One-handed keyboard a big leap

Don’t just take my word for it
After delaying the inevitable for months, I informed my editor that I had tried to master the device but I couldn’t do it. She had a great idea — suggesting we engage another tester, preferably younger and sharper than me — to see how well they could do at FrogPad typing after a short learning period.

I chose 28-year-old Steve Berman, a friend of a friend. Steve is also a researcher at a Fortune 500 computer firm, so he's no stranger to technology. I gave him one week to see what he thought.

It wasn't just me.

“Alas, try as I might, I was unable to master the damn thing," Steve wrote. "I spent somewhere around five hours trying to use the thing, and although I am able to type on it without looking at the keys, I can only type about 10 words per minutes (as compared to 60 on a QWERTY keyboard)."

Steve also had more setup problems than I did, and needed to uninstall and reinstall drivers a few times on his IBM T series ThinkPad laptop before getting it to work.

While there is a typing tutor program specifically for the FrogPad, Steve concluded (as I suspect many will) that $30 for a one-month subscription was a lot to pay, and used a freeware typing tutor, Bruce’s Unusual Typing Wizard, instead.

"It would really help if the FrogPad folks would package a good training tool with their hardware," Steve said.

Finally, Steve said he wasn't "entirely sure what the point is. The literature presents it as an ergonomic alternative to the QWERTY keyboard, and I suppose that people with carpal-tunnel issues may appreciate the reduced finger movement the FrogPad affords.  I could also imagine it would be useful for people who have use of only one of their hands, but for the rest of us, I just don’t see typing on it as my only keyboard. Even for entering text on a PDA, I would rather use one of those fold-out QWERTY keyboards than the FrogPad.  I imagine a programmer would find it especially frustrating, as entering punctuation and symbols is particularly cumbersome.”

So, I'm not alone. And while it is true that there is definitely an audience out there for a one-handed keyboard, you should keep in mind the length of time needed to get up to speed. I think for someone to master the FrogPad he or she will need dozens of hours rather than the 10 or so that are recommended — particularly if the student is already proficient at using a QWERTY keyboard.

FrogPad’s manual reminded me that it probably took an entire semester in junior high school to learn how to type 40 words a minute on a standard keyboard. In that case, it would probably take me at least as long to get good on a FrogPad. 

You might have better luck. I’ve seen people type very quickly on a FrogPad with no errors. If you can spend the time and get good at it, I still believe FrogPad could be a great alternative to any full QWERTY keyboard for portable devices.

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