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!
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)?
(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.
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
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.
Back in the day (like, high school) I played sax like a pro..
Then again, I can type over 100wpm, so maybe that helped a lot.:)
People don't quite get the concept of chords. Everything on a sax was a combination of 9 fingers, on even more keys. I don't remember off hand how many there are, but enough to keep you busy. To sound good, you have to get practiced.
I almost (almost) consider it harder than really playing piano, as far as the fingering goes. I don't
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
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.
Senseboard develops and manufactures a wearable data entry platform to enable users of mobile communications systems to effectively input text or data in practically any environment.
I don't know where you draw that connection from-- wait a second, my download just finished.mmmmm;;;;M,;;;;;;;;M,,,,,,,,,, M,m;;;;;;;;;;;;mmmmm;NBnnnnnnnnnnnnnn;;;;;;;;MB;;;;;;Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnbn,nMMMM,mnb;N,Nbbbbbbbbbbnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn;Mnmmmmmmmmmmmm,nmbN;
Marketing had already suggested another thumb on the other side of the glove for lefties, making a total of six fingers for a swiss-army knife approach. Management even suggested their own idea: when the glove is in use, the unused finger can be pliable, and with the proper velcro fastener, we have a cupholder.
Engineering balked at these ideas and offered the simple no-frills glove for the other hand.
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?
Its close enough that it counts. It counts as chording because everything is a result of a minimal of two 'buttons' (connections). It would be like playing a 31 key keyboard with only your index fingers. Forcing you to make contact may be the only way to make it work, as just making the glove detect deflections in your fingers may be too sensitive... or maybe that's for clove 3.
I've lost count of the number of non-querty input devices and methods I've seen, but none of them have made a dent in usage of the querty keyboard. I suspect this is mainly down to the fact that people just don't want to learn a new system. These guys try to side-step that by saying the glove is for situations in which you can't use a keyboard, but really - is there anything wrong with voice control in most adverse situations? I suppose maybe combat or physical disability, but hmm.
I think more than anything, there's no impetus for change. If you lost an arm for xyz reason, sure, this might be a great HID with which to get back in the groove, otherwise, like you say, why bother?
If we are going to learn a new system we should use morse code, not only can we do it with just one button but we can also recive messages by touch quite easily.
You ever used a FrogPad? I've got one here, and while it can be used, it's not laid out well enough to use regularly. The idea is wonderful. If they would just move the keys a little more ergonomically so it's not such a stretch to hit the keys with the pinkie, I'd love it. As it is, I eventually gave up.
Humans are very dextrous and expressive tool users. Our brains excel at feedback with an object we manipulate, especially with our hands, to get what's on our minds out there in the world.
We're not nearly as good at just waving our hands, with nothing in them, to communicate, as we are at flapping our lips. Our hand gestures are much more precise and accurate when they've got something to feel moving with or against them. So I expect that these gloves will not nearly compete with decent keyboards for produc
... of a time I was speaking in front of a group of magazine publishers. They were worried about the effect of the Internet on their print publications and if there were subscription models for their Web sites that might work. I said that, at the time, there were two primary examples of subscription models for traditional print publications: WSJ.com and Playboy.com and that Playboy's model has been so successful that they were able to cut back on their print run. Then I paused and said, "Playboy.com... th
The next part is to make a teaching program so easy everyone can do it.
This reminds me of a device from back in the late '70's called the "Write-hander" which looked a little bit like a mouse with buttons under the fingers and some mode switches under the thumb. It was a pretty good solution for people limited to one hand typing (amputations, paralyis, etc..), but it lacked durability and was harder to learn than the conventional keyboard.
I hope something like this gets more useful over the years.
Cool idea, but it still takes on hand to type. Gimme a grill [jezebel.com]I can type with from the tip of the tongue.
Although at this point if you're gonna use your mouth to type text you might as well go with speech-recognition, however you could use that for when you can't speak (a trooper trying to be silent, a kid at school txting) or when the environment is too noisy.
Clove 2 guy, rob da electronics store n make yaself a grill! (sorry, I had to)
Well, the big problem is that it needs to fit better than a glove. Plus you have left and right handed versions. I can just imagine persuading Best Buy to stock ten different versions of the keyboard. NOT! I need the keyboard to be both flexible and solid, movable and stable.
Cool, but... (Score:3, Interesting)
(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)
Do any of you remember the Nintendo powerglove [youtube.com]? Now that was the pinnacle of interface design IMHO!!!
Parent
Re:Septambic keyer DIY (Score:5, Funny)
Particularly if it's a personal project, you should NEVER use "sticky modifiers" with a one-handed glove...
Parent
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.
Re:Cool, but... (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Parent
Perfect for a plane? (Score:3, Insightful)
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)
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.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Back in the day (like, high school) I played sax like a pro..
Then again, I can type over 100wpm, so maybe that helped a lot. :)
People don't quite get the concept of chords. Everything on a sax was a combination of 9 fingers, on even more keys. I don't remember off hand how many there are, but enough to keep you busy. To sound good, you have to get practiced.
I almost (almost) consider it harder than really playing piano, as far as the fingering goes. I don't
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
as far as the fingering goes. I don't mean one-fingering it
Re:Cool, but... (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Parent
Re:Cool, but... (Score:4, Interesting)
My family is gonna kill me, though...
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
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.
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.
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About 6 months after the kitchen sink.
Skiping the glow (Score:2, Informative)
Senseboard develops and manufactures a wearable
data entry platform to enable users of mobile
communications systems to effectively input
text or data in practically any environment.
I knew you guys watched a lot of porn... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I knew you guys watched a lot of porn... (Score:4, Informative)
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
You don't need hands to watch porn. Cybersex, on the other hand...
Yes. Pun intended.
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So...um (Score:5, Funny)
What am I supposed to do with my other hand, if I may be so bold to ask?
Use the other hand to hold the handheld device (Score:2, Insightful)
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Is that what the kids are calling it these days?
The comments on this one... (Score:2)
A glove (Score:2)
that only the "Wizard" could love! (Cmon, Late 80's folks, you know what I'm talking about!).
Jackey Vinson approves! (Score:2, Funny)
I love the power clove. It's so bad.
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I love the power clove. It's so bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCEsLHNT0Bc&feature=related [youtube.com]
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Here's a (non serious )review of the powerglove:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=33473681 [myspace.com]
It shows what kind of shit this contraption is.
Report card (Score:5, Funny)
Geek Factor: A+
Functionality: B-
Aesthetics: F
Re: (Score:2)
oh come on! The bloody thing is a prototype! Anything made from scratch isn't going to look nice.
Now if it were a commercial package, sure, it looks like a POS, but seriously, the guy made everything himself.
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that's what people said when Ford released the prototype for the Focus.
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Marketing had already suggested another thumb on the other side of the glove for lefties, making a total of six fingers for a swiss-army knife approach. Management even suggested their own idea: when the glove is in use, the unused finger can be pliable, and with the proper velcro fastener, we have a cupholder.
Engineering balked at these ideas and offered the simple no-frills glove for the other hand.
How is this chording? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Add it to the pile... (Score:2)
I've lost count of the number of non-querty input devices and methods I've seen, but none of them have made a dent in usage of the querty keyboard. I suspect this is mainly down to the fact that people just don't want to learn a new system. These guys try to side-step that by saying the glove is for situations in which you can't use a keyboard, but really - is there anything wrong with voice control in most adverse situations? I suppose maybe combat or physical disability, but hmm.
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I think more than anything, there's no impetus for change. If you lost an arm for xyz reason, sure, this might be a great HID with which to get back in the groove, otherwise, like you say, why bother?
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If we are going to learn a new system we should use morse code, not only can we do it with just one button but we can also recive messages by touch quite easily.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
And it is faster than trying to enter text on a phone keypad...
Jay Leno did it [youtube.com]
And a more impressive win... [engadget.com]
Frogpad? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
You ever used a FrogPad? I've got one here, and while it can be used, it's not laid out well enough to use regularly. The idea is wonderful. If they would just move the keys a little more ergonomically so it's not such a stretch to hit the keys with the pinkie, I'd love it. As it is, I eventually gave up.
ps
Using Tools Instead of Empty Gestures (Score:2)
Humans are very dextrous and expressive tool users. Our brains excel at feedback with an object we manipulate, especially with our hands, to get what's on our minds out there in the world.
We're not nearly as good at just waving our hands, with nothing in them, to communicate, as we are at flapping our lips. Our hand gestures are much more precise and accurate when they've got something to feel moving with or against them. So I expect that these gloves will not nearly compete with decent keyboards for produc
Unrelated, but the headline reminds me ... (Score:2)
Partially Genius (Score:2)
The next part is to make a teaching program so easy everyone can do it.
This reminds me of a device from back in the late '70's called the "Write-hander" which looked a little bit like a mouse with buttons under the fingers and some mode switches under the thumb. It was a pretty good solution for people limited to one hand typing (amputations, paralyis, etc..), but it lacked durability and was harder to learn than the conventional keyboard.
I hope something like this gets more useful over the years.
Gimme mah grill, fool! (Score:2)
Cool idea, but it still takes on hand to type. Gimme a grill [jezebel.com]I can type with from the tip of the tongue.
Although at this point if you're gonna use your mouth to type text you might as well go with speech-recognition, however you could use that for when you can't speak (a trooper trying to be silent, a kid at school txting) or when the environment is too noisy.
Clove 2 guy, rob da electronics store n make yaself a grill! (sorry, I had to)
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Re:Please develop an optimal solution (Score:4, Interesting)
I'll pay $2,000 for one if it had a 10-year replacement warranty.
I'll sell you one of these http://blog.russnelson.com/chordite [russnelson.com] for $2,000 with a 10-year replacement warranty.
Parent
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Well, the big problem is that it needs to fit better than a glove. Plus you have left and right handed versions. I can just imagine persuading Best Buy to stock ten different versions of the keyboard. NOT! I need the keyboard to be both flexible and solid, movable and stable.
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most people don't RTFA,
Why not copy the whole article onto slashdot? that would reduce the load on linked sites dramatically.