Dan Karron@UCBVAX.BERKELEY.EDU (12/05/90)
I am always running my mouse off its little pad. Does anyone have/make a large optical mouse pad, about the size of my disk blotter is what I have in mind. Does anyone use such a beast, and is it make things any easier ? +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | karron@nyu.edu (E-mail alias that will always find me) | | Fax: 212 340 7190 * Dan Karron, Research Associate | | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * New York University Medical Center | | 560 First Avenue \*\ Pager <1> (212) 397 9330 | | New York, New York 10016 \**\ <2> 10896 <3> <your-number-here> | | (212) 340 5210 \***\_________________________________________ | | Main machine: karron.med.nyu.edu (128.122.135.3) IRIS 85GT | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
nagy%warner.dnet@fngate ("Frank J. Nagy:VAX Guru,Wizard&Loose Cannon") (12/06/90)
>>Does anyone have/make a large optical mouse pad, >>about the size of my disk blotter is what I have in mind. ^^^^ Are your disks wet or something? Do disk blotters come in different sizes for 14", 8", 5.25" and 3.5" disks? Sorry, couldn't resist! = Dr. Frank J. Nagy "VAX Guru & Wizard" = Fermilab Computing Division/Distributed Computing Dept/Special Projects Grp = HEPnet/SPAN: WARNER::NAGY (43198::NAGY) or FNAL::NAGY (43009::NAGY) = Internet: NAGY@FNAL.FNAL.GOV = BitNet: NAGY@FNAL = USnail: Fermilab POB 500 MS/234 Batavia, IL 60510
baskett@forest.asd.sgi.COM (Forest Baskett) (12/06/90)
Has anyone tried the track ball mouse substitutes? I see them available with a variety of tracking resolutions and form factors and interfaces in the local electronics stores. Forest Baskett Silicon Graphics
jim@baroque.Stanford.EDU (James Helman) (12/07/90)
Trackballs are great for moving and panning, but are difficult (at least for me) to control in drawing operations. One interesting idea is a *thumb roller*. A cylinder on a rod located below the space bar. The cylinder could be rotated for vertical motion and shifted for horizontal motion. I don't know of any commercial devices using it, but supposedly even drawing is feasible. The big advantage is there's no more need to keep moving your right on and off the keyboard. The roller was mentioned by Tony Hodges, a local character, who has a patent on a split keyboard on which the left and right hand portions split and rotate (B & N keys toward you) so that wrist stress (pronation) is reduced. Your hands and fingers can remain parallel to your forearms, rather than rotating your wrists to match the key rows. Hodges and a doctor who has studied the keyboard claim this reduces the stress which can lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a disabling repetitive motion disorder affecting many heavy keyboard/VDT users. In addition, the keyboard is hinged in the middle and rises like an A-frame with the G and H keys on top. Hodges claims this further reduces stress by allowing the hand to be oriented in a more natural gripping or manipulating position with the thumbs higher than the little finger. After trying it briefly, I have to agree that it's very relaxing and comfortable once you become accustomed to the different position. I've got one on order, IF he ever produces any. I've heard CTS horror stories. I really don't want to risk my wrists. SGI: How about licensing the technology and being the first workstation to have an truly ergonomic keyboard? Take it from someone with sore wrists: it's a winning idea. Comments on existing keyboards: SGI's keyboard is about the best I've seen for a flat one. (That is except for the reversal of the <CAPS_LOCK> and <CTRL> keys. But at least those keys are the right size and easily remapped.) By contrast, Sun's new keyboard is the most awkward I've ever used. Sun has moved the ~/` key to the right of the "/' key, which is a terrible idea. The <RET> key is now completely out of reach of most little fingers. And, putting the |/\ key up with the function keys is equally brain damaged. Unlike SGI's keyboard, the <Alt/Meta> keys are much too small to use reliably. Gak, I wonder where they did their ergo research. Jim Helman Department of Applied Physics Durand 012 Stanford University FAX: (415) 725-3377 (jim@KAOS.stanford.edu) Work: (415) 723-9127
Dan Karron@UCBVAX.BERKELEY.EDU (12/07/90)
Your idea of a split ergo keyboard sounds really interesting. You might want to contact Keytronics of Spokane, Washington. They make all sorts of keyboards, and have the parts to make specials. I am not clear how your idea for a roller ball mouse is better. The entire keyboard industry is based on the QWERTY concept: Keep the keys in the most difficult positions so the user does not jam up the mechanism by typing too fast. Is there a way to rebind the keys to match the DIVORK (spelling is wrong, I know that) key positions for speed ? Has anyone done it ? Another point while on keys: No support for Fkeys and Fkey labels. There is no support for the keypad and shift keypad. Just rudimentary support for the edit keys (INSERT, DELETE, HOME, END, PAGE UP, PAGE DOWN). Cheers! dan. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | karron@nyu.edu (E-mail alias that will always find me) | | Fax: 212 340 7190 * Dan Karron, Research Associate | | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * New York University Medical Center | | 560 First Avenue \*\ Pager <1> (212) 397 9330 | | New York, New York 10016 \**\ <2> 10896 <3> <your-number-here> | | (212) 340 5210 \***\_________________________________________ | | Main machine: karron.med.nyu.edu (128.122.135.3) IRIS 85GT | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
root@sgzh.uu.ch (0000-Bruno Pape(0000)) (12/07/90)
In article <9012042325.AA02003@karron.med.nyu.edu> karron@cmcl2.nyu.edu writes: > >I am always running my mouse off its little pad. Oh, that sounds so sad. > >Does anyone have/make a large optical mouse pad, >about the size of my disk blotter is what I have in mind. We have larger than standard ones, you could use them as a desk blotter if you had a very small desk. They are 23x28cm. as compared to the standard ones of 20x23cm. > >Does anyone use such a beast, and is it make things any easier ? I find my mouse is much happier now that he has more space to roam, it also makes it much easier to find the damn thing when the papers start to pile up. Yes it is an improvement. >+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ >| karron@nyu.edu (E-mail alias that will always find me) | >| Fax: 212 340 7190 * Dan Karron, Research Associate | >| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * New York University Medical Center | >| 560 First Avenue \*\ Pager <1> (212) 397 9330 | >| New York, New York 10016 \**\ <2> 10896 <3> <your-number-here> | >| (212) 340 5210 \***\_________________________________________ | >| Main machine: karron.med.nyu.edu (128.122.135.3) IRIS 85GT | >+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ They are not on the SGI price list I don't think. You might be able to get them from CDC. I ordered them by mistake, they came with mice with the CDC logo on them. Opps. The SGI spare part number is 021-9033-001 for those of you who do NOT want to order them by mistake. Have Fun, Bruno Pape
jim@baroque.Stanford.EDU (James Helman) (12/08/90)
Your idea of a split ergo keyboard sounds really interesting. You might want to contact Keytronics of Spokane, Washington. They make all sorts of keyboards, and have the parts to make specials. Neither the thumb roller nor the split, hinged keyboard are my ideas. Tony Hodges has a patent on the keyboard. I believe someone else has a patent on the thumb roller. I am not clear how your idea for a roller ball mouse is better. The big advantage of the thumb roller (it uses a cylinder, not a ball), if it really works as advertised, would be that you could keep your fingers on the home keys while moving the cursor, no more going back and forth to the mouse, at least for most things. Finger keys could replace the mouse buttons. You'd probably still want a mouse and trackball for some things. The entire keyboard industry is based on the QWERTY concept: Keep the keys in the most difficult positions so the user does not jam up the mechanism by typing too fast. As for QWERTY, it may not be the best, but just like X, it's workable, it's a standard, and it's here to stay. ;-} In fact, QWERTY will probably be around for quite a lot longer. Adapting users from QWERTY to Dvorjak is enough disincentive to kill the idea. But having to go back and forth between the two (since even if manufacture of QWERTY keyboards were banned tomorrow, they would still be around us for years) would be shear hell. The performance difference between Dvorjak and QWERTY will never be enough to drive a transition. But Hodges' keyboard is fairly easy to adapt to. It's QWERTY and the two rotations (out and up) can be varied independently. If you wanted to, you could use it as a plain, flat keyboard. Disclaimer: I have no association with Hodges except wanting one of his keyboards. I just think it's a good idea. Also, personally, I'd like to see enough of them made so they won't cost $695 a piece. Jim Helman Department of Applied Physics Durand 012 Stanford University FAX: (415) 725-3377 (jim@KAOS.stanford.edu) Work: (415) 723-9127