STEVE HARVEY ON HAVING BIG IDEAS
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Provide a keyboard with keys & spacing = the IBM Selectric TYPEWRITER!

10 points posted to Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) by phubert Jan 22

Note: the use of the IBM Selectric typewriter is for REFERENCE ONLY - the IDEA is the key size and spacing, not a fixed format

Many of us report frequent 'fat finger' typing errors.

I don't know whether Dell has looked into this at all, but, although I have LIKED Dell's compact, _default_ keyboard, I've JUST thought that errors MIGHT be reduced significantly by using a keyboard similar in key size and spacing to the old IBM Selectric typewriter.

Some research might be needed... find one and duplicate it's layout, then run some trials.

Naturally, the actual _computer_ keyboard would also have all the appropriate keys on existing computer keyboards, but the sizing would match that of the original typewriter.

okroger104
Jan 22
Dude, you are SO dating yourself. :)~

That get's props in my book though.
phubert
Jan 22
Yes, I'm from the days when your Wordprocessing software was entirely in your own head, communicated to nimble fingers articulating against keys that resulted in hardcopy impact... :-D ...and error correction was ENTIRELY manual... (well, there WAS an erasure key... and that nice little white-out ribbon!)
okroger104
Jan 22
I have an old Smith Corona from the '40s that I bought from a garage sale. I was mesmerized by it and had to have it at any price. Clean it up nicely. Couldn't believe people actually used those things. It's kind of romantic though. Like letter writting with a quill and ink pot.

Back on topic though, I think better spacing between keys would be a good thing. Many of my spelling errors are neighboring key hits. Same thing happens to me when I play 61 key keyboards (music) versus full size 88key or pianos while playing trills or scale rolls.
phubert
Jan 22
My suggestion ends with "but the sizing would match that of the original typewriter" ... of course I mean the typewriter I REFERENCE, not "the ORIGINAL typewriter" .. with its ROUND keys, etc.

Ever use an old Underwood manual???? I did in typing class in high school... one way to exercize the fingers!
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