable delay and repeat
times. Coming soon: bounce keys and sticky keys. Also coming soon:
non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) to store macros (currently, the PC downloads them
at boot time).
Anyone with an old Comfort (serial number < 5000) can upgrade to a newer
version of the keyboard. Call technical assistance (414-536-2169) for more
details. The upgrade will generally cost $189, depending on the state of
the original keyboard.
The Comfort is a "class 2 medical device", which may make it easier to get
prescribed by a doctor.
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DataHand
DataHand Systems, Inc. [- NEW!]
Phone
602-860-8584
WWW
http://www.indirect.com/www/datahand/ [- NEW!]
E-Mail
datahand@indirect.com
Address
10789 North 90th Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260-6727 USA
Price
$995/unit (1 unit == 2 pods). Lease options available. ([new]
price)
Shipping
Now.
Compatibility
PC, Mac, RS/6000, Sparc, IBM 3270
Each hand has its own "pod". Each of the four main fingers has five
switches each: forward, back, left, right, and down. The thumbs have a
number of switches. Despite appearances, the key layout resembles QWERTY,
and is reported to be no big deal to adapt to. The idea is that your hands
never have to move to use the keyboard. A finger-mouse is also built-in.
(a picture of the key layout is also available)
(see also: datahand-review, written by Cliff Lasser <cal@THINK.COM>, on
the ftp.csua.berkeley.edu archive)
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ergoLogic Model 7.1
ErgoLogic Enterprises, Inc.
Phone
800-ONLY-WAY
Fax
604-433-0111
Address
47000 Warm Springs Blvd, Unit 430
Fremont, CA 94539-7467
Price
$399 (but, you can find it cheaper, see the FlexPro Keyboard for
details)
Compatibility
PC
Shipping
March, 1994
(See "FlexPro Keyboard")
ErgoLogic has licensed their keyboard to Key Tronic, which is how you're
more likely to see one of their keyboards. Both keyboards are manufactured
in the same facility, and are exactly the same, except for the label in
the upper left corner.
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Ergo Max
Maxi Switch, Inc.
Phone
602-294-5450
Fax
602-294-6890
Price
$99 + $19.95 for a separate 40-key keypad
Compatibility
PC
Shipping
apparently not
Each half of the main keyboard can be independently raised/angled. An
optional keypad, and an integrated wrist-rest / thumb trackball is
available.
An intrepid net-reporter claims he called Maxi Switch and they said they
decided not to manufacture this keyboard. Too bad.
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FlexPro Keyboard
Key Tronic
Phone
800-262-6006
Possible contact
Denise Razzeto, 509-927-5299
Price
List price is $199, but you can likely find it for less
Shipping
Now.
Compatibility
PC
(See "ergoLogic Model 7.1")
Sold by many clone vendors and PC shops
Keytronic apparently showed a prototype keyboard at Comdex. It's another
split-design. One thumb-wheel controls the tilt of both the left and
right-hand sides of the main alphanumeric section. The arrow keys and
keypad resemble a normal 101-key PC keyboard.
Keytronic makes standard PC keyboards, also, so this product will probably
be sold through their standard distribution channels.
Keytronic is working together with ErgoLogic Enterprises on this, so it's
the same keyboard.
Soft-touch (lighter key activation force) keys are available for an extra
$20 or so. Ask for the "Custom Key Feel Kit". Apparently, you can get 1.0,
2.5, and 3.0 ounce domes. The standard keyboard has 2.0 ounce domes. If
you've got RSI, you're probably interested in the 1.0 ounce domes. Theese
kits are $15 each plus $4 shipping.
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Generic Split Keyboard (from Taiwan)
Apparently, this keyboard is manufactured by Nan Tan Computer in Taipei,
Taiwan. I've found this keyboard at a variety of US computer stores, under
a variety of names. It's also carried by Dalco, a major US mail-order
house.
The most prominent name I've seen pasted on this keyboard is "the Clevo
KB7000 keyboard by Norton Technologies (Patent Pending)". Pretty
impressive, but it's still the same generic keyboard.
Dalco Electronics
Phone
800-445-5342
Fax
513-743-8251
Price
$76.80 (Dalco item #48425, volume discounts available)
Also seen at Fry's Electronics, Palo Alto, CA, for $50.
Also seen on-line in Safe Computing's Internet Store for $59.37.
Shipping
Now
Compatibility
PC
The main feature of this keyboard is its price; it's the cheapest split
keyboard on the market. The keyswitches are fairly light and clicky. The
split angle is fixed, and the keyboard is flat. It's only a moderate
improvement over an ordinary keyboard, but the price is right.
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Fountain Hills FH-101
Fountain Hills Systems
Phone
602-596-8633
Address
15022 North 75th St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85260-2476
Price
$349 with quantity discounts available
Shipping
???
Compatibility
PC
The Fountain Hills keyboard is set at a 20 degree fixed angle for each
hand. The keyboard is still flat (i.e.: not higher in the middle) and has
no adjustments.
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ErgoMaster
Genovation, Inc.
Phone
800-822-4333 or 714-833-3355
FAX
714-833-0322
Address
17741 Mitchell, North
Irvine, CA 92714
Price
$495 (main keyboard)
$79 (external keypad with serial-port connector)
$95 (external keypad with parallel-port connector)
Shipping
Summer 1995
The ErgoMaster comes in two pieces which attach to a track you install on
the edge of your desk. Once installed, you can separately adjust the
angles and positions of each side. A timed beeper reminds you to make
periodic adjustments to the keyboard (more importantly, you can use the
beeper to remind you to take rest breaks).
In addition to the usual PC key layout, ErgoMaster has Enter and Backspace
keys on the bottom of the keyboard which you can hit with your thumbs.
The ErgoMaster can be reprogrammed through PC software which downloads new
keymappings to your keyboard.
The optional external keypad connects to either the serial or parallel
port of your computer and relies on special driver software to function
properly. This means the keypad will not function on an X terminal, and
probably won't work with many PC games. A "T-connector" is available with
the parallel-port keypad, so you can share your parallel port with another
peripheral.
Note: This is the same Genovation which formerly produced the Serial Box,
which was useful for interfacing a PC keyboard to non-PC workstations with
proprietary keyboard interfaces. If you still want one, they'll make them
custom in quantities of 100 or more.
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Infrared Keyboards [- NEW!]
Two Bit Score, Inc.
WWW
http://www.io.com/~twobit/ibmirkbd.html
E-Mail
twobit@io.com
Phone
512-447-8888
Fax
512-447-8895
Address
4418 Pack Saddle Pass
Austin, TX 78745
Compatibility
PC, plus the company does custom work
Shipping
Now
Price
$198 (Universal Receiver) + $159 (101-Key Keyboard)
While you can get an infra-red keyboard system for less money, these folks
can probably hack together more custom solutions if you need them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Kinesis Ergonomic Keyboard
Kinesis Corporation
Phone
800-4-KINESIS (800-454-6374) or 206-402-8100
Fax
206-402-8181
Address
22232 17th Avenue SE
Bothell, WA 98021-7425
Price
$275. Volume discounts available. This includes adhesive wrist
pads and a TypingTutor program. Foot pedals and other accessories
are extra. ([new] lower price)
Also seen on-line in Safe Computing's Internet Store for $331.50.
Compatibility
PC. Mac and Sun Sparc through emulation boxes.
Shipping
Now.
The layout has a large blank space in the middle, even though the keyboard
is about the size of a normal PC keyboard - slightly smaller. Each hand
has its own set of keys, laid out to minimize finger travel. Thumb buttons
handle many major functions (enter, backspace, etc.).
The keyboard supports remapping, macros, and adjustable repeat rate.
Foot pedals are also available, and can be mapped to any key on the
keyboard (shift, control, whatever).
The keypad is "embedded" in the right hand, and a toggle button (or foot
pedal) changes between normal and keypad mode for your right hand.
Software is newly available that lets you split the Kinesis into multiple
personalities so you can have more than one set of macros and remappings
available. This software runs on your PC and downloads the data to the
keyboard. For more info, contact the company.
Kinesis has adapters boxes which can be used to connect the Kinesis (or
other PC keyboards) to a Mac or Sun. Again, for more info, contact the
company.
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Lexmark Model M13 (Select-Ease)
Lexmark Corporation (a spinoff of IBM)
Phone
800-438-2468
Cost
$179 ($199 with separate numeric keypad)
Available
Now
Compatibility
PC
This keyboard is split and angled, with a ball-type hinge at the top of
the split. You can put it into positions identical to the Ergologic and
similar to common Comfort positions (but it doesn't tent when the parts
are separated).
It's not programmable. Aside from the split/angle (which is extremely
versatile and stable), its only other difference from regular keyboards is
that the left part of the space bar can be a backspace key.
The company has a free 30 day trial offer. If interested, please e-mail
Chris Stelmack <christel@interaccess.com>. Under subject, type "Keyboard".
Further ordering instructions will be sent to you.
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Light Link [- NEW!]
This is an infra-red cordless keyboard with the standard 101-key flat
layout. It's manufactured by Electronic Design Specialists, Inc., and its
``stocking distributor'' is CASCO:
CASCO
Phone
800-793-6960 or 319-393-6960
E-Mail
cascoia@aol.com
Address
375 Collins Rd. NE, Suite 115
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Price
$199.95 (estimated street price)
Compatibility
PC
Availability
Now (?)
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Maltron
P.C.D. Maltron Limited
Phone
(+44) 081 398 3265 (United Kingdom)
Address
15 Orchard Lane
East Molesey
Surrey KT8 OBN
England
U.S. Manufacturer & Distributor
TelePrint Systems, Inc.
#4 Henson PL., Suite #5
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone
217-359-9690
FAX
217-352-8233
E-Mail
teleprint@aol.com
WWW
http://www.teleprint.com/ [- NEW!]
U.S. Sales Agent
Jim Barrett
Applied Learning Corp.
1376 Glen Hardie Road
Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: 215-688-6866
Canadian Liason
Robert Vellinga
Humansystems, Inc.
111 Farquhar St., 2nd Floor
Guelph, Ontario, CANADA
N1H 3N4
Phone: 519-836-5911
Fax: 519-836-1722
E-Mail: vellinga@humansys.com
Price
Contact PCD Maltron for European sales
$295 + shipping in the USA
Maltron has a number of accessories, including carrying cases, switch
boxes to use both your normal keyboard and the Maltron, an
articulated arm that clamps on to your table, and training courses to
help you learn to type on your Maltron.
You can also rent a keyboard for 10 pounds/week + taxes. U.S. price:
$60/month, and then $40 off purchase if you want it. 30 day money
back guarantee.
Shipping
Now
Compatibility
separate models for PC, Mac, and Amstrad 1512/1640.
Maltron has four main products - a two-handed keyboard, two one-handed
keyboards, and a keyboard designed for handicapped people to control with
a mouth-stick.
The layout allocates more buttons to the thumbs, and is curved to bring
keys closer to the fingers. A separate keypad is in the middle.
(see also, "maltron-review" on the ftp.csua.berkeley.edu archive)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Natural Keyboard
Microsoft Corporation
Phone
800-426-9400 (Microsoft Customer Service)
Address
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
Price
$99.95, and often discounted
Compatibility
PC
Shipping
now
For the price, this is an excellent keyboard. The MS keyboard is a great
deal. It's still a QWERTY layout, but it has a built-in wrist-rest and
separates the hands by splitting the keyboard at a fixed angle.
The keyboard comes with Microsoft IntelliType software, which adds some
useful featuers to Windows, but some people report it causes their systems
to crash.
The keyboard includes three new keys which don't really add any
functionality whatsoever. Don't let these keys influence your purchasing
decisions.
(This is a picture of a prototype for the current MS keyboard. This
never has been nor never will be for sale.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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MiniErgo
Marquardt Switches Inc.
Phone
315-655-8050
Fax
315-655-8042
Address
2711 Route 20 East
Cazenovia, NY 13035
Price
$179 for MiniErgo, $125 for external numeric keypad.
Shipping
now
Compatibility
PC
The MiniErgo is a split keyboard system with no numeric keypad (keypad
available separately in August). The two halves are fixed at about a 30
degree angle, to approximate the angle of your arms when you hands are in
QWERTY home position. The slant is approximately same as standard 101-key
keyboard, but the middle is raised. They've moved the cursor controls into
the gap between the two halves. A Fn key is used to access an embedded
keypad and PgUp, PgDn, Home, and End.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The MyKey
ErgonomiXX, Inc.
Phone
703-771-1047
Fax
703-771-1137
E-Mail
none at present (the old one is no longer valid)
Address
525-K East Market Street
Box 295
Leesburg, VA 22071
Price
$275
Shipping
now (may also be in some CompUSA stores, stock # 289-554)
Compatibility
PC
The MyKey has the full 101 keys of a normal PC keyboard plus an integrated
trackball pointing device and integrated wrist rests. The main
alpha-numeric keys are split at a fixed angle, with the normal PC layout.
The function keys appear in a circle on the left, with the arrow keys
inside them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Somers EK1 Ergonomic Keyboard
Somers Engineering
Phone
805-273-1609
E-Mail
RSomers@aol.com (Richard Somers)
Address
3424 Vicker Way
Palmdale, CA 93551
Price
$348 + shipping
Compatibility
PC and Mac (at the same time! see below)
Shipping
"in limited quantities"
A trackball module is also available ($100), which can clip on the side or
replace the cursor keypad.
The keyboard is broken down into three modules which can be re- arranged.
(the keypad could be put on the left, for example). The alphanumeric keys
are vertical rather than the usual diagonal arrangement.
The keyboard is based on the Datadesk Switchboard - Somers just developed
a new keyboard module for it. Thus, they take advantage of the
Switchboard's PC and Mac compatibility. You can't plug it into both at the
same time, but you need only use the right cable, and tweak some DIP
switches to change the keyboard's personality.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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The Tony! Ergonomic KeySystem
The Tony! Corporation
Phone
???
Address
Tony Hodges
2332 Thompson Court
Mountain View, CA 94043 USA
Price
???
Compatibility
???
Shipping
???
The Tony! should allow separate positioning of every key, to allow the
keyboard to be personally customized. A thumb-operated mouse will also be
available.
As far as I can tell, Tony Hodges has disappeared, and apparently won't
ever have a keyboard for sale.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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The Vertical
Jeffrey Spencer or Stephen Albert
Phone
619-454-0000
Address
P.O. Box 2636
La Jolla, CA 92038 USA
Price
$299
Compatibility
no info available, probably PC's
Shipping
???
The Vertical Keyboard is split in two halves, each pointing straight up.
The user can adjust the width of the device, but not the tilt of each
section. Side-view mirrors are installed to allow users to see their
fingers on the keys.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Wave
Iocomm International Technology
Phone
310-644-6100
Fax
310-644-6068
Address
12700 Yukon Avenue
Hawthorne, California 90250 USA
Price
$99.95 + $15 for a set of cables
Compatibility
PC
Shipping
now.
Iocomm also manufactures "ordinary" 101-key keyboard (PC/AT) and 84-key
keyboard (PC/XT), so make sure you get the right one.
The one-piece keyboard has a built-in wrist-rest. It looks *exactly* like
a normal 101-key PC keyboard, with two inches of built-in wrist rest. The
key switch feel is reported to be greatly improved.
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This document continues in the next file.
--
Dan Wallach Princeton University, Computer Science Department
dwallach@cs.princeton.edu http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~dwallach/ PGP Ready
User Contributions:Part1 - Part2 [ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ] Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer: Dan Wallach <dwallach@cs.princeton.edu>
Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:12 PM
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