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Related Experiment Videos

Chord keyboards.

J Noyes1

  • 1HUSAT Research Group, Loughborough University of Technology.

Applied Ergonomics
|March 1, 1983
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Chord keyboards, which use simultaneous key presses, require fewer keys than traditional keyboards. Early research in the 1950s and 1960s explored their potential for data entry, with modern devices focusing on general applications.

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Area of Science:

  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Ergonomics
  • Information Technology

Background:

  • Chord keyboards differ from standard sequential keyboards by using simultaneous patterned key presses.
  • This allows for a reduced number of keys, generating multiple combinations from fewer inputs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the historical development of chord keyboards since the 1940s.
  • To emphasize their application in mail sorting and explore future trends.

Main Methods:

  • Historical review of chord keyboard development.
  • Analysis of early research by the Canadian Post Office and IBM.
  • Examination of commercially available chord keying devices.

Main Results:

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  • Chord keyboard feasibility was investigated in the mid-1950s, peaking in research around 1960.
  • Commercial availability began in the 1970s, with recent devices targeting general-purpose applications.
  • Five keys can generate 31 unique chord combinations.

    • Conclusions:

    • Chord keyboards have evolved from specialized to general-purpose data entry devices.
    • Continued development suggests potential for wider adoption in various applications.
    • The mail sorting application highlights the efficiency of chord keying technology.