'Correct' position for underside buttons?

[Chris Boyce]

I just got my AlphaGrip today, and I'm trying to determine the best
position for my fingers on the underside keys. I've got fairly large
hands ( I can just interlace the tips of my fingers if I put my palms
right against the sides of the alphagrip). Since my fingers extend a
ways over the keys, I'm not sure if it'll be more efficient to have my
fingers sort of perched up above the keys so I can use just the tip of
the fingers to press the buttons in either direction, or if I could
rest my fingers on the buttons, and sort of 'push' or 'pull' my finger
against the button to select from the two directions. I guess I'm
asking if the buttons on the back are supposed to be 'typed' or
'rocked'. Thanks much,
-Chris

[Mike W]

They were intended to be typed, but whatever works. You may want to
take a look at the add-ons that Carl Andersen applied to the keys of
his AlphaGrip:
http://groups.google.com/group/alphagrip/browse_frm/thread/9febe2502e79b1af/1932dba5d2c061cd?q=add-ons&rnum=1#1932dba5d2c061cd
. They may help users with large hands. You may also consider
applying some padding to each side of the AlphaGrip to pull your palms
away from the center of the device. I plan to cut up a wrist rest to
see how that works. FYI, I too can interlace the tips of my fingers if
I put my palms right against the sides of the AlphaGrip and I generate
characters by pressing both sides of the rocker buttons with the tips
of my fingers, but other users have indicated they were going to try to
use the lower part of their fingers to press the outside portion of the
rocker keys. I haven't heard any feedback on that.

[Chris Boyce]

Mike,
Thanks for the reply. I think I'll try to scrounge up some foam and see
what I can come up with. Thanks!
-Chris

[ivanwfr]

> but other users have indicated they were going to try to
> use the lower part of their fingers to press the outside portion
> of the rocker keys

---
I am currently trying to stick to that but, as I have planned a slow
learning phase, I can't tell whether I should recommend it or not yet.
I don't type with my AG for the moment, I am only teaching the layout
to my fingers.

I want to give a try to this solution because this could be THE way to
use the device. Not having to reach to hit a key would be quite
something new!

I don't expect results very soon because I am still pushing my standard
touch-typing technique to see what it means to go beyond 70wpm.

I did quit my hunt-and-peck technique one year ago and I am happy with
the result so far. I have notices some staging phases where it looks
like progression has stalled and I expect this to happen with the AG
too. One thing I have learned along the way is that time is the main
factor at work in this kind of training. The good news is that it will
accomplish unexpected result sooner or later...

[Matthias Schult]

On Mon, 01 May 2006 04:32:32 -0700 "Mike W" <Mi...@AlphaGrip.com> wrote:
> They were intended to be typed.
That really shocks me! No kidding, the only thing supposed to be new compared with a regular keyboard is the shape? Same QWERTY-layout, typing with fingertips, no stenographic chording, no keys above the fingers, ... :-(

> I put my palms right against the sides of the AlphaGrip and I generate
> characters by pressing both sides of the rocker buttons with the tips
> of my fingers, but other users have indicated they were going to try to
> use the lower part of their fingers to press the outside portion of the
> rocker keys. I haven't heard any feedback on that.

I have pretty small hands, so I hope this'll work for me even if it was not intended.

Hope it arrives soon,
Matthias