Will having to memorize the keys improve your typing?
Das Keyboard 2 is an enhanced 104-key USB PC keyboard equipped with blank keys mounted on precision, gold-plated mechanical key switches that offer a distinct, tactile click feeling. Accoring to the manufacturer, the blank computer keys will evoke a feel similar to a piano. Following that logic, since users cannot look at the keys while typing, their brains adapt and memorize the key positions, which should result in faster and more accurate typing. In addition to its unique appearance, Das Keyboard 2 was designed to enable users to produce greater speed by providing responsive, tactile feedback. The keyboard’s home keys F and J are shaped with an increased curvature so the user’s index fingers find their home position easily.
I know people who touch-type, but still look at the keyboard for the location of function keys. Can a person memorize every key as well as its shift and alt functions?
“Das Keyboard 2 was designed for really demanding users, people who spend many hours every day in front of a computer,” said Birgit Guermeur, product manager for Das Keyboard. “If typing productivity and comfort matter to you, then this keyboard is for you.” Manufactured by the highly respected Cherry Corporation, Das Keyboard 2 is built from premium mechanical key switch technology and its keys are factory-tested to withstand up to 50 million keystrokes. The keyboard’s gold-plated contacts, arranged crosswise, ensure high contact pressure and low resistance for excellent switching reliability.
I don’t know about this, I’d love to have a well-made keyboard with that nice adjustable keystroke feel that has letters I can see. According to the company, the predecessor was quite popular. Any Das Keyboard 1 users out there who can tell me how much they like it?
This is the way Catholic kids are taught typing way back when.
But of course a typewriter didn’t have all the extra keys that a computer keyboard does.
I really want one of these at work. Occasionally people at work need to use my computer. Having this would really screw with them. The problem is the cost.
Relevant link: Top 10 weirdest keyboards ever.
Awesome! I’m getting one for the office.
SN – switch the “V” and “C” keycaps. It drives them nuts!
This sounds like a great way to sell an average keyboard at a premium price. “50 million keystrokes…” has anybody ever had a key go bad on a $9 keyboard?
Save yourself the money and type with your eyes closed.
My main keyboard at home is over 15 years old, has more metal than plastic in it and has a feel I’ve been completely unable to match in any keyboard since. I’ve been touch typing for decades on untold numbers of keyboards and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I simply can’t match the speed I can type on that one.
You know what would be great? If they could make one that doesn’t look lik ass. What is up with the design? Seriously? I know I am not supposed to be looking at the damn thing but I shouldn’t be puking on it either.
I’d like a Das Keyboard in the ergonomic style. Why go for comfort if it’s not going to be comfortable? Ergonomic keyboards: give them a week, and you’ll never go back.
I once (8 yrs ago?) spray-painted my keyboard black just for fun and it looked just like that! The only keys that gave any trouble were the “5” and “6”, but I was logging 16 hours of keyboard-time a day as a developer and avid MUD player then.
Other weirdness:
– That typing class I took back in high school, while seeming a waste of time, was probably the most valuable class I ever took.
– I actually can’t remember what my keyboard looks like. I’ve had so many and rarely look at them. *Looks at keyboard*
– I hate Qwerty. I dabbled with “that other one” 😉 for a while, but it was too confusing to switch back and forth while moving between machines.
– I ponder how many characters my tired fingers have left in them as my repetitive stress syndrome grows.
My keyboard is all black. I went ahead and painted the keys. I have never needed the keys as I just type looking at the screen. I know where all the keys are. But I haven’t conciously memorized them. I’m a coder so it makes some sense that eventually I would memorize keys.
My mom however still thinks I need a typing tutor. I keep telling her I never look at the keys. *sigh*
It remindes me about happy hacking keyboard that was released a year ago.
http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/en/hhkeyboard/hhkbpro/black.html
“My main keyboard at home is over 15 years old, has more metal than plastic in it and has a feel I’ve been completely unable to match in any keyboard since. I’ve been touch typing for decades on untold numbers of keyboards and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I simply can’t match the speed I can type on that one.”–DaveDrews
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I can relate. A tactile feel is everything to me. Several years ago, I took out the numerous keyboards I had accumulated over the years and tested to see which was best. I used online speed tests to see which ones I performed best on. To my horror, the best keyboard in my collection was made by… Packard Bell !!!! ugh! It’s perhaps the oldest keyboard I own, is heavy, and has that tactile, clickety-click quality that I find so appealing. Even it cannot match the feel of an old IBM Selectric typewriter, but it’s not too far removed from it either.
As for the topic of the post–Das Keyboard– I would have no trouble with the blank keys– I’ve been touch typing since I was 10 (late ’60s).
My wonderful IBM AT 102-key keyboard finally died after 15 years of hard – extremely hard – pounding. I was shattered to find the IBM no longer makes anything nearly as solid and pleasant to use. I finally settled on a Logitech “ergonomic” keyboard but for serious text entry (of which I do a huge amount) I now use IBM Via Voice and dictate it all. It’s not perfect, but I’d estimate that it recognises avout 95-98% of everything I say, and it helps relieve my moderate RSI affliction…
That’s ridiculous. If you want improved speed, why don’t we dump the QWERTY layout and go with the Dvorak layout? The QWERTY layout was specifically designed for the limitations of mechanical typewriters and I don’t see too many of those connected to a computer.
I recently *Upgraded* my old ergonomic microsoft keyboard with a 1984 M series IBM keyboard (Yes the Clicky Keyboard) the only thing I Miss from time to time is the windows key. I have loved how this keyboard has performed that I bought three of them for backups. As for blank letters, that is fine as long as they don’t move any keys around like tosiba does on some of their laptops. if you are used to the Ctrl-Enter command you will go crazy when there is only one Ctrl key on the left side of the board. Blank keys are good, Randomized blank keys are maddening.
I have one at work and its great. Noone can use my computer when im not there. And after a couple of months my typing speed has improved dramatically. I used to have to look at the keyboard for numbers and the characters on the top row but no longer.
Not a real bright idea, IMHO….
The “regular” QWERTY keys really don’t matter, but I don’t think anybody agrees as to where the odd keys ought to go, and we don’t really “touch type” them much. Period, comma, and maybe the parens. Everything else is “once in a while”. How do you find the odd stuff? Why waste the time to touch-type a caret?
Blanking the basic QWERTY set for students is a good idea, I think. The rest probably should be there.
All of that said, I’ve got keyboards here that are twenty years old that work, and dead ones that are a lot younger. I learned to type on a manual typewriter, could do respectable speeds on a Teletype 33, and initially found electrics too sensitive. IAC, the former day job had me doing three or more different keyboards more or less at the same time, and if I can find the keyboard I’m usually OK with “just text” at reasonable speeds.
I tend to buy the $15 keyboards – burn ’em off and replace them unless they’re total crap, in which case they go back. Meantime, the mutt kicked the comman keytop off my notebook. That’s kind of fun when you’re an expert at run-on sentences….
Regards.
I do use the Dvorak keyboard layout (no relation to John.) Rather than rearranging the keys (it put them all at weird angles) or making sticker keycaps, I just figured since I’m going through all the effort to learn a new layout I might as well learn to touch type it too. I had an image on the screen I could reference when I needed to, but I never looked down, and it worked. I touch type both at home and at work in Dvorak but the keys are still labelled in Qwerty. Makes for a great security device.
It’s debatable whether Dvorak is faster, but it’s definitely more comfortable as your hands are moving much less.
I’m in IT where I do use other people’s computers a lot, and it’s not really an issue switching back and forth. You get used to it. I’m slower on Qwerty now, and sometimes look down for it, but it’s still a pretty good clip and I don’t do any prolonged work on their computers anyway.
I still look down for the top number row and their symbols sometimes. I can only sort of touch type them. Function keys would probably suck being blank too.
You can always spot Dvorak users in forums where they require you to title each message because the throw-away title is aoeu instead of asdf.
“I do use the Dvorak keyboard layout (no relation to John.) “
Actually, there is a distant relationship.
OK, John, now I have to ask. If you are distantly related to the keyboard Dvorak, are you also related in any way to the more famous Dvorak, the great symphonic composer?
Robert
ECA, that AlphaGrip keyboard looks cool, but does the hot chick come with it?!
The One True Keyboard. Designed in 1984.
The IBM model M keyboard
http://www.clickykeyboards.com
for those who miss the WINDOWS key it’s the same as Hitting (Ctrl+Esc)
I’m a touch typist, and fast, but I find it really hard to type in the dark. At some point you have to know where to put your hands down to start. Once I’m in position I never look down, except for numbers, but it’s really tough in pitch dark…
SN,
No girl, but consider that if SHE can do it, so can, ALMOST, anyone..
PS…LOVEd the old IBM’s…They were the TANKS…
thats why, i cant see HOW/WHY mice and keyboards fail so easy, or, EVER…
Or that ANy keyboard should cost MORE then $20, Esp the CRAP stuff thats come out at $80 that dont last you 1 year..
To clockwork — I totally hear you about the typing class in high school. I am now an engineer and use typing more than I use physics or calc. But, I had a computer at home back then as well, so it was useful to me almost immediately.
Dave Drews >>My main keyboard at home is over 15 years old, has more metal than plastic in it and has a feel I’ve been completely unable to match in any keyboard since.
I had almost forgotten about those old great keyboards… built back when sceptical secretaries needed convincing to give up their IBM Selectrics.
I found this keyboard on Ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-DATA-GENERAL-PS-2-PS2-KEYBOARD_W0QQitemZ9705659021QQcategoryZ51085QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Is your’s anything like that?
GregAllen: Close, only mine has a set of three LEDs set into a plastic inset for num, caps and scroll lock where the Data General logo plate is. It’s made byNMB Technologies, Hi-Tek Keyboard division. Made in Thailand. Next to where the cord goes in is a switch for PC AT.
Like the eBay ad says, loud and clicky!
I got it from a company I was working for around 1992. It was being used with a server (which means it was almost never being used). Asked if I could swap it for a cheap keyboard I had at home. While others might want to be buried or cremated with their cell phones, I’ll take my keyboard.