Colemak forum

dexen deVries

Member

Registered: 15-Feb-2008

Posts: 12

Chorded keyboards or keysets

( I hope it's okay to discuss the subject on the forum. While it's not really Colemak-related, there seem to be a lot of open-minded people there, interested in improving quality of input devices and methods. So here goes. )

I'd like to ask you to share your experiences or thoughts on chorded keyboards. Or other methods for one-handed input. I'd like to be able to type comfortably with one hand.

I've encountered recently http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorded_keyboard . There are claims on the internet it's matter of just several hours to become fluent in writing with such one, and that you can achieve 60wpm without much trouble. I'm actually willing to learn some 100 or 200 chords in order to write with something like that.

I'm also pondering modifying a keyboard driver to make chorded keyboard out of standard keyboad. However I have no idea how to tackle problem of *choosing* right chords to denote characters and other keys.

Background:
I'm a happy user of the Colemak layout, for over half a year now.
My problem with input is that I'm often doing lots with both mouse and keyboard at the same time. Up to the point I'm becoming irritated with constant moving right hand between keyboard and mouse, it's a drag to me.
I'd preffer to go for an one-handed keyboard, in order to write with left hand and manipulate mouse with the right. However standard one-handed seem unwieldy, requiring you to move hand a lot to reach various keys.

Shai

Administrator

Registered: 11-Dec-2005

Posts: 349

Re: Chorded keyboards or keysets

There are other ways to reduce the effort of switching between the keyboard and the mouse. I like trackpoints for exactly that reason, and you can still buy keyboards with them, e.g. Lenovo USB Travel Keyboard with UltraNav, although most people find them awkward to handle. Another option is just buy a compact keyboard that doesn't have a numeric keypad (like the one above, TypeMatrix, etc.), and that way you will reduce the require motion. The idea of Combimouse is also interesting, but these aren't available, and I doubt if they ever will be.

In general, you should try to learn how to do everything using the keyboard, so you won't need to use the mouse that often.

dexen deVries

Member

Registered: 15-Feb-2008

Posts: 12

Re: Chorded keyboards or keysets

Thank you a lot for the feedbak, Shai.

I like trackpoints for exactly that reason, and you can still buy keyboards with them, e.g. Lenovo USB Travel Keyboard with UltraNav, although most people find them awkward to handle.

I've tried three or four trackpoints - the one built into my HP laptop as well as some IBMs - and found them less effective than a touchpad. Especially as you can't really scroll or tap with them.

In general, you should try to learn how to do everything using the keyboard, so you won't need to use the mouse that often.

I am terribly sorry, but no can do. The mouse's just too fast & convenient for manipulating text and issuing commands.
And don't get me wrong, I'm a terminal junkie for years. I have one or two terminal emulators open all the time, and I'm using them much often than click on any icons, menus or toolbars. Still, mouse wins for moving text and issuing textual commands. Especially since I've started using the acme editor/file manager :)

Last edited by dexen deVries (04-May-2008 12:59:32)

DreymaR

Member

From: Bærum, Norway

Registered: 13-Dec-2006

Posts: 2,091

Website

Re: Chorded keyboards or keysets

Did you check out the Half-Colemak?
http://forum.colemak.com/viewtopic.php?pid=1902

One advantage to this is that you can use with any old keyboard without the need to buy a new one. Also, it's supposedly very easy to learn since you already know it in a way.

---

Better burden you cannot carry than man-wisdom much  --  Hávamál
Check out my Big Bag of Keyboard Tricks! For XKB (Linux) and for PKL (Win).

asetniop

Member

Registered: 24-Apr-2012

Posts: 27

Re: Chorded keyboards or keysets

It looks like this thread has been dead and buried for quite a while, but I've developed a chorded layout for Colemak; the discussion is here: http://forum.colemak.com/viewtopic.php?id=1396