Comments on: Keyboard whose keys are raised in proportion to their frequency of use http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 22:02:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Shazbot http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1127936 Shazbot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1127936 Clearly his data is inaccurate. Unless he never uses spaces. Clearly his data is inaccurate. Unless he never uses spaces.

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128961 Cowicide Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128961 Spoiler!! ;D Spoiler!! ;D

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128451 Cowicide Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128451 I got very different results doing the same thing with my most common keyboard strokes.... <b>What the fuck?</b> http://www.flickr.com/photos/49403380@N00/5792650080 I got very different results doing the same thing with my most common keyboard strokes…. What the fuck?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49403380@N00/5792650080

]]> By: huntsu http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1127940 huntsu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1127940 Ummm, the space key never gets used? Ummm, the space key never gets used?

]]> By: kjulig http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1127941 kjulig Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1127941 You say that like it's an established fact and not a popular rumor (the intent-to-slow-down part)... The guy who popularized the QWERTY layout actually did it with letter frequency in mind. Yes, typewriter mechanics probably had something to do with it: if two letters that follow each other are more likely to be located on opposite sides of the keyboard, the chance of the hammers getting stuck is obviously lower. But waiting until the hammers return to their original position? Not realistic if you want to maintain any speed at all, not even in the early typewriter days. You say that like it’s an established fact and not a popular rumor (the intent-to-slow-down part)…

The guy who popularized the QWERTY layout actually did it with letter frequency in mind. Yes, typewriter mechanics probably had something to do with it: if two letters that follow each other are more likely to be located on opposite sides of the keyboard, the chance of the hammers getting stuck is obviously lower. But waiting until the hammers return to their original position? Not realistic if you want to maintain any speed at all, not even in the early typewriter days.

]]> By: ypod http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1127945 ypod Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1127945 Obviously not a gamer. The WASD keys are all way too low. They should make everything else tiny in comparison. :D Obviously not a gamer. The WASD keys are all way too low. They should make everything else tiny in comparison. :D

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1127953 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1127953 Interactive "Telecommunications" Program Interactive “Telecommunications” Program

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1127955 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1127955 its incorrect, the backspace key on my keyboard would be taller than any other key... i can't type its incorrect, the backspace key on my keyboard would be taller than any other key… i can’t type

]]> By: WhyBother http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1127958 WhyBother Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1127958 "who's using the e button this much?" everyone “who’s using the e button this much?”

everyone

]]> By: oliverseal http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1129241 oliverseal Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1129241 Some other commenters mention the Dvorak keyboard, so I'll continue the trend. With the exception of the "U" key that seems to be hidden by the angle, this sculpture really is an inadvertent ad for the Dvorak layout. The tallest key-columns, are the home keys for Dvorak. Takes some getting used to, but a user will notice the lack of physical strain after just a few hours of getting used to the layout. Note: There will be increased mental strain until you develop muscle-memory. ( : D ) Some other commenters mention the Dvorak keyboard, so I’ll continue the trend. With the exception of the “U” key that seems to be hidden by the angle, this sculpture really is an inadvertent ad for the Dvorak layout. The tallest key-columns, are the home keys for Dvorak.
Takes some getting used to, but a user will notice the lack of physical strain after just a few hours of getting used to the layout. Note: There will be increased mental strain until you develop muscle-memory. ( : D )

]]> By: bklynchris http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128251 bklynchris Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128251 Visualized data is tantamount to porn, IMHO. This is pretty cool...my highest key would be "....." Visualized data is tantamount to porn, IMHO. This is pretty cool…my highest key would be “…..”

]]> By: sweetcraspy http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128019 sweetcraspy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128019 A couple of thoughts: Some of the most common things I type are my passwords. Unless this was explicitly sampled from actual text like emails and documents, this type of keyscape might be a security vulnerability out of a spy movie. Looking at my hands as I rest on the home row (though i know I shouldn't), a folk origin for the Qwerty key layout suggests itself. All of the keys that I hit with pinky, ring and middle fingers are hidden. I can only see the keys immediately around my index fingers. If the hidden keys are the most often used, it's easier to memorize their locations, while the less frequently used center ones can be seen at a glance until you can memorize them too. I tried using Dvorak for a bit and didn't find it significantly better, but I never became fluent in it. A couple of thoughts:

Some of the most common things I type are my passwords. Unless this was explicitly sampled from actual text like emails and documents, this type of keyscape might be a security vulnerability out of a spy movie.

Looking at my hands as I rest on the home row (though i know I shouldn’t), a folk origin for the Qwerty key layout suggests itself. All of the keys that I hit with pinky, ring and middle fingers are hidden. I can only see the keys immediately around my index fingers. If the hidden keys are the most often used, it’s easier to memorize their locations, while the less frequently used center ones can be seen at a glance until you can memorize them too.

I tried using Dvorak for a bit and didn’t find it significantly better, but I never became fluent in it.

]]> By: turn_self_off http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128020 turn_self_off Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128020 Ok, so hammer returning may have been a bit much. But it clearly was about having the hammer retreat enough that it was not in the path of the next letter being entered. Ok, so hammer returning may have been a bit much. But it clearly was about having the hammer retreat enough that it was not in the path of the next letter being entered.

]]> By: turn_self_off http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128029 turn_self_off Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128029 I read about at least one big name in FPS gaming that preferred the esdf area, as it allowed the qazwx to be used to keep various actions within easy reach. I read about at least one big name in FPS gaming that preferred the esdf area, as it allowed the qazwx to be used to keep various actions within easy reach.

]]> By: jmzero http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128043 jmzero Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128043 <em>Ok, so hammer returning may have been a bit much. But it clearly was about having the hammer retreat enough that it was not in the path of the next letter being entered.</em> Well, not really. The problem is only with letters that the hammers are mechanically next to each other. You want to make sure that letters that commonly go together don't have their hammers next to each other.. and the hammers correspond to a large extent with where the keys are on the keyboard. Even with that restriction in place, the keyboard could likely have been optimized better - but QWERTY was definitely not made to suck. The other thing is that optimization is more complicated than it might first appear. It's not just about putting the most frequent letters together, it would involve discovering how well people can chain keys together from certain relationships and the frequency of combinations. For example, if "ER" is common, you probably don't want E and R on the same finger even if frequency might dictate they both go to a strong finger - it's clearly faster to hit two subsequent characters with different fingers. Ok, so hammer returning may have been a bit much. But it clearly was about having the hammer retreat enough that it was not in the path of the next letter being entered.

Well, not really. The problem is only with letters that the hammers are mechanically next to each other. You want to make sure that letters that commonly go together don’t have their hammers next to each other.. and the hammers correspond to a large extent with where the keys are on the keyboard.

Even with that restriction in place, the keyboard could likely have been optimized better – but QWERTY was definitely not made to suck.

The other thing is that optimization is more complicated than it might first appear. It’s not just about putting the most frequent letters together, it would involve discovering how well people can chain keys together from certain relationships and the frequency of combinations. For example, if “ER” is common, you probably don’t want E and R on the same finger even if frequency might dictate they both go to a strong finger – it’s clearly faster to hit two subsequent characters with different fingers.

]]> By: jammies http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128048 jammies Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128048 Yes, should have read "letters," not "keys." My guess is that the space bar and shift would have been so tall as to ruin the sculptural quality of the piece as well as any sense of proportion among letters. (Stand next to John Holmes and you're gonna feel small, even if you're the "E" in the circlejerk.) Yes, should have read “letters,” not “keys.” My guess is that the space bar and shift would have been so tall as to ruin the sculptural quality of the piece as well as any sense of proportion among letters. (Stand next to John Holmes and you’re gonna feel small, even if you’re the “E” in the circlejerk.)

]]> By: kjulig http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128063 kjulig Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128063 Agreed on the optimization issues. I'd also like to add internationalization. As it is, I'm having a hard enough time switching between layouts for different European languages (so I can easily type accented characters and umlauts), even though they are only slightly different. E.g. German is QWERTZ, French is AZERTY and Canadian French has the accented letters, symbols and numbers in different places than standard French. Now imagine if layouts were systematically organized for each language instead of just moving a couple of frequently-used letters around. There's something to be said for quasi standards... Agreed on the optimization issues. I’d also like to add internationalization. As it is, I’m having a hard enough time switching between layouts for different European languages (so I can easily type accented characters and umlauts), even though they are only slightly different. E.g. German is QWERTZ, French is AZERTY and Canadian French has the accented letters, symbols and numbers in different places than standard French. Now imagine if layouts were systematically organized for each language instead of just moving a couple of frequently-used letters around. There’s something to be said for quasi standards…

]]> By: historyman68 http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128833 historyman68 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128833 RTFA. He says he did exactly that. RTFA. He says he did exactly that.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128071 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128071 My backspace key would go to the MOON. My backspace key would go to the MOON.

]]> By: jja http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128072 jja Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128072 I'd like to see a keyboard that adjusted the height of the keys in realtime. Very rapidly, the keys that one hit most frequently would become harder to use, and would thus drop in frequency. Soon, one would be finger-surfing the chaotic wave of the alphanumeric equivalent of a 3D equalizer. Eventually a key hits the ceiling and gets permanently stuck. After that, it's a contest between the structural strength of the ceiling sheetrock, the keyboard and your desk. I’d like to see a keyboard that adjusted the height of the keys in realtime. Very rapidly, the keys that one hit most frequently would become harder to use, and would thus drop in frequency. Soon, one would be finger-surfing the chaotic wave of the alphanumeric equivalent of a 3D equalizer.

Eventually a key hits the ceiling and gets permanently stuck. After that, it’s a contest between the structural strength of the ceiling sheetrock, the keyboard and your desk.

]]> By: runwithskizzers http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128075 runwithskizzers Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128075 You can actually see on my work keyboard (which I've had for 3 years) what key I use more often than others. Or maybe just which keys I'm hitting harder than others. The "N", "M", and "H" buttons are pretty much gone which makes me think I just have an insanely strong pointer finger on my right hand. picture of the keyboard in question: http://i52.tinypic.com/2uiahd5.jpg You can actually see on my work keyboard (which I’ve had for 3 years) what key I use more often than others. Or maybe just which keys I’m hitting harder than others.

The “N”, “M”, and “H” buttons are pretty much gone which makes me think I just have an insanely strong pointer finger on my right hand.

picture of the keyboard in question: http://i52.tinypic.com/2uiahd5.jpg

]]> By: Micah http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128077 Micah Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128077 I'd be willing to get this guy didn't use actual usage data of his particular keyboard, but instead used generic stats on the frequency of occurrence of each letter in the English language. Either that or this guy does a ton more typing of long documents than web browsing, gaming or other activities. Because many of those other activities involve frequently repeated use of particular letters. I’d be willing to get this guy didn’t use actual usage data of his particular keyboard, but instead used generic stats on the frequency of occurrence of each letter in the English language.

Either that or this guy does a ton more typing of long documents than web browsing, gaming or other activities. Because many of those other activities involve frequently repeated use of particular letters.

]]> By: irksome http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128079 irksome Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128079 Anyone who's ever seen a typesetter's tray (graphic arts class in HS, 1974) could have told him the frequency of letter usage. Anyone who’s ever seen a typesetter’s tray (graphic arts class in HS, 1974) could have told him the frequency of letter usage.

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128593 noah django Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128593 well played, Cowicide, but points off for revealing the punchline in your post. as everyone else pointed out: the space, return, f5, backspace/delete, control/command, and shift would tower over 'E' if the dipshit who sculpted this was accurate/honest. well played, Cowicide, but points off for revealing the punchline in your post.

as everyone else pointed out: the space, return, f5, backspace/delete, control/command, and shift would tower over ‘E’ if the dipshit who sculpted this was accurate/honest.

]]> By: foxtails http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128086 foxtails Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128086 The artist should make the key heights proportional to the logarithm of letter frequency, and show us the Dvorak and Colemak versions. Better yet, use heat maps. The artist should make the key heights proportional to the logarithm of letter frequency, and show us the Dvorak and Colemak versions.

Better yet, use heat maps.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1133746 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1133746 This is letter frequency not key frequency, so a little misleading to represent on a keyboard. What would be interesting is TRUE key frequency, i imagine it would feature the spacebar, enter key etc on par with ‘e’ or ‘a’ This is letter frequency not key frequency, so a little misleading to represent on a keyboard. What would be interesting is TRUE key frequency, i imagine it would feature the spacebar, enter key etc on par with ‘e’ or ‘a’

]]> By: boehj http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128627 boehj Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128627 This is quite amazing! I have to write in English sometimes and Thai some other times. So I had to use these blue stickers to stick onto the keys so I can write in both scripts (the keyboard is a native English one). After about six months of solid use, some keys started to become unreadable. They were now just plain blue stickers - no more Latin or Thai glyphs. So these had to be removed, while the less frequently used keys are still carrying the blue stickers. The pattern is *exactly* the same as the one shown in the picture. Same keyboard too. This is quite amazing! I have to write in English sometimes and Thai some other times. So I had to use these blue stickers to stick onto the keys so I can write in both scripts (the keyboard is a native English one). After about six months of solid use, some keys started to become unreadable. They were now just plain blue stickers – no more Latin or Thai glyphs. So these had to be removed, while the less frequently used keys are still carrying the blue stickers.

The pattern is *exactly* the same as the one shown in the picture. Same keyboard too.

]]> By: turn_self_off http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128117 turn_self_off Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128117 There is a keyboard layout known as US-international. Basically a US keyboard with a altgr key and such. There is a keyboard layout known as US-international. Basically a US keyboard with a altgr key and such.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128379 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128379 Monoalphabetic substitution cipher fans rejoice! Monoalphabetic substitution cipher fans rejoice!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/02/keyboard-whose-keys.html#comment-1128648 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1128648 Why wouldn't he put the actual keys on top of the columns instead of ones that are ugly and hard to read? Why wouldn’t he put the actual keys on top of the columns instead of ones that are ugly and hard to read?

]]>