Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ncar!unmvax!nmtsun!dieter@titan.nmt.edu From: dieter@titan.nmt.edu (The Demented Teddy Bear) Newsgroups: comp.misc Subject: Re: Want information on "odd" keyboard (long) Message-ID: <1458@nmtsun.nmt.edu> Date: 16 Nov 88 06:05:07 GMT References: <1553@gmu90x.UUCP> <272@sssinc.COM> <1379@nmtsun.nmt.edu> <493@unocss.UUCP> Sender: dieter@nmtsun.nmt.edu Reply-To: dieter@titan.nmt.edu (The Demented Teddy Bear) Organization: New Mexico Tech Lines: 207 In-reply-to: mlewis@unocss.UUCP (Marcus S. Lewis) In article <493@unocss.UUCP>, mlewis@unocss (Marcus S. Lewis) writes: > In article <1379@nmtsun.nmt.edu>, I write: > > A quick synopsis: > > I hope you find the article. Well, here goes: Q W E R T Y I S O B S O L E T E by Sid Owen from Interface Age, January 1978 reproduced w/o permission (do they even remember this article? do they even still exist?) The venerable typewriter keyboard has remained virtually unchanged since it was first produced nearly 100 years ago. This was truly an inspired design. Even the introduction of electric typewriters did not allow significant improvement on the basic keyboard. Modern electronics, however, has recently permitted a completely new design that obsoletes the familiar old keyboard, colloquially called Qwerty for the first siz letters in the upper row. This article discusses the features and describes how to build the new keyboard. Many millions of typewriter, teletype and other keyboards were built over the years and the standard keyboard became essential to business and communication. There were, however, several limitations inherent in its mechanical design. For example: 1) The typewriter itself is a large machine that must sit directly in front of you, occupying valuable desk space and obstructing your view. It is heavy and awkward to move when not in use. 2) To type, you must sit erect with both hands poised in an unnatural position for long periods of time. 3) Each printing character and machine control is assigned to a single key, with very little logic to the key location. Consequently, learning and maintaining typing skill takes much time and effort. Now that home computers are becoming a way of life, many hobbyists are buying keyboards and experiencing all of the above problems, frequently for the first time. There is a better way! A radically new keyboard, called the Writehander[*] has been designed which solves all these problems. It was originially conceived and developed for physically handicapped people, but there is no reason why all cannot enjoy its advantages. You can build it yourself from the information supplied in this article[#], or you can buy it completely assembled and tested directly from the NewO Company. [*] Writehander (Pat. Pend.) is a registered trademark of the NewO Company, 246 Walter Hays Dr., Palo Alto, California. [#] I'm not even going to *try* to reproduce the diagrams --djm. The front cover photo shows a close up of the details of the Writehander and Photo 1 shows it in use. As you can see, it is used by the right hand only, leaving the left hand free to hold papers or the phone, etc. The small hemisphere may be placed anywhere on your diesk or even in your lap while sitting in an easy chair. You can relax while using the Writehander. The weight of the forearm can rest on your desk and the weight of your hand will naturally rest on the hemisphere since each finger never moves from its single key. Only the thumb changes position. Thr four thumb positions are: Capital letters, Lower case letters, Numbers and symbols, and Control characters. In each position the thumb is rocked forward or backward to close one of two switches. By using various combinations of fingers and thumb, the Writehander generates the entire 128 characters of the ASCII code. The electrical interface is ASCII code on seven parallel lines, fixed parity on the eighth, Strobe, Acknowledge, power, and ground. This configuration does not require a computer in order to operate a terminal. While the Writehander is an ideal keyboard for computes, terminals such as the Diablo, Teletype, modified Selectric, or video monitor that accept 7-bit parallel ASCII signals can be directly connected to the Writehander. Provision for 5V at 200 ma. is the only modification sometimes required. This also has provisions to regulate higher voltages down to 5V. Learning to type with the Writehander is surprisingly easy, partly because the finger keys correspond directly to the lower four bits of the very logical ASCII code. As can be seen on the chart of Figure 1[@], the fingers select the character to be typed, while the thumb determines if it is to be lower case, upper case, control or numeral. Numerals, incidentally, are selected by the fingers in binary: i.e. the keys have values of 1, 2, 4 and 8; corresponding to the index, middle, ring and little fingers respectively. Letters are also in a binary sequence, with the result that the fingers correspond to A, B, D, and H. [@] At the end of the text --djm. The Writehander is analogous to some musical instruments that require pressing several keys to select a particular note, but it is much easier since the fingers never move from their single key: they simply press or relax as required by the particular character, and you use only one hand. Figure 2 shows a circuit to convert key closures to ASCII code. [U1 and U2 are MC14490 debouncers, U3 is a 74100 8-bit latch, U4 a 74148 8:3 encoder, U5 a 74123 dual timer, and U6 a 7474 flip-flop --djm). All switches are connected to one of two debounce chips, U1 and U2. The finger switch signals then go straight to the output latch, U3, but the latch will not accept the signal until one of the thumb switches is closed. U4 converts thumbs switch signals to the appropriate upper 3 digits of the ASCII code and also commands one half of U5 to start a short time delay. At the end of the delay the latch is enablled during a short pulse from the other half of U5 to accept the finger switch code and the three bits resulting from the thumb switch closure. The finger switches can be closed for any length of time prior to a thumb switch closure. However, after learning to type, they are all closed at approximately the same time. There will be a slight variation in closure times. The delay of each signal through the debounce chips, U1 and U2 is also variable; it depends upon the contact bounce time of the individual switch. The time delay provided by U5 is longer than these two variables so that the signals are settled when the latch is enabled. Capacitor C1 sets the frequency of the interanl shift register clock of U1 and U2, thus setting the minimum debounce period. Termination of the delay pulse triggers the enalbe pulse, and termination of the enable pulse triggers flip-flop U6 to send a Strobe signal to the interface. An Acknowledge pulse from the interface resets U6. Jumpers permit selection of positive or negative polarity for each of these signals and another jumper determines whether the parity line is fixed at a positive or negative level. The electronic circuit is not critical, but if you build your own unit, pick the switches carefully. PCB surface-mount key switches are the best selection. Pushbuttons generally rquire too much activation pressure for comfortable typing, many tend to be electriclaly noisy and few have snap action. Most keyboard switches are too large for close mounting at the surface of the hemisphere, since they converge radially inside. Long life is essential since one single typewritten page may contain more than 3500 characters. Several baby toys on the market can be the source for the five inch plastic hemisphere. Also, some plastic toy balls can be cut in half to get this part. Locate the switches by drawing around your finger tips and arc your thumb over a wide range to locate the thumb switches. If you will be the only user, locate the switches under the pads of your finger tips. The switches can, however, be located even below the top finger knuckles if someone with much smaller hands will also be using the keyboard. it will still be comfortable and easy to use. Drill holes for the switch contact pins and bond the switches on with epoxy cement. Better yet, order your Writehander directly from the manufacturer. For the price of $98 you will receive a completely assembled and tested Writehander, built with prime quality components, socketed ICs, color coded keys and interface flat cable, a heavy wall injection molded ABS plastic hemisphere, a code chart and complete operating and interface instructions [good luck --djm]. These options are determined by PCD [sic] jumpers and may be changed at any time. The sphere is available in two sizes. Spread your hand on the cover of INTERFACE AGE Magazine. If your thumb pad is centered on the binding edge and our little finger pad is centered on the oppposite edge, specify Large Pattern [about 8 inches --djm]. Otherwise specify Small Pattern. Now you can cuild or buy a small, light weight, high speed keyboard that is operated by one hand in a natural relaxed position. It is easier to learn and use than a typewriter keyboard and it eliminates the most common typing error, namely using the correct finger but the wrong hand. The printing or video terminal may be permanently positioned on a separate stand out of your way and attended only to change paper. Qwerty has done a century of fine service, but now, the Writehander does the job better. Figure 1: The columns are arranged as four major columns (control, numeric / special, lower case, upper case) of two minor columns each (upper / lower thumb switch row). Think of the thumb switches as being in pairs, the upper switch in each pair selecting the right minor column, the lower switch selecting the left column. P P P P M L A A A A I I I I I I I N D R T R R R R D D I T E L N L 1 2 3 4 X E G E nul dle 0 spc ` p @ P soh dc1 1 ! a q A Q X stx dc2 2 " b r B R X etx dc3 3 # c s C S X X eot dc4 4 $ d t D T X enq nak 5 % e u E U X X ack syn 6 & f v F V X X bel etb 7 ' g w G W X X X bs can 8 ( h x H X X ht em 9 ) i y I Y X X lf sub : * j z J Z X X vt esc ; + k { K [ X X X ff fs < , l | L \ X X cr gs = - m } M ] X X X so rs > . n ~ N ^ X X X si us ? / o DEL O _ X X X X -- Welcome to the island. You are number six. ...cmcl2!lanl!unm-la!unmvax!nmtsun!dieter dieter%nmt@relay.cs.net dieter@jupiter.nmt.edu