Ask Slashdot: Single-Handed Keyboard Options For Coding? 147
First time accepted submitter dubbreak writes "I was recently injured in a car accident which will limit the use of hand for six weeks or so. I'll be taking a little time off, but deadlines march on, and I'll need to be (semi) productive after my initial recuperation. What is you experience with single handed keyboards or other input option that require one hand at most? The current project is mainly C#, so I've need to be able to type brackets, semicolons and parentheses quick and painlessly."
Don't Bother (Score:5, Insightful)
One of my coworkers can use only one hand. He has no special equipment, uses a regular keyboard and mouse, etc. The guy's wicked-effective, and his work output appears to be -- at minimum -- at reasonable volume. Frankly, he's one of the most productive engineers I know. And that's with both Java and Perl, which is a pain in the ass given its special characters.
Consider using this as an opportunity to focus on design and thinking before you bang your keyboard. You may be surprised by the results.
Twiddler (Score:2, Insightful)
I have the original serial-based Twiddler keyboard (there is now a USB one), and it isn't all that amazing. However, if I really had to use one hand to type, I could get used to it.
The biggest problem is with hand cramping. It is not ergonomic in any way.
http://www.handykey.com/
Re:Foot pedals. (Score:3, Insightful)
Sorry for not logging in. Any recommended footpedal brands? If I were to make my own it would be clutch, brake, and accelerator pedal.
Re:As someone who posted to Slashdot... (Score:4, Insightful)
While a joke. I am using a normal keyboard, with one hand. The other is on the mouse. (With a different window). While not as fast as normal, I can still type at a good speed. I can seem to type everything I need. !@#$%^&*()_+ My hands are average sized.
I really don't see the need for a new keyboard for a temporary usage.