DataHand

The DataHand is an unconventional computer keyboard introduced by 1990, by DataHand Systems, Inc, designed to be operated without any wrist motion or finger extension.

History

Datahand Systems, Inc. was founded in 1985. It was invented by Dale J. Retter and produced as early as 1990.

After the initial prototype was released in 1995, DataHand released the Professional and Professional II models with new bodies. The Professional II also has extended programming capabilities over the Professional, being able to record macros of keystrokes for convenient use.

DataHand Systems, Inc. announced in early 2008 that it was ceasing to sell its keyboards. The company web site states that due to supplier issues, the company will not sell the DataHand keyboard "until a new manufacturer can be identified". In January 2009, the company's website started taking orders for a "limited number of new DataHand Pro II units. Circa 19 April 2010, DataHand were out of stock.

Layout

It consists of two separate "keyboards", one for the left hand and one for the right. Each finger activates five buttons: the four compass directions as well as down. The thumbs also have five buttons: one inside, two outside, up and down.

The layout is initially similar to a QWERTY keyboard, but the middle two columns of keys (i.e. H,Y,G...) have been delegated to sideways finger movements, and all of the keys outside of the main three rows are accessed through two additional modes, including a mode for mousing. There are three primary modes all together: letters, number and symbols, and function / mouse mode. Some practice is required. However, eventual typing speedups are possible.

Rather than being spring-loaded, the buttons are held in place with magnets and are activated using optical sensors. This was done in order to reduce the finger workload while still giving tactile feedback. The button modules in which the fingers rest are adjustable—each side can be independently moved vertically or forward and back.".

In popular culture

* The keyboard was seen in the 1997 sci-fi movie '' Contact'' as the controls for a spaceship.
* It appears in the 2006 spy movie '' Stormbreaker''.
* The Industrial Innovations version was featured on the television series '' Mighty Morphin Power Rangers''.
* A black model is used by Agent Grasso while searching for Amanda Givens' Jeep in '' Shadow Conspiracy'' (1997).
* Several boxes of the keyboard are seen in Teddy KGB's office near the end of the film '' Rounders (film)'' (1998).

See also

* Keyboard technology
* List of human-computer interaction topics
* Computer keyboard
* Ergonomic keyboard
* Computer accessibility
* Carpal tunnel syndrome
* Repetitive strain injury
* Adaptive technology

References

{{reflist

External links

DataHand.com
(1996-11-02) web.archive.org

DataHand documentation
Bill Buxton microsoft

DataHand
at ''Typing FAQ''

How-To disassemble and clean the DataHand



Review
by DataHand owner, with photos of older models

Review
by Jan Goyvaerts (August 6, 2007)

Review update
by Jan Goyvaerts (posted January 7, 2008)

Review
by Robyn Peterson in ExtremeTech (April 22, 2003)

Review
by David Madison

Review
by Paul Fatula @ ATPM (May, 2001)
* tp://ftp.cs.princeton.edu/pub/typing-injury/datahand-review3 Evaluationby G Martin (June 10, 1994)
* tp://ftp.cs.princeton.edu/pub/typing-injury/datahand-review Evaluationby Cliff Lasser (August 20, 1992)

Review
y Bryan Rosner, BioMed Publishers (November 11, 2008)

Computer keyboard models
Physical ergonomics
Computer accessibility