Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

News for nerds, stuff that matters

Slashdot Log In

Log In

Create Account  |  Retrieve Password

Clove 2 Bluetooth Dataglove For One-Handed Typing

Posted by timothy on Sat Jul 19, 2008 03:26 PM
from the perhaps-not-best-for-motorcyclists dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Clove 2 is a bluetooth dataglove used for one-handed typing. It uses a 31-combination finger-chording design with three modes to allow every key on a standard keyboard to be typed with minimal effort. The bluetooth functionality removes the need to tether it to a computer, and since it profiles as a standard HID Keyboard, a simple translation layer to perform key remapping, sticky modifiers, and mode switching is the only software required. It consists of three components: the glove itself, the bluetooth module, and a custom charger for the Bluetooth module. Video, pictures, and full plans and schematics on the project page." From that page: "Please be advised that the Clove 2 Bluetooth Dataglove is a personal project, not a commercial offering." I hope that gets corrected at some point!
+ -
story

Related Stories

[+] Hardware: 10 Strange Computer Keyboards 181 comments
DirectedImpact noted an amusing little compilation of 10 strange keyboards. Some of them you've probably seen before (the laser keyboard, the optimus OLED keyboard) and others are quite real (I actually had one of those split keyboards for awhile) and others are pretty out there: like the keyboard built into the lacy doily placemat thingee.
[+] Hardware: RallyPoint — The Computerized Combat Glove 82 comments
MIT's Technology Review is reporting that a new input device, designed for soldiers, may soon be making an appearance. The "RallyPoint," a glove designed to allow soldiers to easily interact with wearable systems via sensors, could allow soldiers a feature-rich input device without having to put down their weapon. "Some U.S. soldiers in Iraq are already equipped with wearable computer systems. But the lack of efficient input devices restricts their use to safer environments, such as the interior of a Humvee or a base station, where the soldier can set down his weapon and use the keyboard or mouse tethered to his body. Now RallyPoint, a startup based in Cambridge, MA, has developed a sensor-embedded glove that allows the soldier to easily view and navigate digital maps, activate radio communications, and send commands without having to take his hand off his weapon."
[+] Hardware: OCZ's Brain Wave Interface Headband Reviewed 89 comments
J. Dzhugashvili writes "Could you control a game using your jaw muscles, eye movements, and brain waves? OCZ designed its futuristic Neural Impulse Actuator controller for that very purpose, and it claims the device lets players shorten their response times and interact with games more naturally. But is it really all it's cracked up to be? The Tech Report took the NIA for a spin in order to answer that question, and it made some interesting discoveries along the way. The verdict is that the NIA works (mostly) as advertised, but getting used to it can take enough dedication and perseverance to put off many prospective users."
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
 Full
 Abbreviated
 Hidden
More
Loading... please wait.
  • Cool, but... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by clang_jangle (975789) * on Saturday July 19 2008, @03:26PM (#24255723)
    Watching the video, it does look kind of cool. Reminds me a bit of the Twiddler2, which I sort of admire also. Two things stop me from getting one, though:
    (1) If I have to hit more than one button per character that's going to slow me down a lot, and
    (2) what about using vi (or any other pro editor)?
    • Septambic keyer DIY (Score:5, Informative)

      by phatvw (996438) on Saturday July 19 2008, @03:39PM (#24255827)
      Hey guys these devices have been around for a while. See Steve Mann's DIY septambic keyer [wearcam.org] project. More info on keyers [wikipedia.org].

      Do any of you remember the Nintendo powerglove [youtube.com]? Now that was the pinnacle of interface design IMHO!!!
    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      (2) what about using vi (or any other pro editor)?

      I doubt this would have very many applications for the general public however this could be VERY useful for people with a disability. I can imagine a quadriplegic (one that doesnt have total paralysis) might be able to find use for this.

      • I don't think you understand the beauty of this thing.

        One hand for keyboard, and one hand for trackball (or to hold the device). No flat surface required. Heck, if you put a stylus on the finger, you could use it as the *only* input device for internet tablets.

        It's the perfect interface for a plane, or when standing in line/close quarters. Data entry for small devices can become fast. Not as fast as an actual keyboard, but approaching 30WPM instead of the wimpy 10 we get with thumbpads.

        • I'm not sure if Bluetooth tranmissions are allowed on a plane.
        • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

          30wpm? My sister used to have a chord-keyboard on a handheld computer called the Agenda years ago. It was bought for her because she was partially sighted, as a quick way to take notes in classes. The guy who demonstrated it could achieve 130wpm, they are phenominally fast. I was a 100+wpm touch typist at the time, and could nearly match that speed with this thing with a month or so of practice.

          Forget typing speed, a good chord based keyboard user can hit speech speeds:
          "Many stenotype users can reach 30

    • Re:Cool, but... (Score:5, Interesting)

      by caffeinemessiah (918089) on Saturday July 19 2008, @04:00PM (#24255973) Journal

      If I have to hit more than one button per character that's going to slow me down a lot, and

      As someone who plays a musical instruments, this isn't as much of an impediment as it sounds. With time, you might find that its actually more powerful because (a) you're trained to think in terms of multiple keys and (b) you can extend these "chords" to capture complex keystrokes, so you'd actually SAVE time in vi, etc.

      I don't know if it would help carpal tunnel, but the flexibility of positioning your hand in any way sure sounds like a neat thing. Plus, you could walk around your office and touch-type, hell you could even use the bathroom and keep typing if you're so inclined.

      • by arosas (904929) on Saturday July 19 2008, @05:06PM (#24256405)

        hell you could even use the bathroom and keep typing if you're so inclined.

        as;lkdgasjkd;gasdkjgn;bsavdeqw4;gaieshfFvkzn;xc .... sorry I was wiping.

      • Re:Cool, but... (Score:4, Interesting)

        by harry666t (1062422) <harry666t&gmail,com> on Sunday July 20 2008, @08:05AM (#24261161) Homepage
        Makes me think about using my electric guitar as an input device... Although it's hard to say how many unique chords could I produce, or if the software could easily distinguish between all of them (but certainly easier than voice recognition!). Hey, but I could switch between lower and upper case by hitting the "distortion" button! :D

        My family is gonna kill me, though...
    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      If I have to hit more than one button per character that's going to slow me down a lot

      No it won't. You hit all the buttons for the character simultaneously, not sequentially. Experts (such as the one I'm about to mention below) can type at least on a Twiddler2 as they can on a QWERTY.

      what about using vi (or any other pro editor)?

      Thad Starner [gatech.edu], a pioneer of wearable computing (and on the left in the picture), practically lives in EMACS and uses a Twiddler2 to do so.

  • But I hadn't realized it had become such a problem that someone had to invent a one-handed typing glove.
  • So...um (Score:5, Funny)

    by iminplaya (723125) <iminplaya.gmail@com> on Saturday July 19 2008, @03:30PM (#24255755) Journal

    What am I supposed to do with my other hand, if I may be so bold to ask?

  • ...are going to be all kinds of classy. I'm sure the one-handed typing is for the disabled... yeah, i'm going to stick with that.
  • that only the "Wizard" could love! (Cmon, Late 80's folks, you know what I'm talking about!).

  • I love the power clove. It's so bad.

  • Report card (Score:5, Funny)

    by Dan East (318230) on Saturday July 19 2008, @03:38PM (#24255815) Homepage

    Geek Factor: A+
    Functionality: B-
    Aesthetics: F

  • How is this chording? I thought a chording system was where you had a few buttons and then each letter was assigned to a number of those buttons you have to press at once to get the letter (just like playing a chord on a piano). This seems to be a system where you make a connection between 2 contacts to make a letter - or did I miss something?
  • Frogpad? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by strabes (1075839) on Saturday July 19 2008, @04:50PM (#24256275)
    I would think the frogpad [frogpad.com] has already more efficiently implemented a one-handed typing solution that doesn't require a glove.
    • Hah! That picture [frogpad.com] is hilarious, though maybe that's just after reading all the "what do you do with the other hand?" jokes made so far.