09-22-2003, 11:00 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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Intel Gives Backing To New Keypad
As we all know, one of the biggest complaints we mobile devices users have is how difficult text and data entry can be. More and more of us seem to be embracing SMS, but typing the text can still be exasperating. Intel seems to be on the case, though, because they're now backing a new keypad, called "Fastap," that's supposed to make text entry a lot easier.
Photo: BBC News
"At its autumn developer event, Intel showed off a concept universal communicator using the Fastap keypad that fits 26 letters alongside the numbers on a handset. The Fastap keypad does away with the need to press keys several times to scroll through the letters associated with each number.
"Fastap was developed by former Apple ergonomic design boss David Levy as a way to make it easier to enter text using the tiny keypad on a handset. The design puts letters of the alphabet on raised buttons that fit between the keys. Words can be typed by pressing the raised keys, and numbers by pressing the four keys that surround a particular number.
"Digit Wireless, which licences use of the Fastap technology, has signed deals with phone makers in the Far East but Intel is by far the largest technology firm to back the idea."
I've always had problems getting used to non-traditional ways of entering text; schemes like FITALY and T9 still confuse whatever part of my brain that's responsible for such things. But, this little keypad looks like it might be a great enhancement to future mobile phones or Smartphones. It's nice to see a large company like Intel involved, but I can't help but wonder why this hasn't taken off before now; I remember seeing announcements of its birth over a year ago. Does that mean that it simply needed the support of a strong provider like Intel, or is this going to be just another dud?
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09-22-2003, 12:50 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Quote:
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The design puts letters of the alphabet on raised buttons that fit between the keys. Words can be typed by pressing the raised keys, and numbers by pressing the four keys that surround a particular number.
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You have to press four keys for a number? :idontthinkso:
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09-22-2003, 01:22 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,639
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
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The design puts letters of the alphabet on raised buttons that fit between the keys. Words can be typed by pressing the raised keys, and numbers by pressing the four keys that surround a particular number.
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You have to press four keys for a number? :idontthinkso: |
I think that the little letter keys are so close together that if you press right in the center of the recessed number, you automatically press the four keys surrounding it.
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Cheers!
David
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09-22-2003, 02:03 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 335
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Ouch!
I can just feel the star shaped depressions in my fingertips...Ouch!
I couldn't see typing for long on this keyboard (especially as it doesn't have a qwerty layout), although for quick messages it would be OK.
Why not just make a touchpad overlay? It would seem to be much easier to construct, although tacktile feedback may be missing - although Sony are working on a tackile touchscreen technology which could be applied.
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09-22-2003, 03:08 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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Re: Ouch!
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Originally Posted by PJE
Why not just make a touchpad overlay?
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I think they may be thinking this would be more of a replacement for the conventional keypad on a mobile phone. I've never been that good at entering text on a phone keypad anyway, and with my big fingers this new system might be unusable.
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09-22-2003, 04:18 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Re: Ouch!
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Originally Posted by PJE
I can just feel the star shaped depressions in my fingertips...Ouch!
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Not really -- if they're soft, I don't see a problem.
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Why not just make a touchpad overlay? It would seem to be much easier to construct, although tacktile feedback may be missing - although Sony are working on a tackile touchscreen technology which could be applied.
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That's the precise reason. I have a Pocket PC phone, and by far the biggest problem is lack of tactile feedback. I manage, but not everyone will be happy with such an arrangement. This is an alternative input method.
--janak
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09-22-2003, 05:36 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 94
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I am a serious user of fitaly but a one handed input method is still an interst to me. I hope that if these thumb keyboards become widespread that they include a Ctrl key. I use Ctrl based keyboard shortcuts constantly in TextMaker.
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09-22-2003, 08:14 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 461
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On my cell phone, I am very glad with T9. Actually, I had thought of posting a thread concerning T9 as input method in PDAs. Besides, T9 would work fine paired to auto word completion software.
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09-22-2003, 08:36 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 43
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I did post about that a while ago!
I asked if there was a way to use the T9 input of a, mobile phone via bluetooth as a text input for a PDA, I havent done any proper tests but I think it could produce far greater WPM than any other text input!
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09-22-2003, 09:47 PM
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5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,616
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I can get decent speed and efficiency on my mobile phone without t9. In my experience t9 is completely backwards from what it's intended to be, both on phone keyboards and Pocket PCs. Using the multiple-keypress method works fairly well for me.
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