n-key rollover, is 6 enough?

[Blackouti386]

My keyboard is capable of making 6 keystrokes at once. I have
confirmed this on a few nkey rollover tests.

Is this enough? What is the acceptable minimum?

[Stan Sakai]

Well, I actually feel like there are a LOT of outlines that exceed 6
keys. Um...

guidelines = TKPWHRAOEUPBZ (13)
snide = STPHAOEUD (9)
and I want = SKPEUPT (7)
destruction = STKRUBGS (8)
commitment = KPHEUPLT (8)
and I can see = SKPEUBGZ (8)
movement = PHAOFPLT (8)
jailed = SKWRAEULD (9)
structure = STRURBGT (8)
information = TPHFGS (6!)
bland = PWHRAPBD (8)
accelerated = SKAERLTD (8)
interrogate = SPWERGT (7)
accomplished = KPHREURBD (9)
sniffles = STPHEUFLS (9)
implement = KPWHREPLT (9)
groups = TKPWRAOUPS (10)
cages = KAEUPBLGZ (9)
exaggerate = KPAPBLGT (8)
United States = KWRAOEUS (8)
congressional = TKPWRERBL (9)
jinx = SKWR*EUPBGS (11)
integral = SPWERLG (7)
cigarette = STKPWRET (8)
completely = KPHRAOELT (9)
branches = PWRAFRPBLGZ (11)
June = SKWRAOUPB (9)
disguised = STKPWAOEUSD (11)
Rick Santorum = RO*RPL (lol, and now we're off topic)

Anyway, that's my list that I came up with just now of common and
not-
so-common words. I think with 6, you'd be pretty limited, actually.
That is, unless you broke all those words up into numerous smaller
strokes (e.g., instead of writing "completely" as KPHRAOELT, writing
it KOPL/PHRAOET/-L or something like that since even KPHRAOET
"complete" just by itself has more than 6 letters in it).

But that defeats one of the primary advantages of stenography over
the
keyboard -- the ability to capture as many sounds as possible in one
fell swoop!

How many letters can the SideWinder and the Filco Majestouch register
at once? I would imagine the latter being a really high number seeing
as Mirabai CARTed with it.

As far as an "acceptable minimum" goes, I'd say um, usually no more
than 13. So 13 or 14?

And I'm too broke from buying an actual professional machine (for
which I had to sell a kidney and both my legs on top of what I had
saved up) to even afford a SideWinder or a Filco right now. I feel
like I've been a bad supporter/enthusiast!

Exhibit A right here as to why we need this project! Ugh.


-Stan

[Blackouti386]

You press 13 keys at the same time?

[Stan Sakai]

Sometimes. Like in the case of "guidelines," yes. Or I guess you could
divide it up into TKPWAOEUD (9) / HRAOEUPBZ (9).

[graywolf]

I believe that 6 key roll over thing was with USB 1.1. That was as
fast as the bus could go. There is no reason why a properly designed
USB 2.0 keyboard should be so limited, as it is capable of running
1000 strokes per second. Since a letter consists of a down and an up
stroke that is only 500 letters per second. And, in fact, there are
several USB keyboards available today that do not have a 6 key limit.

Please note that there are keyboards that are deliberately designed to
have a two key limit, so you can not accidentally enter letters. Two
keys, as in "shift" "letter". Before computer games became so popular,
many quality keyboards were designed that way.

In my research I have found at least two brands of programable USB
controllers that are designed to allow all the keys they can read to
be hit at the same time without loss.

Also note, that the 6 key rollover only applies to USB, the PS2 port
never had that limit.