khai@amara.uucp (S. Khai Mong) (10/12/88)
With all the talk about computers on the shuttle, I wonder whether it is very difficult to touch-type in zero G. I would imagine so. Every keystroke would probably throw you back literally, causing you to lose your hand's orientation. The problem would be worse with portable laptops. Under such circumstances, one would have to be very careful about data entry. -- "Nondeterminism means never having to say you are wrong." +---------------------------- Don't blame me for what my fortune cookie says! Sao Khai Mong: Applied Dynamics, 3800 Stone School Road, Ann Arbor, Mi48108 (313) 973-1300 (uunet|umix)!amara!khai khai%amara.uucp@umix.cc.umich.edu
glenns@pipe.gatech.edu (Glenn R. Stone) (10/12/88)
In article <KHAI.88Oct11130950@amara.uucp> khai@amara.uucp (S. Khai Mong) writes: >With all the talk about computers on the shuttle, I wonder whether it >is very difficult to touch-type in zero G. I would imagine so. Every >keystroke would probably throw you back literally.... The answer to this is very simple... the keyboard is anchored to something, and you have a seatbelt on your typing chair. The rest will take care of itself, although it will take a little getting used to (i.e. holding one's hands on the keyboard instead of allowing Earth to do so).... A pro typist will probably want the keyforces to be lighter, as well. Laptops would be difficult, but as long as you remember to keep pushing up with your knees, it might be workable. You would, indeed, have to develop a gentle touch... perhaps a keyboard extention on which the wrists rest to keep the rest in place would be useful. -- Glenn R. Stone (..gatech!glenns@pipe.gatech.edu) BITNET : CCASTGS@GITNVE2 USNAIL: P. O. Box 30372 Atlanta, GA 30332 VOICE : (404) 873-1525 "I know it's impossible.... now how's the best way to go about doing it?"
cjp@antique.UUCP (Charles Poirier) (10/13/88)
In article <KHAI.88Oct11130950@amara.uucp> khai@amara.UUCP writes:
<
<With all the talk about computers on the shuttle, I wonder whether it
<is very difficult to touch-type in zero G. I would imagine so. Every
<keystroke would probably throw you back literally, causing you to lose
<your hand's orientation.
I recently saw a photo of the inside of a Soviet space station. The
data entry console has a backless chair mounted in front of it, with
velcro for stablizing the position of one's tush. This apparently works
fine.
Cheers,
--
Charles Poirier (decvax,ucbvax,mcnc,attmail)!vax135!cjp
"Docking complete... Docking complete... Docking complete..."henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) (10/13/88)
In article <KHAI.88Oct11130950@amara.uucp> khai@amara.uucp (S. Khai Mong) writes: >With all the talk about computers on the shuttle, I wonder whether it >is very difficult to touch-type in zero G. I would imagine so. Every >keystroke would probably throw you back literally... This is a general problem with anything involving mechanical force in free fall. The answer is that you have to anchor yourself first. This is true on Earth as well, but gravity usually does the anchoring well enough. -- The meek can have the Earth; | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology the rest of us have other plans.|uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu
eugene@eos.UUCP (Eugene Miya) (10/14/88)
As I said in a private note: there are foot restrainsts and seats. Space
station mockups also have these. Look on the "floor" some time.
You will see them (Space lab has more room to see them.)
Another gross generalization from
--eugene miya, NASA Ames Research Center, eugene@aurora.arc.nasa.gov
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