I need input. I don't like the Twiddler. What I'm looking for is a five-key chording keyboard, which I can mount on my upper thigh - thus having it usable whilst walking (very much like having a hand in one's pocket) or place on a flat surface (god forbid, maybe even a desk) when available and hold like a mouse. Such things are extremely quick to type on after a little practice. The old way of doing this - the Microwriter: http://www.nifty.demon.co.uk/images/odd/mw/ No idea if I can still get hold of one. Somewhat clunky thing, but I could remove the LCD and surrouding section. Also no idea of power requirements - although it has its own rechargable battery, apparently. Output is RS232. All aside, this page does offer the chords it was programmed with, which appear to have had some degree of thought behind them. Apparently the new way: http://www.infogrip.com/bat.htm Seven keys (three for thumb, one each finger). I don't know the layout, presumably well thought out. Interface is standard PC keyboard. Power unknown, almost certainly drawing from the k/b port - shouldn't be much. $199. Nothing much to some around here, but too much for me. Patrick Bennnet was asking about these a few days ago on the list, also complaining of cost. Sorry Patrick, meant to reply to you on that one. This is more or less directed at you also. So - build-your-own alternatives. Lee Adamson's parallel port design. http://web.mountain.net/~roair/wearjunk.html Next to nothing to build, similar to BAT but with four thumb keys. Looks like you'll be writing a (working) driver yourself. Design from a Russian chap. ftp://sac-ftp.gratex.sk/sac/utilmisc/7key.zip Extremely simple (basically, switches wired directly to a parallel port. Keymap with both English and Russian characters supported, driver for DOS. I intend to contact this person to see if they have any further developments. Anyway - all up, at some point before the end of this month I will be assembling a keyboard along these lines, and getting it working on Linux (possibly writing own drivers). I'll let everyone know how it goes. Anyone else interested specifically in this (Patrick? Anyone else? let me know). Martin -- -----[ Martin J. Ling ]-----[ http://www.nodezero.org.uk ]----- -- Subcription/unsubscription/info requests: send e-mail with subject of "subscribe", "unsubscribe", or "info" toWear-Hard Mailing List Archive (searchable): http://wearables.blu.org
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