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º			      Creative Thinking 			      º
º									      º
º				      by				      º
º									      º
º			Edward Sweeney and Bill Salkin			      º
ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ


ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³ The Concept			   ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ

	       Considering  the  frequency of prolonged discussions on
	  the  best  key  arrangement for a keyboard (Dvorak, new ANSI
	  standard,etc.   ),  we   are	convinced  that  the  PERSONAL
	  keyboard(tm) has great value.

	       The  PERSONAL  keyboard	(  abbreviated Pk ) allows the
	  user	 to  define  the  meaning  of  each  position  on  the
	  keyboard.

	       Merely  lifting a keycap with one's fingers and placing
	  it in a keycap receptor establishes the function of that key
	  location.  No  equipment or special software is needed. Only
	  the human hand is required to modify the Pk.

	       In  the Pk approach, each key generates a unique signal
	  that	is  captured  by  a  microprocessor. The origin of the
	  signal  is  not  important,  only  the  signal.  The "A" key
	  generates  a certain signal, and another "A" key on the same
	  keyboard generates the same signal.

ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³ Possible Implementation	   ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ

	 ÚÄÄÄÄÄ¿  ÚÄÄÄÄÄ¿  ÚÄÄÄÄÄ¿  ÚÄÄÄÄÄ¿   ÚÄÄÄÄÄ¿
   ...	 ³ Q   ³  ³ W	³  ³....o³  ³ R   ³   ³ T   ³  ...
	 ³     ³  ³	³  ³.... ³  ³	  ³   ³     ³
	 ÀÄÄÄÄÄÙ  ÀÄÄÄÄÄÙ  ÀÄÄÄÄÄÙ  ÀÄÄÄÄÄÙ   ÀÄÄÄÄÄÙ



	       The keycap has been removed from the "E" key by lifting
	  it  from  the  keycap receptor. A large registration pin and
	  eight  smaller  pinouts  are observed. This exact pattern is
	  replicated in all key receptors on the PERSONAL keyboard.

	       The  pins  that	fit  into  the	registration  hole and
	  pinouts  are	an  integral part of the keyCAP. When a pin in
	  the  keycap mates with the corresponding pinout, this pinout
	  becomes  active  (  "1"  or  "on"  ). If no pin mates with a
	  pinout, the pinout is not active ( "0" or off ).

	       This   series   of  "off",  "on"  signals  generates  a
	  composite signal that identifies the character on the key.

	       As  all	key  receptors are identical, any key receptor
	  can  be  the	origin of this signal. Thus, the function of a
	  location  on	Pk is determined by the pins in the keycap. An
	  extremely flexible approach.

	       The  registration  pin is used to distinguish keys such
	  as  6  and  9.  Eight  pinouts  give a maximum of 255 unique
	  signals.  (  A  keycap with zero pins is not allowed on Pk.)
	  Extensions are obvious.

ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³ Applications & Features	   ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ

	  1.   This  keyboard  is always current and ready to meet the
	  standards  of  yesteryear or the future. The Dvorak keyboard
	  is merely a particular arrangement of keys on the Pk.

	  2.   It  can	stimulate  user  experimentation and result in
	  greater user satisfaction.

		 e.g.,	 a  peck  typist  could  arrange  keys
		 alphabetically

		 e.g.,	 an  individual  might desire a bottom
		 row of numerals in addition to a top row

		 e.g.,	 all  vowels  could  be  placed in the
		 middle of the row

		 e.g.,	 Braille keycaps  can  help the blind.
		 When	voice  reproduction  becomes  commonly
		 available,   voice   +  braille  keycaps  can
		 literally open a world hitherto unseen.


	  3.   Special	keys  should  prove  useful. Consider keys for
	  foreign   languages,	 mathematical  symbols,  abbreviations
	  (e.g.,  R.S.V.P, COD), and even a HELP key. "Universal" keys
	  should   be	defined   and	agreed	upon  on  by  computer
	  manufacturers.   (  This  idea  will	probably  never  reach
	  fruition) For example, an INDEX key could list the directory
	  on the current drive on any model or make of computer. There
	  should  not  be  a  need to learn a new command language for
	  each model of computer.

	  4.   Reduction  of  errors in job-specific typing situations
	  by having only needed keys present.

	  5.   Perhaps	frequently  used  keys	should occur more than
	  once on a keyboard ( three ENTER keys? ).

	  6.   Unused  keys  can  be  replaced	with  "inert"  (  non-
	  operational)	keycaps  that  produce	no  functional	output
	  (signal = 255, say ). An application could be to replace the
	  "NUM  LOCK"  toggle  key  with  an  inert  key  to provide a
	  permanent cursor pad.

	  7.   Studies	exist  that  indicate which keys are used most
	  frequently.  Ignore  ( retry, abort? ) the studies! A simple
	  program   can  reveal  the  keys  an	individual  uses  most
	  frequently.

ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³ Conclusion			   ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ

	       The  PERSONAL  keyboard	is not a gimmick. It will have
	  significant	value  for  many  individuals  and  can  yield
	  productivity benefits for businesses.

	  MORAL:  Don't  mold  the  person  to  the keyboard; mold the
	  keyboard to the person.





		     ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
		     ³ File Name: ÛÛ  thinking.txt  ÛÛ	³
		     ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
      def enter = [begin line] [down]


	      To  define  the  Ctrl-Left,