Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!bu-cs!purdue!decwrl!sun!pitstop!sundc!seismo!uunet!mcmi!hdr!unocss!mlewis
From: mlewis@unocss.UUCP (Marcus S. Lewis)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Want information on "odd" keyboard.
Summary: wierd keyboard
Message-ID: <493@unocss.UUCP>
Date: 12 Nov 88 02:42:37 GMT
References: <1553@gmu90x.UUCP> <272@sssinc.COM> <1379@nmtsun.nmt.edu>
Organization: U. of Nebraska at Omaha
Lines: 25

In article <1379@nmtsun.nmt.edu>, dieter@nmt.edu (The Demented Teddy Bear) writes:
> A quick synopsis:  get a rubber ball that comfortably fits your hand.
> Cut it in half.  Insert all the above-mentioned switches into the hemi-
> sphere you decide to use, trying to place them comfortably.  Switches
> with short bodies work best, as you don't want them all hitting in the
> center of the ball.  Get a key debouncing chip (can't remember the
> number, but there are several TTL types out there), run its output
> into a latch, and voila'!  A Write- (or Left-) Hander.

As I recall, it was a CMOS, a 14411 or some such that was teh major component
of the write-Hander.  The problem I had with the thing (couldn't afford to
buy one) was finding suitable switches.  We had the ball already, and also
had a problem with the chip.
The mode of operation was that the thumb controlled the 3 MSB's 
and the four fingers each controlled a single bit position.  The article
mentioned that some incredible speeds were achievable, as I recall (this is
ALL from memory), and pointed out applications in data entry, among other 
things.
The difference between a write- and Left-hander is the arc of the switch
array across the top of the ball.  Put your hand on top of a hemisphere and
mark the positions of the fingertips, then follow a full arc of your
thumb and divvy that arc up into four spots.  There are eight switches for the
thumb, and thumb motion is, obviously, important.  
I hope you find the article.
Marc Lewis