ContentsAccuCorp
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Chording keyboards are smaller and have fewer keys, typically one for each finger and possibly the thumbs. Instead of the usual sequential, one-at-a-time key presses, chording requires simultaneous key presses for each character typed, similar to playing a musical chord on a piano. The primary advantage of the chording keyboard is that it requires far fewer keys than a conventional keyboard. For example, with five keys there are 31 chord combinations that may represent letters, numbers, words, commands, or other strings. With fewer keys, finger travel is minimized because the fingers always remain on the same keys. In addition, the user is free to place the keyboard wherever it is convenient and may avoid the unnatural keying posture associated with a conventional keyboard. The most significant disadvantage of the chording keyboard is that it cannot be used by an untrained person. At least 15 hours of training and practice are necessary to learn the chord patterns that represent individual letters and numbers. A second disadvantage of the chording keyboard is that data entry rates (characters per unit of time) are actually slower than data entry rates for conventional keyboards. Due to the increased learning time and slower performance, chording keyboards have not become commercially viable except for specialized applications. REFERENCES |
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AccuKey
Does not use conventional push-keys. Soft rubber keys, which rock forward and backward (each key has three states), make chords for typing keys. Learning time is estimated to be 2-3 hours, for getting started, and maybe two weeks to get used to it. Currently, the thumbs do not do anything, although a thumb-trackball is in the works. The company claims it takes about a week of work to support a new computer. They will be happy to adapt their keyboard to your computer, if possible.
(Information last checked: In Process . . .) |
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CyKey
(Information last checked: Feb'01) |
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ElmEntry Enterprises
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Twiddler and Twiddler2
(Information last checked: Nov'00) |
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The Bat Personal Keyboard
From Princeton's TIFAQ FTP Archive:
(Information last checked: Website down . . . checking . . .) |
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orbiTouch Keyless Keyboard
(Information last checked: Nov'00) |
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Last Updated: 01/18/02 |
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