Alphagrip: February 2006

First Typing Numbers are in.

Feb 13th, 2006
All QUERTY statistics come from a Laptop Keyboard (Compaq Armada M700)

Tests were done shortly after 11PM, and I was pretty tired. I may get more numbers when I'm awake and fully caffinated. I'm also curious to see what my QUERTY skills are like on a normal full-size keyboard. I will post those numbers as my schedule permits.
The Typing Tutor
Tutor Used = QUERTY: Letters Only
Auto Difficulty = ON
Detailed Score = ON
Mistakes = Buffer
Count Down = 50
Score = 51
Accuracy = 100
Speed = 83
Difficulty = 16

Tutor Used = Alphagrip-basic
Auto Difficulty = ON
Detailed Score = ON
Mistakes = Buffer
Count Down = 50
Score = 17
Accuracy = 100
Speed = 50
Difficulty = 1

Typingtest.com
QUERTY (Laptop Keyboard)
Test Name: Strategic Alliances with Competitors
Gross Speed = 59 WPM
Errors = 0 words
Net Speed = 59 WPM
Accuracy = 100%

Alphagrip
Test Name: Strategic Alliances with Competitors
Gross Speed = 9 WPM
Errors = 0 words
Net Speed = 9 WPM
Accuracy = 100%

First Alphagrip Hack!

Carl Anderson has remapped the keys of the Alphagrip using a free application called "Autohotkey".

Here are some images showing what the remapping looks like, and links to the INI file necessary to use this in AutoHotkey. The idea is to keep all the typing on the back keys, and put all the modifiers on the easily accessible top-front row. Carl's main problem stemmed from the fact that he uses modifiers such as ALT and CTRL often, and many keyboard shortcuts are difficult due to their default placement.

My question is: how do you get used to the new mapping when you look at your Alphagrip? Do you make stickers and put them on the keys, or do you just not look at the "grip" itself while you type?

Download the Alphagrip Autohotkey Remapping, Release 1 as a RAR file, or ZIP file

--Sawaba

A skeptical and negative press...

I've been Googleing Alphagrip quite a bit, and coming up with more and more on it. However, I've also been running into Alphagrip articles when I'm not looking for them. Proof that more and more people are interested in it! The downside? Everything I've seen has been negative.

Wired calls it Vaporware (#9 on their 2005 top ten list).
Engaget (via Joystiq) calls it "incomprehendable" (I'm not sure this is a word, they probably meant "incomprehensible").
Joystiq calls it "Keyboard and gamepad's unholy love child".

What do they all have in common? They've never touched an Alphagrip AG-5. I'm all for heckling vaporware vendors (hello Infinium Labs, your Phantom concept is getting a bit old as well...) but this ain't vapor in my hands right now. If you use the Alphagrip and hate it, flame and rant all you want. However, since it is available now (shipping may still take a while, this thing isn't exactly availabe at CompUSA yet), I'm eager to see some actual hands-on reviews besides my own.

Not to get defensive, but anyone who is boggled at the sight of an AG-5 (which is understandable) hasn't held one in their hands. Honestly, I've probably shown mine to over 30 friends, family, and coworkers, and the initial reaction is always the same ("that's crazy!"). Ironically, their reaction after actually holding the Alphagrip, have been equally consistant: the complete opposite. I've heard, "Ohhhhh, ok. That makes sense. I see..." about 30 times now.

Sit on a chair without arms, or on a sofa, with your legs slightly apart (bear with me). Shake out your hands until they are relaxed, and lower them to your lap, towards the insides of your thighs (bearing with me still?). Your hands are probably open with the palms facing partially up. The space between your palms, fingers, and thumbs is the shape of the Alphagrip. This is how you type with an AG-5. If this feels comfortable and familiar, it is probably because you've logged some time with a game controller. There is a major difference between holding the AG-5 and a game controller though. See the fleshy part of your hand between your thumb and first finger? Two flanges on the Alphagrip allow it to rest here. This is why the Alphagrip can be held comfortably without hitting keys by mistake. You don't use your fingers to hold it, like with a game controller.

--Avery

P.S. - Been busy with work lately. REALLY busy, so I haven't had a chance to benchmark my typing speeds yet.

The Alphagrip disassembled

So, yeah, my Alphagrip typing skills are not too quick yet, so I got curious and took the Alphagrip apart. I thought I'd post some pictures, since I know there are those of you interested in seeing the guts of expensive/exotic gadgets (it is really a sick habit - you should get help), I thought I'd take a few pictures. It is a pretty simple and elegant little package, basically a two-part 3-dimentional keyboard connected by three connectors and eight screws. The type of buttons and the soft membrane remind me of a blackberry's thumb-board (yes, I've taken one of those apart also).

This is the front half of the Alphagrip. Attached to it are the circuit board for the front upper keys, the lower-front keys and membrane, and the rubber feet. You can also make out the three white connectors that connect the front to the back.

This is the back half of the Alphagrip. This houses all the electronics for the back keys, the front lower keys, and the USB ports. You can see the wire bundles that connect to the three white connectors on the front half. You can also see four green LCDs, which indicate (from left to right) the status of NumLock, Pause, CapsLock, and FunctionLock.

By the way, if you have an AG-5, and plan on taking it apart, do it with the controller face-down. Everything in the back half will stay together, but the keys and membrane in the front half are loose when separated from the back half.

And in case you were wondering, yes - I did get the AG-5 back together without incidient, and yes, it still works.

--Adrian