1 FrogPad || The new keyboard? Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:13 pm
OJPhoenix
Spectrum is My Best Friend
I'm interesting in getting some feedback on an interesting new keyboard that Lifesapity found on youtube and that I looked further into
The FrogPad Solution
FrogPad is a portable one-handed keyboard. It's practical, simple, and intuitive, 20-key text/numeric data entry design uses patented algorithms and ergonomic optimization providing all of the functionality of a standard keyboard. The full-size keys ensure accuracy, ease of use, and speed for all desktop and mobile computing applications.
FrogPad is available in left-hand and right-hand configurations for optimal efficiency. USB models can replace any standard USB keyboard. Bluetooth models use standard HID drivers and work with Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and all PDA's running Windows Mobile 5 or 6.
http://www.frogpad.com/index.html
That and more information is avaliable at the FrogPad website, onto a picture and a quick description of how it works
Hand intended to rest on the keys DTHE
The Black Letters are the default setting requiring no extra button press
The Black Symbols require the use of the Symbol button
The Green Letters require a simultaneous press of the Space button and the letter (hence the green square)
The Green Symbols require you to press the Symbol button, then a simultaneous press of the Space button ( the . and the , at the bottom do not require the Symbol button first, only Space)
The Numbers are active by pressing the Number button, similar to Num Lock
The Orange keys on the bottom edge require you to a Simultaneous press of the Number button (hence the orange square)
The Orange keys on the side edge require you to press the Symbol button, then a Simultaneous press of the Number button
To use ALT or CTRL you press the command for that button first, the follow it up with the button you wished to combine with it.
For example, to select all (CTRL + A), you need to use the Number button to activate CTRL, then you simply press A afterward.
All of this and more is again all available on the official website
The lettering arrangement is surprisingly intuitive, you can quickly see this from the picture above. The 3 dominant fingers type THE with no movement or additional keys, in this manner, the index finger has access to all 5 vowels. The 15 keys ready to go ( PWRAF ; DTHEO ; YSNIU ) make up 86% of the english language's most used words. FrogPad comes with a tutorial to get you used to the device and they claim quite confidently that it is easy to learn and use. Personally it has my interest, though I don't really feel like paying quite the $140 they want for it, especially seeing as I would not gain any space thanks to my laptops attached keyboard, I still like the idea.
Yes I'm well aware that it screws up the whole WASD settings that just about every game uses, but most of them let you customize every key anyway, I know, I know it could be a pain, but I reckon it still has good potential for allowing you to keep one hand on the mouse at all times.
Finally, a demonstration.
Feedback?
The FrogPad Solution
FrogPad is a portable one-handed keyboard. It's practical, simple, and intuitive, 20-key text/numeric data entry design uses patented algorithms and ergonomic optimization providing all of the functionality of a standard keyboard. The full-size keys ensure accuracy, ease of use, and speed for all desktop and mobile computing applications.
FrogPad is available in left-hand and right-hand configurations for optimal efficiency. USB models can replace any standard USB keyboard. Bluetooth models use standard HID drivers and work with Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and all PDA's running Windows Mobile 5 or 6.
http://www.frogpad.com/index.html
That and more information is avaliable at the FrogPad website, onto a picture and a quick description of how it works
Hand intended to rest on the keys DTHE
The Black Letters are the default setting requiring no extra button press
The Black Symbols require the use of the Symbol button
The Green Letters require a simultaneous press of the Space button and the letter (hence the green square)
The Green Symbols require you to press the Symbol button, then a simultaneous press of the Space button ( the . and the , at the bottom do not require the Symbol button first, only Space)
The Numbers are active by pressing the Number button, similar to Num Lock
The Orange keys on the bottom edge require you to a Simultaneous press of the Number button (hence the orange square)
The Orange keys on the side edge require you to press the Symbol button, then a Simultaneous press of the Number button
To use ALT or CTRL you press the command for that button first, the follow it up with the button you wished to combine with it.
For example, to select all (CTRL + A), you need to use the Number button to activate CTRL, then you simply press A afterward.
All of this and more is again all available on the official website
The lettering arrangement is surprisingly intuitive, you can quickly see this from the picture above. The 3 dominant fingers type THE with no movement or additional keys, in this manner, the index finger has access to all 5 vowels. The 15 keys ready to go ( PWRAF ; DTHEO ; YSNIU ) make up 86% of the english language's most used words. FrogPad comes with a tutorial to get you used to the device and they claim quite confidently that it is easy to learn and use. Personally it has my interest, though I don't really feel like paying quite the $140 they want for it, especially seeing as I would not gain any space thanks to my laptops attached keyboard, I still like the idea.
Yes I'm well aware that it screws up the whole WASD settings that just about every game uses, but most of them let you customize every key anyway, I know, I know it could be a pain, but I reckon it still has good potential for allowing you to keep one hand on the mouse at all times.
Finally, a demonstration.
Feedback?