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One-handed keyboards are available in various sizes and layouts, with some resembling traditional keyboards and others using button combinations. They can be useful for those with disabilities or injuries, and for those who want a portable option. Learning to use them takes practice, but with time, typing speed can be comparable to two-handed typing. However, some models can be expensive and may cause hand exhaustion. Despite this, for those who need to type one-handed regularly, it may be worth the investment.
A one-handed keyboard is a type of keyboard that can be used to type all letters with one hand. Some of these devices are very small and are used as plug-ins for things like personal organizers, cell phones, or combination phone/organizer devices. They can help you type material as fast as possible with the hunt-and-peck style of most small device keyboards. Others are larger devices, and some look nothing like a keyboard at all (like the BAT keyboard), but use a combination of button presses (or chords) to produce different letters.
There are many reasons why someone might choose to have a one-handed keyboard. For smaller devices, they may just want something easy to carry that only requires one hand to operate. Conversely, some people want a one-handed keyboard if they have a significant disability or injury in one hand, making typing with two difficult. These folks therefore have numerous type choices available to them.
Some types of these keyboards are based on the standard QWERTY model or the DVORAK model. If typists learned to type via one of these models, they may prefer using a similar key layout with a one-handed keyboard. Many say that with practice, typing speed can be similar to two-handed typing, and both keyboards also allow people to “hunt and peck.”
Another model that might work for someone skilled in QWERTY is the half QWERTY keyboard, which has only half the keys and might be easier to learn for someone used to a full keyboard. Using the spacebar, this type allows people to access other keys similar to how they would be typed by the unused hand. Some believe that half QWERTY is the best choice for those who are already fast typists trained in the QWERTY method.
There are other styles of keyboards and these are always evolving. Most of them have a learning curve. It takes a while to master one-handed typing with any new method. The BAT system, for example, where people press combinations of buttons to produce letters can take time to memorize. Those who practice constantly, such as those who have a job as a typist, can become fast on any system. However, for casual use, one-handed keyboards with complex new systems can be difficult to master, and some are quite expensive.
Another problem with one-handed keyboards is hand exhaustion. People who type often end up using one hand to type all the letters and symbols, and many of the keyboard types available are not ergonomic. Price is another consideration. Some models are well above $500 US Dollars (USD), but some are inexpensive, and models like the DVORAK can be obtained for little to no money.
For many people, however, it’s worth any price tag associated with a one-handed keyboard if they can type with ease after learning the extra steps to produce all the letters. Some people just choose to stick with regular keyboards and buy them in smaller sizes, and that might be fine for hunting and pecking typing. For those who need to type one-handed on a regular basis, it may be worth learning a one-handed keyboard system, since many are able to type at excellent speeds with practice, rivaling the speeds of competent typists with two hands.
