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FrogPad keyboard built for typing with one hand

By Craig Crossman
Knight Ridder Newspapers

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Did you know that only about 20 percent of us who use a keyboard are full-fledged touch typists? The rest either hunt-and-peck or use two or three fingers on each hand to do their typing.

In the search for to design a better keyboard, many alternatives are available. Some use different key layouts, different key positions and other creative methods that try to find a more elegant solution to the standard QWERTY keyboard.

Another continuing endeavor is designing ways to make keyboards more portable. Some fold up, making them easy to carry around, but they still must be opened when used.

A smaller keyboard means smaller keys, and there's the rub.

Most of these keyboards have keys that are way too small for most adult fingers. One way to get around the "small keyboard with keys that are too small" paradox is to make a keyboard with fewer keys. Some of these smaller keyboards use a chording method where more than one key is pressed at the same time to produce alternative characters.

The drawback is the time you must spend to learn the chording technique.

But one keyboard maker has come up with a small keyboard with full-sized keys and no chording. And, as a bonus, it requires only one hand to type anything.

The FrogPad (www.frogpad.com) looks much like a numeric keypad but uses only 15 character and five function keys. The five function keys are placed along the FrogPad's bottom perimeter. These are Space, Number, Symbol, Enter and Shift. By combining the pressing of these function keys with your thumb and pressing any of the other 15 keys with your fingers, you can produce any character you can with a standard 101-key keyboard.

The 15 letters at the center of FrogPad's keyboard include the letters A, E, T and H, which are the keys most often used. All of the vowels can be pressed by the index finger.

Hitting the Shift key at the bottom of the keyboard in conjunction with one of the 15 central keys, for example, leads to the rest of the alphabet. Similarly, pressing the Number key allows a person to type in numbers. The Symbol key lets users type in punctuation marks.

Indicator lights show which function key is selected as well as special and alternative modes. According to the company, you will never have to simultaneously press more than two keys.

As for its dimensions, the FrogPad is 5-by-3.5-by-0.4 inches and weighs 4.9 ounces. And it's green; hence, the name. The keys are the same size as those found on a standard keyboard.

According to its maker, in about two minutes with the FrogPad, you will understand the logic behind the patented letter layout. In an hour, you will remember where most of the letters are located. Then in about six to 10 hours of use, you can get to 40 words a minute.

The FrogPad has been designed to be used ideally with the right hand, though the company says it also works with the left hand. A left-hand version is planned.

The keyboard connects to your Windows PC or Macintosh via a USB connection. A Japanese version is also available.

A new cordless version that works with Bluetooth has just been announced. The corded model sells for $149.99. The price for the Bluetooth model is $199.99.

If you're looking for a portable keyboard or need to type with just one hand, the FrogPad deserves your consideration.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company