OrbiTouch Keyless Keyboard Review 347
robyn217 writes "When I last looked at strange, new keyboards (here's the previous thread here on slashdot), I thought I'd seen it all... not even close! I just reviewed a new keyless keyboard, called the OrbiTouch, and gave it a run for its money. It's literally made up of two humps--it reminds me of holding onto my knees rather a keyboard. To type or mouse, you need to move the humps around in a synchronized manner. It's twisted--but it's better for you to decide for yourself--here's the article, OrbiTouch Review: A Keyless Keyboard with lots of pictures. Think you'll give it a test drive? Will it survive the year?"
Touchless (Score:2, Interesting)
price (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:price (Score:5, Insightful)
just out of curiosity... (Score:5, Funny)
Are you really willing to go through the pain of typing with RSI just to be heard on slashdot?
Re:price (Score:2)
i agree, for that price, cool concept or not, how long can it last . . .
Re:price (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:price (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:price (Score:5, Funny)
LOL (Score:2)
Re:price (Score:3, Insightful)
They came up with it, researched and designed the handrests, and programed the software. They could probably sell it for less, but even if they could sell it for the exact same amount as a normal keyboard they wouldn't get a lot of market penetration. For the people who really need it the price is fine, and it will allow them to actualy recoup those costs.
Re:price (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, I can find a Kinesis [kinesis-ergo.com] for $191, around the same price as a regular high-end keyboard. Or for that matter I can switch a standard keyboard to Dvorak layout for free. Both of those options are better than a normal qwerty board.
Very few use either though. People don't think it is worth it: they think it is to hard to learn, or just too expensive when they get a keyboard free with the computer. ZERO would not be enough to get most of my family to try my Kinesis, and it is standard qwerty!
The Real Orbi Doll - v2.0 (Score:3, Funny)
I can see it now... combine the Orbi with the Real Doll [realdoll.com].... A USB adapter coming out of her side....
No really, I need this for work...
Another way of doing this... (Score:3, Troll)
Re:price (Score:5, Interesting)
if you suffer like i do, the referred pains after using this are terrible. now you feel pain arms shoulder and neck.
in my opinion its all about this product
http://www.fingerworks.com/touchstream_products
Re:price (Score:5, Funny)
$695? I think that I'll just go ahead and grab my ankles...
Make it a single ball for 1 hand (Score:5, Insightful)
Besides, that many keystrokes combined with a good mouse might make sims such as Americas Army quite a bit more interesting
Re:Make it a single ball for 1 hand (Score:2)
I think most coders spend more time with one hand one the keyboard than they might think. Especially if they are using Windows and don't have the middle-click-as-copy thing going for them. There are a lot of cases where you want to be able to make simple command keystrokes while also using the mouse.
If these keyboards don't make it realatively easy to press any CTRL-(letter) combination with only the left hand, I could consider that a pitfall.
Re:Make it a single ball for 1 hand (Score:2)
Re:Make it a single ball for 1 hand (Score:2)
Shades of Doug Engelbart's original design [stanford.edu] of a combination of mouse and "chording" keyboard.
Re:Make it a single ball for 1 hand (Score:4, Funny)
$695 YOW! (Score:5, Funny)
ugh. (Score:5, Insightful)
When are we going to have some real changes? I want something that allows me to enter data as fast as I can think... Why can't we come up with a better general input device??? Keyboards SUCK!
Re:ugh. (Score:5, Insightful)
CPUs can be improved a lot, but the keyboard has been doing its job just fine for a long time. If we're still using the same design as 10 years ago then it means that simply no improvement is needed.
Other fancy replacements didn't gain any noticeable market share. Voice recognition is still far from perfect and is noticeably slower. I suppose a direct interface to the computer might finally replace the keyboard, but I doubt that will become available any time soon.
Re:ugh. (Score:3, Informative)
No. Qwerty is designed specifically so that letters commonly used together are seperated horizontally.
"Most commonly used letters are placed on the 'home' and top row and least commonly used letters are placed on the bottom."
Definitely No. Right index finger home key 'J' is third most uncommon letter. (beaten by 'q' (top row) and 'z'), home key 'k' is fith most uncommon. Their are 8 home keys, and they contai
Re:ugh. (Score:3, Interesting)
Virtually none. Previous layouts were alphabetical; QWERTY just moved some letters around. Look at the home row: asdfghjkl. All letters from D to L are there, in order, with the exception of E and I which were moved off. Only 4 letters of the first 12 aren't there.
Re:ugh. (Score:4, Informative)
Re:ugh. (Score:2)
So, you'd like a jack in the back of your head like that in The Matrix?
Major Difference (Score:2, Insightful)
Most users want what they are comfortable with. Relearning how to type every two to three years would be a nightmare. This is why applications generally keep the same interface over consecutive versions. Under the hood, they are better, but to the user they appear mostly the same.
Things are done this way because they work.
I disagree (Score:5, Interesting)
What is needed is really a user upgrade. People have invested a lot of time in learing exactly where the letters are located on their particular keyboard. (I know this as I recently had to "relean" the locations of various keys on a Spanish keyboard). Imagine asking someone to memorize (to the point of not thinking about it) the various dual-joystick combinations to type out a typical email. Or if not this device, the various mouse gestures (mouse based keyboard), hand wriggling (joystick based keyboard), eye-control (for eye-tracking keyboard), or other method of input.
Certainly there will be adopters, but there will be a rough cost-benifit analysis by the masses. Most that will conclude it's more expensive to learn new keyboard type when the new keyboard only offers the same functionality of inputting text into a computer.
Re:ugh. (Score:3, Interesting)
In fact, I haven't upgraded my keyboard in 10 years. I love my Model M [modelm.org] IBM keyboard. It has outlasted eight computers so far. It seems that many other people [google.com] like the Model M enough to write fan-sites about them [3m3718.com].
These mimic Street Fighter Moves (Score:3, Interesting)
On the same token to type a 'd', you need to do "back,forward". I credit the creator of the device for taking moves that are used in fighting games and using them in unique ways(like this keyboard).
In fighting games, you have endless number of moves, which I've seen many people(no
Not just for RSI (Score:5, Interesting)
why would anyone design a keyboard like this? In one simple word, comfort.
There are also other reasons why keyboard alternatives like this are cool. Disabled users, obviously. Also for typing where you can't be very accurate, e.g. while riding a bike.
Hmmm wonder if you could type with your feet while surfing during lunch
Re:Not just for RSI (Score:5, Funny)
I hope your life insurance provider doesn't see this.
Re:Not just for RSI (Score:3, Funny)
Typing while
I don't know about you, but when I'm riding my bike, I'm paying attention to the BIG-ASS FORD BIGGER-THAN-FUCK-ALL EXCURSIONS flying past me at fifty miles per hour. Typing is the least of my concerns when there are inattentive soccer moms fighting with their spoiled honkey kids sitting in the back of their suburban combat vehicles.
Re:Not just for RSI (Score:2)
Then again I doubt I would like my boss to recieve an e-mail going something like " ... and I expect our revenues to be OH **** THAT **** SUBERBAN JUST ALMOST *** ME UP. I HATE THOSE ... up for the quarter ... "
Re:Not just for RSI (Score:2)
Dude! I know exactly what you mean! Has there ever been a vehicle more suitable for bicycle drafting??!! Semis go way too slow, but these things have nearly the same cross-section, and their little bitty drivers drive 'em like speed bikes. Since they have no concept of their size, they actually pass close enough to the bike to gimme an extra 5mph!
Knees, eh? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Knees, eh? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Knees, eh? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Knees, eh? (Score:2)
"Despite--or maybe because of--the OrbitTouch's similarity to the female anatomy, it's very comfortable to use. Your hands rest very naturally on the twin domes."
Re:Knees, eh? (Score:2)
Oh, but I kid! I do!
Thanks, I'm here all week. Tip your waitresses.
Luv it!! (Score:3, Funny)
Hey! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Hey! (Score:2)
Re:Hey! (Score:2)
How long before this is integrated into the [fu-fme.com]
fufme unit?
Re:Hey! (Score:2, Funny)
possible keyboard cover = bra (Score:5, Funny)
Re:possible keyboard cover = bra (Score:2)
The article says that people have an innate idea that they need twisted. This could be the reason right here, their subconcious likens them to brests!
At least they don't feel they have to lick whip cream off of them... I hate sticky keyboards :P
Ooooooo.... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Ooooooo.... (Score:3, Funny)
Make work a plesh-ah! (Score:5, Funny)
From the article:
Despite--or maybe because of--the OrbitTouch's similarity to the female anatomy, it's very comfortable to use. Your hands rest very naturally on the twin domes.
So, instead of clacking away on a keyboard all day I can basically feel up boobies while I work?
Is there a downside to this?
Boobs != Plastic? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Make work a plesh-ah! (Score:2)
Re:Make work a plesh-ah! (Score:2, Funny)
Yeah, no nipples.
Re:Make work a plesh-ah! (Score:3, Funny)
Plus, my girlfriend is still mad at me... apparently the OrbiTouch is a D cup.
Ahem.... (Score:3, Funny)
Drinking soda, of course.
$695, that's nothing..... (Score:3, Informative)
Wow. 'Taint cheap, eh?
Just put your hands on the domes .. (Score:3, Funny)
Brings to meaning to the term 'hands on.'
Re:Just put your hands on the domes .. (Score:3, Funny)
-Adam
Yellow + Blue = ? (Score:2)
The standard equation for typing has always been,
Typing Equation:
Wrist movement + Finger pressing = Keystroke
Even the entrants in the first round of keyboards we reviewed rarely dared to rework this basic equation. It's as simple and accepted as,
Yellow + Blue = Green
I would say that's not universally true. In my mind, Yellow + Blue = White. I call shennanigans on your analogy.
Re:Yellow + Blue = ? (Score:2)
Yellow light + Blue light = white light
You are correct.
They were probably refering to mixing paint, so they should say:
Yellow + Cyan = green
IMHO, I doubt any non-geek or non-artist type will know what cyan is.
Re:Yellow + Blue = ? (Score:2)
Get A Grip! (Score:2, Interesting)
You might as well use two mice with specialized software to have the same effect. At such a high price, I won't even glance at it. Who will carry such monstrosity to work and home?
Re:Get A Grip! (Score:2)
In the world of RSI keyboards, it's not an uncompetitive price, and whilst the learning curve is high, if it enables you to work then surely it'll pay for itself in no time?
I don't think the transportation is an issue. Who carries a keyboard around with them anyway? (not withstanding the foldable palm types).
doomed to failure (Score:5, Funny)
Keyboard standardization (Score:3, Insightful)
--D
Re:Keyboard standardization (Score:2)
I'd say there
Some use Dvorak, and others still use more obscure setups, but the established standard, if you want to call it one, is QWERTY. Walk into ChumpUSA, Wally World, Worst Buy, Circuit Shitty, or any other major retalier, and all of the
DVORAK (Score:3, Insightful)
Really, instead of some huge leap, i suggest switching away from QWERTY first. Qwerty was made to slow typing, by making you reach for keys. The reason for this being that the original typewriters would jam if you typed too fast. Obviously, this leads to carpal tunnel, and all that good stuff. DVORAK and some other keyboard formats are made to make it easier, faster, and easier to accurately type. I'm not switching yet, but i'm thinking about it. One of my friends did, and he loves it.
New keyboards are neat and all, but they're still first designs, first revisions. If i'm to try something new (new to me), i'll wait for a year, and see if it's really beneficial. If it is, then i'll look at the cost, and if it's worth it. At this time, this product seems to be more eye candy and "if i have more toys, i win" than actually worthwile. Point: if my g/f wants to use my computer, do i have to switch keyboards? Really, i don't see the $600 benefit in that. not yet at least.
Re:DVORAK (Score:2)
1. I have no idea whether it is really faster or not, although the world record was apparently set on a keyboard like this. However, it has improved my typing speed very much, for the simple reason that looking at the k
Re:DVORAK (Score:2, Informative)
The utility of new layouts like Dvorak is dubious at best, giving only a small improvement after a lot of training, and causing problems when one has to switch between different machines with d
Urban Legend (Score:2)
From the comments so far... (Score:2)
Not that new... (Score:2)
I remember seeing them quite some time ago when I was looking for alternate input methods for wearable computing.
Great for those immobilized hands (Score:2)
This just in: NabiSCO to sue SCO for trademark violation
Oh no (Score:2)
Good Lord, what has he done.
The jokes are endless.
No twisiting! (Score:3, Funny)
Nipples (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Nipples (Score:2)
I looked at the picture. . . (Score:2)
OrbitTouch???? (Score:5, Funny)
OrbitTouch?? Sucky Name. You guys shoulda gone with the more obvious "BoobieBoard"
Prior Art? (Score:2)
Looks like basically the same interface, but without the flying flowerpots and of course the bull!
120+ wpm (Score:3, Insightful)
Also, though I haven't looked at it in comparison to letter frequency, their schema for keystrokes seemed suboptimal, but still pretty good. For example, transitioning from "t" to "h" (arguably one of the most common two-letter combinations in all of typing) requires going from up,right to right,left instead of just leaving one dome the same and moving the other. Same thing with going from "i" to "n" (also very common), you have to go from up,down to down,lower-left. It's a minor thing, but it seems that attention to these things could have a significant impact upon the ease of use (less motion required, which is supposed to be one of their big selling points), and the speed at which people can type on it (if you don't have to move as far, you key faster - kinda like how Dvorak is more optimal than QWERTY).
notepad? (Score:3, Insightful)
Ahhhh, 2nd year CS students could write a better editor.
vi, my friend, vi
even emacs is better
No wonder he worried about CTS
they say (Score:5, Funny)
David Cronenberg? (Score:3, Funny)
Oh wait, if I had to grab a pair of breasts every time I needed to get some work done...
Negative! (Score:3, Insightful)
Input devices such as keyboards and mice need to be intuitive and easy to use. Keyboards are very intuitive, a panel full of labeled buttons is presented. Pressing one of the buttons prints the label on the screen. Even very young children have no problem figuring out how to use a keyboard. Indeed the only thing you need to "learn" about using a keyboard is the actual key placement as a QWERTY is not intuitive key placement for the uninitiated. Just watch a five year old at the keyboard and you will know what I mean. Then imagine th same five year old trying to figure out the OrbiTouch.
I'm afraid to say that we cannot expect further advancement beyond the regular keyboard. It has been advanced to the fullest useful level possible. To get to the next level a totally different input device will be required, not a keyboard at all. The last such step that we have seen in input devices was the mouse, now >30 years old. The next step in input devices will be either voice recognition or some form of direct mind-to-pc interface. Right now, voice recognition seems to be the closest to reallity but, given its imaturity, it is still a few years off.
Yep (Score:3, Funny)
Considering that it came out before Christmas of 2000 [google.com] (hint: ~2.4 years ago), I'd say there is a pretty good chance.
i jousht gpt 0Ne@@! (Score:3, Funny)
I sugarest erybondy get ron too$!!
Uh, FPS? (Score:2, Insightful)
WPM? (Score:5, Insightful)
How fast can you type with this thing?!
The reviewer should consider using the thing for a month (exclusively), and tell us whether he learned how to do use it in the end. Furthermore, he should tell us what his WPM is with a regular keyboard, and what his WPM is with this thing is (in a month's time).
The assumption with giving him a month's time is that the novelty (for me) would last about a month. If most people wouldn't be up to keyboard speed in a month, I can't imagine many people sticking to it.
what they are missing is ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Learning Curve (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Learning Curve (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Those afraid of change will die... (Score:2)
Re:Fuck you, there are popup ads on your site. (Score:2)
Is it their fault you're still using IE? Switch to a real browser [mozilla.org] and you won't have that problem.
Re:Fuck you, there are popup ads on your site. (Score:2)
*loads his site*
Nope, no pop-ups! Could your copy of IE have some pop-up-creating spyware humping it?
Re:Minimal Wrist Movement? (Score:2, Funny)
Of course, Slashdotters have no experience at twisting their wrists at breakneck speed..
Re:Minimal Wrist Movement? (Score:2)
pipelining (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Grrr..... (Score:2)