FAQ
Why develop a new 10 key keyboard?
Some believe typing will be a thing of the past when voice recognition is perfected but in fact some things are just easier to do with the push of a button. Editing by voice can be very frustrating so a simple way to correct mistakes is essential. Many people don’t want to talk to devices or can’t talk, and accents can frustrate effective translation. People want to have options so manual keyboard input will be with us long into the future. We all know that the old-style keyboard has some flaws and we feel that there should be more compact way to type without looking on mobile devices. We adopted the natural human element of 10 fingers and moved all of the keystrokes onto them for a more human man-machine interface.
How can 10 keys replace the entire keyboard?
The IN10DID system provides input whenever one of its 10 keys is pressed and released. Each key also act as a shift key when pressed in combinations with other keys. This is called “chording” like making a musical note with more than one key. Thumbs are used for the alphabetic letters, index fingers for punctuation and some functions and the other fingers map out the rest of the keyboard. When a combined key is released, the value of that keystroke is generated as input. This provides combinations for every letter, number, or character to be generated with very few keys. To tackle multi-key presses such as “Control, Alt-delete”, keystrokes sequentially stack to create the same effect.
How fast can I type?
Users can expect to exceed 30 WPM with practice, one-handed, but the main goal is to improve safety by not having to look to type. On our first design, keystrokes had to be pressed in sequence but we did away with that so now keys can be pressed at the same time or out of order and still produce the intended resulting keystroke. This also means that we had to add more three finger presses but mostly for stuff you don’t use very often. We are optimistic that greater speeds may be reached by experienced users.
Where can the DecaTxt be used?
Because DecaTxt uses Bluetooth Low Energy, it is designed to be used with most modern devices. The DecaTxt 3 uses one of the newest Bluetooth modules so connectivity is great with most iOS, Android, PC, Mac, Linux, Chrome devices as well as Smart TVs and gaming consoles. DecaTxt is great for active people who don’t want to stop to text but it is also great for people who can’t move much at all. It’s much better for texting in bed than propping up a keyboard and effective for the vision impaired. DecaTxt also works with spatial computing systems and provides effective typing in virtual reality. Many of the places where you may need a keyboard, the DecaTxt can be very useful.
Is this system easy to learn?
Several things make IN10DID typing system easier to learn than other chord input systems. The alphabet is produced in a consecutive fashion across the fingers with the thumbs used as the shift keys so that the proper key can be calculated, and not just simply remembered. Here is a video that demonstrates some of the basics. Numbers are also continuous across the keys from left to right. Once you know where the letters are, contextual clues help you find other keystrokes. For example, Page-up uses the keys for “p” & “u”, number-lock uses the keys “n” & “l”. Similar keystrokes are grouped under the same shift key to help you master the system. 96 keystrokes are printed on the label and color coded so you can simply press the key next to the symbol plus the key(s) colored like blocks next to it. Most people can touch-type the entire alphabet within 60 seconds of learning it. Kids tend to pick it up quickly however several adults who thought it would be difficult admit that it was way easier than they expected.
What are the plans for this technology?
The reason for developing this system was to create a common way to interface anywhere. Everything from ten-key gloves to cell phone keypads to game controllers to remote controls to ATMs could all use this same interface. That way, once you know how the ten keys work, anything you pick up would work the same. Ten buttons on the steering wheel of a vehicle could be used to operate everything, from the windows, the radio, the GPS, without the driver’s hands leaving the wheel. This could also assist the police and fire rescue, who often need to access data while in their vehicles. Beyond that, the configuration may have relevance in advancing BCI or brain/computer interfacing in the not-too-distant future. Using the neural pathways that move our fingers could instead be used to type or control a computer, making telekinesis no so far-fetched! We have also adapted our system for an even smaller, virtual interface called Microtxt that allows short swipes to create keystrokes. This technology opens doors to a variety of exciting new concepts and is a clear break from the past. Why are we still using a design from 1869 for modern technology anyway?
What products are available?
We are currently manufacturing the DecaTxt and selling it on Amazon here. To advance future technology, we need to look beyond the familiar and try new things. There is a saying: “if you want to learn something new, you need to stop doing something old!” DecaTxt is the step to build it into phone cases, wrist bands, clothing, bike handles and just about anywhere you can imagine wanting a convenient keyboard.
How can I stay informed?
We would love to have you sign-up for our newsletter at I encourage you to follow us on twitter @in10did , YouTube and on facebook. We invite your opinions and questions and hope that you will embrace alternatives to the old ways of doing things!