NSK promises easier typing

[Bob Crabtree]

CES 2006** will be the launch pad for a new design of non-Qwerty keyboard claimed to make touch typing and hunt-and-peck typing far easier. The unit, from New Standard Keyboards, has 53 colour-coded keys arranged in alphabetical order - the first 13 letters to the left, the remainder to right. It measures just 318(w)x127(d)mm and so takes up far less desktop space than a standard 101-key model.

For more information and the thinking behind the design, check out NSK's web site.

Oh, and don't forget to let us have your thoughts on this latest attempt to dethrone Qwerty.

** Turn down the volume on your system before visiting the CES site - there's stupidly loud and irritating background music

[autopilot]

I think Fisher Price sell these already as 'My First Keyboard'

[Funkstar]

if they added a couple more colours in there they could pass it off as a video editing keyboard

[Jonny]

I can't see that taking off tbh.
If it ain't broke...

...don't make it multicoloured and in an unfamilier form!

[hoodmeister]

Why idiotic?

As far as I know (feel free to correct me) the QWERTY layout was designed to slow typists down, so as not to damage typewriters...

Interesting idea, dodgy implementation.

[Jonny]

Really? I thought it was designed so that commonly adjacent letters were in "natural" positions, but honestly I don't know, that's only what I thought.
I just can't see how they plan to implement this and therefore make their money, that's all.
Though, obviously, they will have carried out their research etc.
I will be interested to hear more!

[Funkstar]

actually it is just the opposite. qwerty was designed so that commonly used letters and groups of letters would not interfere with each other when using a manual typewriter. If they had been in alphabetical order the hammers would keep getting jammed.

[Bob Crabtree]

actually it is just the opposite. qwerty was designed so that commonly used letters and groups of letters would not interfere with each other when using a manual typewriter. If they had been in alphabetical order the hammers would keep getting jammed.

Yup, that's the way I heard it, too.

I really haven't a clue, though, whether this new keyboard will actually turn out to be as good or better than Qwerty but do think that there have been others - notably Dvorak - that do offer far better ease of use and speed than Qwerty.

Trouble is, with inertia being the driving force of mankind, a switch from an established standard to another (even if it's superior) isn't easy without some massive impetus from government or industry.

[iMc]

I would find it extremely difficult moving away from qwerty. It would be like having to learn a new language.

[Steve]

Five symbols to a key?

NO THANKS.

[Mike Fishcake]

I can't see a Del key - how do we close down crashed apps?

[Bob Crabtree]

I've emailed the company to see if it comes up with an answer to the "Del" question.

[Bob Crabtree]

I've emailed the company to see if it comes up with an answer to the "Del" question.

This was the reply,

Bob,

Delete and Backspace are treated as variations of the same command. While Backspace continues to work for the previous character, "Num+Backspace" works as "Delete" to delete a number of different things, including crashed apps. Thus "Ctrl+Alt+Del" becomes "Ctrl+Alt+Num+Bkspc".

In general, the dedicated Editing function keys become shift variations on the cursor arrow keys, e.g., Sym+Up Arrow = Page Up. A quick-reference label is provided for these combinations.

John Parkinson
New Standard Keyboards

[Xaneden]

I think I'll stick with pre-ordering the Optimus keyboard for now..

[RedPutty]

it looks mad, loads of keys crammed into one and then others duplicated twice.

[autopilot]

Bob,

Delete and Backspace are treated as variations of the same command. While Backspace continues to work for the previous character, "Num+Backspace" works as "Delete" to delete a number of different things, including crashed apps. Thus "Ctrl+Alt+Del" becomes "Ctrl+Alt+Num+Bkspc".

In general, the dedicated Editing function keys become shift variations on the cursor arrow keys, e.g., Sym+Up Arrow = Page Up. A quick-reference label is provided for these combinations.

John Parkinson
New Standard Keyboards

And that's meant to make life easier? Space looks like a pain too.

This piece of rubbish is going to take off like a lead balloon.