Grippity back-typing keyboard is one step closer to existing

Not terribly long ago we caught a few glimpses of a prototype of the Grippity, a sort of garish looking back-typing keyboard. Well, the actual production model's completed, and though it's lost some of it's Frankenstein-ish charm, it continues to look rather insane and cool. The unit boasts a full QWERTY keyboard, for use with eight-finger typing from the back, plus two triggers on the back that function as the mouse buttons. As if that wasn't wild enough, it also boasts an orientation sensor that allows the 60 QWERTY keys to double as hot keys when the unit is flipped over. The final unit is expected in about six months, and should retail for $100. Check out the gallery for more views of this terrifically weird specimen.

[JerJer @ Dec 4th 2008 7:50PM]

wuuuut is going on.

[alexanbd @ Dec 4th 2008 8:37PM]

Could it be that your spoon is too big??

[Nytrojen @ Dec 4th 2008 9:43PM]

I am a banana!

[Google @ Dec 4th 2008 9:44PM]

no me gusta

[keithwwalker @ Dec 5th 2008 2:51AM]

I am a banana with maracas!
Actually, I thought I saw a similar concept with only 4 buttons on each side, with shift and alt buttons on the front. Master that and a jedi you be...

[Joe @ Dec 5th 2008 2:26PM]

There is no spoon.

[)ROFL( @ Dec 4th 2008 7:51PM]

This is a new milestone, a marvel of modern technology!

[who? @ Dec 4th 2008 8:36PM]

It looks harder to use, larger, and more expensive than most alternatives. I believe those are antonyms of traits one usually uses to describe modern technology... whatever.

[jivetrky @ Dec 4th 2008 10:11PM]

Yes, I'm glad modern technology could find a way to make typing more difficult!

[)ROFL( @ Dec 4th 2008 10:27PM]

http://www.gloomies.com/sarcasm.jpg

[who? @ Dec 4th 2008 10:29PM]

@jivetrky

Ok, bad keyboard concepts aside- what is that symbol you are using for your avatar from? I know I've seen it before, it's driving me nuts!

[-slycooper_rocker- (lorddshadow the amazing) psn: shahanasalam @ Dec 4th 2008 10:32PM]

@ who?

it's from heroes.

[)ROFL( @ Dec 4th 2008 10:38PM]

http://sadman64.net/images/rofl/rofl3.png

[who? @ Dec 4th 2008 10:49PM]

Oh! Yeah! Thanks Slycooper!

Anywho, this keyboard=bad ;-)

[Christopher @ Dec 4th 2008 7:52PM]

Seriously why would I want to press keys in on the bottom of the keyboard. As if most people don't have enough trouble typing normally.

[bandigolo @ Dec 4th 2008 8:21PM]

Because you can't type normally if you're holding a handheld object. Think about it. You are restricted to only using your thumbs on a handheld device. This allows you to make use of all 10, er 8 digits.

I wonder why they did away with the contoured shape from the prototype? Looks more functional that way.

[who? @ Dec 4th 2008 8:39PM]

And this constitutes as "typing normally" how exactly?

[bandigolo @ Dec 4th 2008 8:50PM]

I didn't say you could type normally with this. But you can't type normally using any other handheld device either. This device just allows you to make use of 8 digits instead of 2 (thumbs). Obviously this would/will require some awkward, possibly dangerous learning curve. But I actually think they are on to something here...

[who? @ Dec 4th 2008 9:02PM]

It took one-hundred+ years for people to accept the current keyboard layout (think back to typewriters and such). It would be more feasible to develop hover technologies for our mobile devices and keep keyboards the way they are than to get the general public to adopt this!

[bandigolo @ Dec 4th 2008 9:20PM]

dude, you aren't paying attention. The keyboard hasn't changed. It's still QWERTY like any other keyboard. The layout is the same. The difference is how you interact with it.

true or false: you type SMS texts on your QWERTY phone (touch or slider) using the time-tested 10-finger method? False. You use only thumbs and/or stylus. Same keyboard layout, just a different method of interaction.

this is no different.

[who? @ Dec 4th 2008 9:30PM]

MmmK. I'll put this in as simple of terms as possible: Typing from the back and with your fingers parallel to the keyboard = Not. Normal.

[nanobis @ Dec 4th 2008 7:53PM]

ok, thats a bit odd

[nanobis @ Dec 4th 2008 7:56PM]

and no game pad buttons, still should be an interesting one

[Ray @ Dec 4th 2008 8:08PM]

WSAD on this thing? NEVER!

Im pretty sure gaming never crossed there name. Id personally rather type on a thumb keyboard, but who knows, this might actually be good.

[Rekit @ Dec 4th 2008 7:53PM]

That is one nasty looking piece of crap.

[who? @ Dec 4th 2008 10:50PM]

I think it actually looks cool. Everything else (functionality, ease of use, pricetag, ect.) sucks ass.

[Neophytos @ Dec 4th 2008 7:54PM]

Those pretty hands in the pictures turned me on a little bit. Sex sells even pointless keyboards.

[-slycooper_rocker- (lorddshadow the amazing) psn: shahanasalam @ Dec 4th 2008 8:15PM]

you must get turned on easier than a lightbulb...

[bill cant fart @ Dec 4th 2008 8:22PM]

I thought those belonged to a guy with really long fingernails....

[Asha @ Dec 4th 2008 10:00PM]

They are kind-of man hands.

[McFly @ Dec 11th 2008 6:10PM]

right on ...wonder how those hands look using a joystick

[BecomingxInsane @ Dec 4th 2008 8:00PM]

Wow, it looks awesome, but would take ALOT of time to get used to... So it seems.

[yarly @ Dec 4th 2008 11:51PM]

and it only took me a good 5 years to get up to 70wpm..

back to training pants I guess.

[linuxamp @ Dec 4th 2008 11:50PM]

True. Instead of using a normally oriented QWERTY keyboard they should have arranged the keys in the same position *relative to your fingers* as they would on a normal QWERTY keyboard. It would look something like this.

BGT YHN
VFR UJM
CDE IK,
XSW OL.
ZAQ P;/

[rymo @ Dec 5th 2008 12:38AM]

my thoughts exactly, linuxamp! BGT56YHN FTW!!

[BecomingxInsane @ Dec 5th 2008 1:37AM]

@ linuxamp
Hey, you never know till you try it xD
Who knows, could be the next best thing, if someone made one.

[trickards @ Dec 5th 2008 3:06AM]

@linuxamp

Good idea, do it.

I'll buy one.

[Bill @ Dec 4th 2008 8:06PM]

Looks like a terrible idea to me. I'm getting carpal tunnel just looking at it.

[Sam @ Dec 4th 2008 8:14PM]

what the hell were they smoking

[Horse @ Dec 4th 2008 8:24PM]

How many times do we have to say this... ahem.. alphagrip? Bindun! Now if only it was wireless!

This one looks a bit rickety though...

[ross @ Dec 4th 2008 8:24PM]

I like the idea, it seems like it would be good for controlling a HTPC from the couch.
If you can touch type, try "typing" on an imaginary back-typing keyboard and see if your fingers remember the approximate key placement, cos mine did, so maybe the learning curve isn't as high as you'd imagine.

[hitter891 @ Dec 4th 2008 8:30PM]

the orientation is completely different though...

[ross @ Dec 4th 2008 8:32PM]

The way my fingers remembers it was the way that the keyboard is layed out in the picture.

[jay @ Dec 4th 2008 9:18PM]

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I've been looking for a way to play games like WoW with a controller. This would work out pretty well with some practice.

[MyHeadisFed @ Dec 4th 2008 9:32PM]

I think what he's saying is that your hands are antiparallel to the vertical sides of the keyboard with your fingers facing each other, as opposed to how you normally type with your hands parallel to the sides of the keyboard with your fingers running alongside each other. I agree with him, I believe the keys should be split and each half rotated 90 degrees in opposite directions to face your hands.

[Mile @ Dec 4th 2008 8:25PM]

A solution in search of a problem.

[AlekZander @ Dec 4th 2008 9:05PM]

Seconded.

[Stereotype @ Dec 4th 2008 9:41PM]

Thirded?

[trey @ Dec 5th 2008 4:17AM]

4thed??

[ajoan0077 @ Dec 4th 2008 8:30PM]

i think this is a good idea to help test hand eye coordination [and increase it] and nerve damage since it challenges the brain to do something it does all the time but in a different way. Eh, never mind.