Would you buy this keyboard?

[reinaldofox]

I would like to do two questions, as I am considering applying for a patent for a new keyboard model that solves some of the drawbacks of current keyboards.

Current problems with conventional keyboards
When using traditional keyboards, we face several drawbacks that affect our productivity, comfort and efficiency. Some of the main problems include:
Repetitive and unnecessary movements - we constantly need to take our hands out of the natural position (home row) to access keys such as directional arrows, backspace, delete or other navigation keys. This interrupts the typing flow and forces the user to look at the keyboard more often, taking their eyes off the screen.
Long and repetitive movements, such as stretching your fingers to reach distant keys, can cause muscle fatigue and decrease typing efficiency. Interruptions in the workflow - switching between typing and editing text is slow and uncomfortable.
For example: To correct a mistake, we often need to erase several letters until we reach the point of the mistake and then rewrite the text.
To select text, move the cursor requires a combination of keys such as Shift + Arrows, which requires additional movements, or taking your hand off the keyboard and using the mouse, which causes additional effort in simple tasks.
Problem with delimiters ("", '', (), {}, [], <>): Entering or editing text within delimiters, such as parentheses or quotation marks, requires multiple hand movements, making the process inefficient, such as using Shift to type the delimiter, typing the text and then using Shift again to type the closing delimiter.
Performing basic actions, such as undoing an action (Ctrl + Z) or repeating commands, often requires key combinations, such as Ctrl.

How the new keyboard solves these problems: The new keyboard was designed to solve these problems in a simple and practical way, without significant changes in layout or usability.
It maintains the familiar design of the QWERTY keyboard or any other type and offers advanced features that eliminate the inconveniences mentioned above.
How: The keyboard aims to centralize all the actions and movements described above using this new invention in conjunction with the alphabetic keys only.

Result: The process of typing, editing and moving the cursor can be done without the help of the cursor, Delete, Backspace, Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys. In this way, the new keyboard will be very useful for writers, programmers, journalists, proofreaders and all types of people who use the keyboard a lot for typing, resulting in improved ergonomics. The design reduces unnecessary physical effort, promoting greater comfort during prolonged use. Increased Productivity Functions such as deleting entire words, selecting text or navigating between delimiters are performed with just one or two touches, without interrupting the workflow.

Questionnaire
Would you consider buying this keyboard?

Yes, I am very interested. Maybe, depending on the price and other factors. No, I don't see any need to change my current keyboard.

What is your general feeling about this new keyboard?

Excited to try something new and innovative. Curious, but I would need to test it before deciding. Indifferent, because I don't see any major advantages. Skeptical, I doubt that it will really solve the problems mentioned.
You are completely free to make comments, criticisms or compliments.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I probably would not. Note I have been typing on a qwerty keyboard for 50 years and a computer keyboard since the late 1970s.

I sure would not buy a keyboard without seeing it first.

I also note how keyboard keys feel when pressed is highly subjective.

Long and repetitive movements, such as stretching your fingers to reach distant keys

Huh? How short are your fingers? And/or how big is your current keyboard? I have no problem reaching any of the keys in the main area of my standard size keyboard.

Problem with delimiters ("", '', (), {}, [], <>): Entering or editing text within delimiters, such as parentheses or quotation marks, requires multiple hand movements, making the process inefficient, such as using Shift to type the delimiter, typing the text and then using Shift again to type the closing delimiter.

I don't see a problem with this. I sure would not want those less-often used letters/characters to have their own separate keys. Then I surely would not be able to reach them.

erforming basic actions, such as undoing an action (Ctrl + Z) or repeating commands, often requires key combinations, such as Ctrl.

Which is very convenient, IMO. My left pinky knows exactly where the Ctrl key is.

in improved ergonomics. The design reduces unnecessary physical effort, promoting greater comfort during prolonged use.

Sorry but not "seeing" it. Perhaps if I could see it AND TRY IT, I might feel different. But you seem to want to add more keys. This would only increase the area in which our fingers have to reach. That is counterproductive and does not sound very ergonomics to me.

But...

Ergonomics is a real science. Are you fully trained and qualified in that?

There are dozens (if not 100s) of so called "ergonomic" keyboards. As one with who has experienced RSI issues in both wrist, I can say for me, most so called "ergonomic" keyboards are not.

HOWEVER, for me, the Microsoft 5050 Comfort is. Sadly, Microsoft stopped making keyboards and Incase, the company that took over their production is not making the 5050.

Anyway, that keyboard is ergonomic FOR ME with its wrist rest and the angle to approach the keys keeps my wrists straight instead of having to awkwardly bend them in as with most keyboard.

I hope you are familiar with the Dvorak keyboard. Created way back in the 1930s, it is proven to be more ergonomic and yet QWERTY totally dominates.

 

[Onasi]

All of the problems that are mentioned are already solved via an arcane and exceedingly rare device called the “computer mouse”. Relearning years and, for some, decades of a standard QWERTY layout just isn’t a feasible proposition in exchange for something that already is essentially a non-issue. As Bill mentioned above, there were attempts at creating more “ergonomic” alternative layouts and they all more or less fell short.
Not to mention that this

How the new keyboard solves these problems: The new keyboard was designed to solve these problems in a simple and practical way, without significant changes in layout or usability.
It maintains the familiar design of the QWERTY keyboard or any other type and offers advanced features that eliminate the inconveniences mentioned above.
How: The keyboard aims to centralize all the actions and movements described above using this new invention in conjunction with the alphabetic keys only.

is incredibly vague and mostly sounds like marketing gobbledygook. Unless you can provide an actual picture of the layout or, better yet, of the board itself it is impossible to even begin entertaining any notions of how usable or desirable such a thing would be.

 

[reinaldofox]

I probably would not. Note I have been typing on a qwerty keyboard for 50 years and a computer keyboard since the late 1970s.

I sure would not buy a keyboard without seeing it first.

I also note how keyboard keys feel when pressed is highly subjective.


Huh? How short are your fingers? And/or how big is your current keyboard? I have no problem reaching any of the keys in the main area of my standard size keyboard.


I don't see a problem with this. I sure would not want those less-often used letters/characters to have their own separate keys. Then I surely would not be able to reach them.


Which is very convenient, IMO. My left pinky knows exactly where the Ctrl key is.


Sorry but not "seeing" it. Perhaps if I could see it AND TRY IT, I might feel different. But you seem to want to add more keys. This would only increase the area in which our fingers have to reach. That is counterproductive and does not sound very ergonomics to me.

But...

Ergonomics is a real science. Are you fully trained and qualified in that?

There are dozens (if not 100s) of so called "ergonomic" keyboards. As one with who has experienced RSI issues in both wrist, I can say for me, most so called "ergonomic" keyboards are not.

HOWEVER, for me, the Microsoft 5050 Comfort is. Sadly, Microsoft stopped making keyboards and Incase, the company that took over their production is not making the 5050.

Anyway, that keyboard is ergonomic FOR ME with its wrist rest and the angle to approach the keys keeps my wrists straight instead of having to awkwardly bend them in as with most keyboard.

I hope you are familiar with the Dvorak keyboard. Created way back in the 1930s, it is proven to be more ergonomic and yet QWERTY totally dominates.

Let me explain better.

When I ask you to evaluate the keyboard, I am asking you to imagine that there was a keyboard with these features and with a small physical change (it is not a key for each limiting character).
Without changing the way the keyboard is used in any way, you will still be able to use the same keys that you normally use, without having to use the new feature.

Since this is a patent application, I apologize, but I cannot explain how it works or show photos, otherwise the application will not be approved.

Let me explain better.

When I ask you to evaluate the keyboard, I am asking you to imagine that there was a keyboard with these features and with a small physical change (it is not a key for each limiting character).
Without changing the way the keyboard is used in any way, you will still be able to use the same keys that you normally use, without having to use the new feature.

The keyboard is made for a standard hand and finger size. For people with small hands and fingers, the size of the finger movements, the movement of the hands and the amount of opening of the fingers to, for example, reach the arrow keys, backspace, delete, home, end, page up and page down is indeed an ergonomic factor.

Since this is a patent application, I apologize, but I cannot explain how it works or show photos, otherwise the application will not be approved.

All of the problems that are mentioned are already solved via an arcane and exceedingly rare device called the “computer mouse”. Relearning years and, for some, decades of a standard QWERTY layout just isn’t a feasible proposition in exchange for something that already is essentially a non-issue. As Bill mentioned above, there were attempts at creating more “ergonomic” alternative layouts and they all more or less fell short.
Not to mention that this

is incredibly vague and mostly sounds like marketing gobbledygook. Unless you can provide an actual picture of the layout or, better yet, of the board itself it is impossible to even begin entertaining any notions of how usable or desirable such a thing would be.

I considered the mouse, but as I said, the keyboard is more geared towards those who type a lot. What if you can type without taking your eyes off the screen to look for keys, or groping until you find them, and worse, taking your hand off the home row to use the mouse to edit text?

I think these things are the kind of things that interrupt the flow of typing.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Let me explain better.

When I ask you to evaluate the keyboard, I am asking you to imagine that there was a keyboard with these features and with a small physical change (it is not a key for each limiting character).
Without changing the way the keyboard is used in any way, you will still be able to use the same keys that you normally use, without having to use the new feature.

Sorry, but that is not explaining any better.

But first, I get, appreciate, and applaud your desire to improve how folks type. So PLEASE do NOT take any criticism personally. Keep thinking and note the following,

"I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways of inactivity"

That is what Thomas Edison said about thousands of failed attempts to find the right material to make the filament in the light bulb. And that was only 1 invention among 1000s of ideas and among his 1,093 patents.

Second, I totally understand your need for secrecy but you are not going to get far, if anywhere unless folks can see and feel a working prototype. This means you will need to get your patent first. Then get testers to sign NDAs. You need to go see a patent lawyer.

I cannot visualize all the current keys remaining the same yet you somehow [magically?] put more keys (characters) within easy reach. Maybe I just have no imagination - if only I had a working prototype to play with.

You suggest using the shift key is inconvenient and inefficient. I cannot agree. Typist have been efficiently doing so to get upper case letters and special characters above the number keys for 147 years (the shift key was added by Remington in 1878).

There already have been double-shift keyboards where one shift key performed one function (upper-case, for example) and the second shift key assigned a third function (figures/special characters for example) to each key. Examples of such keyboards where those often used for battlefield reporters, court recorders, and other typists who needed more compact designs and special features. But the general public (like 95+ percent of us) didn't like them, much in part because there is a big learning curve to become proficient at them.

The Windows key makes performing many functions easy too.

And of course, there are programable computer keyboards already where folks can make any key do just about anything, including enter long strings of text.

For example, on this keyboard, pressing F1 enters my email address into any text field.

FTR, I am somewhat of a keyboard junkie. Many "keyboard shortcuts" (Ctrl-c, Ctrl-v, Ctrl-x, Ctrl-a, F5, and of course, Ctrl-z) are as intuitive to me as pressing the shift-key to get an upper case "b" when I type my name, Bill.

And to that, my fingers can multitask. Except for my two thumbs (I only need one for typing) my left pinking knows how to press the left shift-key a microsecond before one of my 7 other fingers, my index finger for example, presses the B key when I type my name.

Just out of curiosity, I took a 1 minute typing test and got 62wpm with 99% accuracy. Not sure but for an old man in his 70s, with a history of carpel and arthritis, I'd say that's not bad.

I think if you consider the "king of proprietary", Apple, chose to stick with a keyboard that is nearly identical to the standard PC keyboard (so did Linux), that should tell you humanity just is not ready to change.

Consider also, voice entry and touch screen entry have not had much success either.

There's a reason nobody has really come up with a better mousetrap than the standard, spring loaded bar mousetrap.

 

[TSiAhmat]

I don't really see the benefit of having a one button/one hand solution for shortcuts like ctrl+arrow keys and the like. What do you do with the other hand which could be productive & not interrupt your flow?

I never thought of ctrl or shift as annoyance, maybe the number row because I don't know it by feel. But thats more of an "me problem" than it is the fault of the row.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

I would like to do two questions, as I am considering applying for a patent for a new keyboard model that solves some of the drawbacks of current keyboards.

Current problems with conventional keyboards
When using traditional keyboards, we face several drawbacks that affect our productivity, comfort and efficiency. Some of the main problems include:
Repetitive and unnecessary movements - we constantly need to take our hands out of the natural position (home row) to access keys such as directional arrows, backspace, delete or other navigation keys. This interrupts the typing flow and forces the user to look at the keyboard more often, taking their eyes off the screen.
Long and repetitive movements, such as stretching your fingers to reach distant keys, can cause muscle fatigue and decrease typing efficiency. Interruptions in the workflow - switching between typing and editing text is slow and uncomfortable.
For example: To correct a mistake, we often need to erase several letters until we reach the point of the mistake and then rewrite the text.
To select text, move the cursor requires a combination of keys such as Shift + Arrows, which requires additional movements, or taking your hand off the keyboard and using the mouse, which causes additional effort in simple tasks.
Problem with delimiters ("", '', (), {}, [], <>): Entering or editing text within delimiters, such as parentheses or quotation marks, requires multiple hand movements, making the process inefficient, such as using Shift to type the delimiter, typing the text and then using Shift again to type the closing delimiter.
Performing basic actions, such as undoing an action (Ctrl + Z) or repeating commands, often requires key combinations, such as Ctrl.

How the new keyboard solves these problems: The new keyboard was designed to solve these problems in a simple and practical way, without significant changes in layout or usability.
It maintains the familiar design of the QWERTY keyboard or any other type and offers advanced features that eliminate the inconveniences mentioned above.
How: The keyboard aims to centralize all the actions and movements described above using this new invention in conjunction with the alphabetic keys only.

Result: The process of typing, editing and moving the cursor can be done without the help of the cursor, Delete, Backspace, Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys. In this way, the new keyboard will be very useful for writers, programmers, journalists, proofreaders and all types of people who use the keyboard a lot for typing, resulting in improved ergonomics. The design reduces unnecessary physical effort, promoting greater comfort during prolonged use. Increased Productivity Functions such as deleting entire words, selecting text or navigating between delimiters are performed with just one or two touches, without interrupting the workflow.

Questionnaire
Would you consider buying this keyboard?

Yes, I am very interested. Maybe, depending on the price and other factors. No, I don't see any need to change my current keyboard.

What is your general feeling about this new keyboard?

Excited to try something new and innovative. Curious, but I would need to test it before deciding. Indifferent, because I don't see any major advantages. Skeptical, I doubt that it will really solve the problems mentioned.
You are completely free to make comments, criticisms or compliments.

Did I miss something, or did you not actually say how you claim to be solving those problems, via a different key or shift key with a different purpose? It makes it kind of hard to follow what you're saying, especially when the post is so wordy. I understand you may possibly be wanting to guard against theft of your idea, but I can't answer based on a guess as to how specifically this keyboard is different.

I will say though that you are facing a very uphill battle. Many years ago it was proposed a keyboard design with pressure sensitive keys would bring in a lot of new, easy ways to do things standard keyboards can't. We kept seeing news they would likely be seen available soon, only for them to just fade away. It's really hard to reinvent something that has been accepted for so many years, despite it's flaws.

I mean look at gamepad controllers, they're very antiquated, and still horribly slow to precisely aim with, which is why a lot of games still have lock on aiming for players that use them, yet here they are still today decades later with very little change in design. This is why manufacturers are very reluctant to try to tame a bucking bronc of a product that's been massively used for years, people get used to them.

 

[GerKNG]

to be honest, it sounds more like you want to create/sell a solution for a problem that does not exist.

 

[DirtyDingusMcgee]

This wheel has already been reinvented a few times...

Can you work-up a sketch or some kind of visual of your proposed layout for us to see? You'll want one before you try to patent.

I have been typing on 104 key qwerty for quite a long time. Going to be very hard to change my mind.

Bill is right about Dvorak. If you are strictly interested in typing comfort and speed, it is the way to go......though it does require a bit of re-training if you are used to touch-typing with qwerty.

 

[Deesider]

I would not be interested in a new keyboard design unless the changes made no difference to how I have already learnt to type.

- It isn't clear whether there is really a market need for a 'faster' keyboard. Very few people are constantly typing. The days of the typing pool are long gone.
The fastest typists I'm aware of are court stenographers, and that requires many hours of training to use their special keyboard.

I would also advise that before you spend any money on having a patent specification drafted, spend at least a few hours on patent databases (Google patents for example) searching to see if your idea is truly novel. I often see new inventors avoid searching because they subconsciously don't really want to know. Bear in mind that less than 1% of the content of published patents ever makes it to market, but that other 99% is still published and can still anticipate your idea.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I would also advise that before you spend any money on having a patent specification drafted, spend at least a few hours on patent databases (Google patents for example) searching to see if your idea is truly novel.

Wow! Never knew that existed. Nice fine!

Just using "computer keyboard" for the search parameter, there are more than 100,000 hits!