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The DataHand is an unconventional computer keyboard introduced in 1995 by DataHand Systems, Inc, designed to be operated without any wrist motion or finger extension. It was invented by Dale J. Retter and produced by Industrial Innovations as early as 1992. 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.
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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.
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 market and 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". However, the company plans a final, limited production run to satisfy existing customers. In January 2009, the company's website started taking orders for a "limited number of new DataHand Pro II units".
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).
See also
- Keyboard technology
- List of human-computer interaction topics
- Computer keyboard
- Ergonomic keyboard
- Computer accessibility
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Repetitive strain injury
- Adaptive technology
External links
- DataHand at Typing FAQ
- How-To disassemble and clean the DataHand
- Images of the DataHand keyboard
- A DataHand owner's experience, with photos of older models
- Review by Jan Goyvaerts (posted August 6, 2007)
- Follow-up review by Jan Goyvaerts (posted January 7, 2008)
- Review in ExtremeTech written by Robyn Peterson (posted April 22, 2003)
- Review by David Madison
- ATPM Review by Paul Fatula (posted May, 2001)
- Evaluation by G Martin (posted June 10, 1994)
- Evaluation by Cliff Lasser (posted August 20, 1992)
- Review by Bryan Rosner, BioMed Publishers (posted November 11, 2008)