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- Accessories (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=3)
-- ThumbType? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=3295)

I ran across a reference to a Palm Pilot accessory called the ThumbType. It is a sort of mini-keyboard that fits over the grafitti area. http://www.thumbtype.com

Is this thing for real? Will it be available in the US? Will it work on a Visor?

If so, I want one!

GOOD LORD MAN, how the hell you going to type on that? My fingers would cover about five keys at once! I doubt even my girlfriend could type on that, and she has tiny fingers! Unless you had some pointy fingernails... I couldn't use it.

[This message has been edited by irewolf (edited 11-02-1999).]

I seem to remember Wired Magazine talking about a thumb pointer/stylus. (If you're a guitar player think of a thumb pick with a point on it).

Could this be what they mean?

I think the idea is that one would hold the machine with fingees and thumbsees would rest
on the key area. By a little practice you sposed to learn to press on the one little
key by feel while not pressing on the ones around it, even tho the thumb hangs out over
it. By feel it is done. By sight it is not done. I think with a little attitude and
practice it could be fairly fast. It might be a little faster than a stylus, but a
better system could be imagined. The eight fingees on the back are sitting there idle,
with four times the dexterity and about four ime the area to work in.

Still getting used to this little box to type in. It might be related to the folks who
brought you the thumbs typing system. Same folks who have the hotel rooms six by two by
two. Space is waste.


[This message has been edited by wood (edited 11-12-1999).]

[This message has been edited by wood (edited 11-12-1999).]

I sent them an email asking about availability in the US. Here's what they replied:

>Dear Sir or Madam,
>
>This is ThumbType Support of Okaya Systemware Co., Ltd.(OSW)
>
>Thank you for what you were interested in for ThumbType.
>
>About information of ThumbType, it will be shown with our website
>for English soon.
>We are producing it now.
>Perhaps it will be shown in the end of November.
>
> http://www.osw.co.jp/index-e.htm
>
>Please wait for a while.
>
>There are two types of ThumbType is operable with the English version.
>
>WorkPad version: For WorkPad, PalmIII, PalmIIIx, PalmIIIe, PalmVII
>WorkPad c3 version: For WorkPad c3, PalmV ( It is not released yet.)
>
>Perhaps WorkPad c3 version is released in about the end of November
>in JAPAN.
>
>Manufacturer's suggested retail price in JAPAN:
> 6,800 Japanese Yen (+ carriage cost)
>
>A Visor can work.
>We do not have guarantees on but because Visor is not a conformity model
>of machines as us.
>
>I'm sorry that we are not ready for sale for overseas yet.
>We prepare it about a mail order to overseas now.
>Perhaps an announcement about a mail order to overseas will be done when
>our English version Web site is shown.
>
>We produce it now.
>Please wait for a while.
>
>Best regards.
>
>Thank you.

BTW,
the URL:
http://www.thumbtype.com

now seems to be broken. You can see a picture at:
http://www.osw.co.jp/products/mobile/thumb.htm

but the page is in Japanese.

Well, at least they're not setting expectations that they can't meet....

Hmmmmmm, 6,800 Yen is about $65.00 USA dollars. Interesting.

There is a related product available now, the Silkyboard. http://www.softava.com/silkyboard/

It is a paste on overlay for the graffiti area with software. You tap on the drawing of the keyboard, or do normal strokes, the software figures out what to do.

ThumbType URL to the Japanese site seems to be restored but there is still no english product info on the site.
http://www.thumbtype.com

The best possible design would be for somebody to design a module that would hook up to a Visor/Palm via the hotsync port and create a larger product with a keyboard similar to a BlackBerry. You'd have to have a small software product to rotate the screen display, though.

Another idea I had is if Handspring or one of the calculator companies (TI or Casio) would Palm compatible calculator. I don't mean just a software calculator but also a real physical calculator layout. It would be one way of differentiating yourself from the competition and it would appeal to those of us who use calculators all the time.

This could also appeal to those HP 95/100/200 LX palmtop users who like a numeric keypad

[This message has been edited by [email protected] (edited 12-06-1999).]

UPDATE: See this thread.

__________________
Jeff