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Using the GKOS Keyboard with single hand etc.

Part of this page is for curiosity only!!!

A.
 
single-hand The complete character set of the GKOS keyboard  can be used by one hand if required in some applications or special cases. It is even possible to have two sets of these keys, one on the left and one on the right hand side of the device so that also two-handed typing is possible in a fully compatible manner*.

The button tops can be shaped as shown in the figure so that depending on the exact location of the finger tip on the 'double button' surface, either left or right button, or both can be pressed with a single finger.

The new 'keys' in the middle column become Up Arrow, Shift, and Down Arrow.

Of course this setup is not as comfortable and fast to type as the standard GKOS but it can be practical in some situations. Some new learning of the concept is necessary as well.

* Note in addition that if single hand use is not wanted the double key sets on the two sides of the device can be used for the two parallel character sets (ABC and 123),  the outer keys for ABC and inner keys for 123 character sets.

Seppo Tiainen 23 October 2002 (above)

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Another single-hand method:

B.  How to use the standard GKOS keyboard with one hand only

With the SixBack implementation, for example, where the two standard 3-key pads are near each other, it is possible to use the left hand quite easily to type most characters of the complete set. If you already can type on GKOS with two hands, you most probably learn typing with the left hand only in about one hour (I did, at least!).

Then you have to stick to this principle as far as possible: The pinky finger of the left hand takes care of the C key, and the thumb operates the A and B keys. The right hand  keys D, E and F can then be managed with the pointer, the middle finger and the ring finger of the left hand. 'Enter' is easiest to activate if the thumb presses two keys: A + B (this is why the left hand is recommended for single hand use; you can also operate the pointer with the right hand then).

The GKOS keyboard is of course not designed for single hand use but it is interesting to notice that this is still possible, and not even too difficult! This is a consequence of the fact that only 3 simultaneous keys maximum are required for letters and numbers and for most  punctuation.

Seppo Tiainen 18 December 2002




C.  Single finger typing  -  Modified keypad 1

Have you noticed also that, if you leave out the spacebar, you can type more than 95% of characters appearing in ordinary Englist text by just using single fingers. This is beacause two adjacent keys can easily be pressed by one finger if the keys are close to each other. Further, adding a narrow bar to the outer sides of the 3-key sets (for typing backspace/spacebar) and another bar to the inner side (for being able to press the top and bottom keys at the same time), you have a fully featured 'GKOS keyboard' for single finger typing (1 + 1). You could use even thumbs only!

Seppo Tiainen 24 March 2003
 

D.  Single hand typing  -  Modified keypad 2
By combining the two keys of each row (A+D, B+E, C+F), all characters can optionally be typed by one hand quite easily. For example, in the matchbox sized IR remote control with pointer control on the front panel and GKOS keys on the back near each other, there can be just three keys (A+D, B+E, C+F) so that pressing a key in the middle causes both keys to be pressed. Then, pressing the top key (A+D) in the middle part of it gives Up Arrow, adding B+E key left part gives P etc. . The keys can have a form that gives feedback to the user, like raised ends and lower middle with perhaps a raised dot at the center. For faster typing, use both hands but for single characters, you can leave the other hand in your pocket and still be able to type any character of function you want!

Seppo Tiainen 2 July 2003
Figure added 12 August 2003