How to Touch-Type With Only Ten Keys
By Wayne Rasanen
Introduction
The traditional keyboard has its roots in the post Civil war era and remains the way things have been done for generations. This was acceptable in a desktop environment but has proven to be somewhat problematic in more mobile applications where a large number of keys must fit into a tiny space. We believe that by limiting the number of keys to fit our fingertips, touch-typing will be more safely achieved and we can watch where we are going, and not watching a touch-screen or tiny keypad. We encourage you to read on and see how the complex keyboards of old can be simplified to the basic functional essentials and mapped to the human physiology of ten fingers.
Orientation
The basis of this technology is the moving from a system that requires you to remember the physical location of a plethora of buttons on a typical keyboard to having all of those buttons represented on your fingertips. This eliminates the need to move your hands and carefully strike individual keys, but rather to move one finger and then another in sequence to achieve the desired keystroke. The structure of this system may be deployed in a wide number of ways using at least two presses and may even be applied to be used with only one hand. It is however, preferable to utilize all ten fingers.
Hold both hands out in front of you with both palms down. Imagine numbering your fingers in this position beginning with the number one on your left pinky finger. This makes your left thumb finger number five, your right index finger number seven and your right pinky finger zero. These are the numbers that we will refer to during the rest of this document. It might be helpful to label your fingers so that you can quickly understand the action required for the various keystrokes. Single press keys are created when the pressed button is released and other keystrokes are completed when a second key is pressed.
This is not like a phone keypad that requires you to press until you get the right letter, or a touch-screen/menu system that makes you look at an on-screen image to select the correct input. All input is provided directly under your fingertips with random access to anything you want, anytime you want it.
The Alphabet – Under My Thumbs…
Ask someone to push a button and more often than not, they will extend their right index finger for the task. This is also the finger that we use to begin the alphabet. If we were to start with the number “1” finger, we would have repeated the same mistake of the QWERTY and Dvorak keyboards, putting the third most used letter “A” (some argue second most used) on the weakest finger, the left pinky. By starting on the “7” finger, there are a number of interesting relationships that develop that help make learning the rest of the system much easier. It sets the position of all of the other keys so that we have a system to build from. Unlike some alternate keyboards that position keys strictly by frequency of use or complicated formulas that require a PHD to understand, this keyboard is essentially alphabetic and easier to learn. The first ten letters are a single tap from each finger.
“a” – right index (7 finger), “b” – right middle (8 finger), “c” – right ring (9 finger), “d” – right pinky (0 finger) “e” – right thumb (6 finger) “f” – left thumb (5 finger), “g” – left index (4 finger), “h” – left middle (3 finger) “i” – left ring (2 finger) & “j” – left pinky (1 finger)
The next eight letters are produced with the right thumb (6 finger) held down, much like a shift key. The order remains the same starting with the right index (7 finger) but this time skipping the left thumb. So with the 6 finger held, you get “k” by taping the 7 finger, “l” – 8 finger, “m” – 9 finger, “n” – 0 finger, “o” – 4 finger, “p” – 3 finger, “q” – 2 finger & “r” – 1 finger.
The last eight letters are produced the same way but this time with the left thumb (5 finger) held and skipping the right thumb. “s” by tapping the 7 finger, “t” – 8 finger, “u” – 9 finger “v” – 0 finger, “w” – 4 finger, “x” – 3 finger “y” – 2 finger, & “z” – 1 finger.
When both thumbs are pressed, the next character will be shifted, making it simple to create capital letters. If you are using one thumb to make a letter, simply tap the other thumb before pressing the finger where the letter is located and it will be capitalized.
Here is a simple way to map the characters and the fingers used to build them:
| Lt Pinky | Lt Ring | Lt Middle | Lt Index | Lt Thumb | Rt Thumb | Rt Index | Rt Middle | Rt Ring | Rt Pinky |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
|
j |
i | h | g | f | E | a | b | c | d |
| r | q | p | o | Cap | Hold | k | l | m | n |
| z | y | x | w | Hold | Cap | s | t | u | V |
Or looking at it another way:
A (7), b (8), c (9), d (0), e (6), f (5), g (4), h (3), I (2), j (1)
k (6-7), l (6-8), m (6-9), n (6-0), o (6-4), p (6-3), q (6-2),r (6-1)
s (5-7) t (5-8), u (5-9), v (5-0), w (5-4), x (5-3), y (5-2), z (5-1)
To quickly learn the system, try to remember the three letters associated with each finger. It might be very helpful to think of words to strengthen the association. Here are some examples.
aks- (also known as), blt (just don’t order a sandwich with this finger!) cmu (for cursor & mouse use-more on that later) dnv (with this pinky raised, it is de-envoy of the others…) e & f on the thumbs, gow (the word “go” sounds like there should be a “w” in it), hpx (Hewlett Packard & windows XP) iqy (why, what is your IQ?) jrz (junior’s, jerzees, are you from Jersey?) These are only examples, feel free to make up your own, much better reminders. Practice typing the three letters for each finger and you will quickly become familiar with producing the entire alphabet and knowing where the letters are.
Punctuation: The Functional Index
The next most important aspect of typing is the spaces and punctuation between words so we look to the next strongest fingers for the task. Both index fingers are used to for common punctuation, the right for most writing functions and the left for more computer related symbols. Keeping this in mind along with the location of the various letters will help you find the symbols that you want.
The Right Index shift
With the right index (7 finger) held, the 8 finger (t) = tab, 9 finger (c) = comma & 0 finger = apostrophe (wow, just like QWERTY!). The right thumb, (6 finger) = space, the left thumb, (5 finger) = backspace, 4 finger = enter, 3 finger (p) = period, the 2 finger (q) = question mark and the 1 finger = exclamation point to keep these sentence endings together.
| ! | ? | . | Enter | B-space | Space | Hold | Tab | , | ‘ |
The Left Index Shift
With the left index (4 finger) held, the left thumb (5 finger) = back slash, 6 finger = forward slash, 7 finger (a) = ampersand, 8 finger (t) = tilde, 9 finger (c) = colon & 0 finger = semi colon. The 3 finger (x) = asterisk , 2 finger (q) = quote and 1 finger = @
| @ | “ | * | Hold | \ | / | & | ~ | : | ; |
There are still a few other symbols but these are among the most popular and so implemented here. There is also a way to swap the letter “f” with “space” to make the most used key “the space” a single keystroke. We will just keep it simple for now until you have learned the rest of the keystrokes.
Locks & Lines on the Same Page – The Middle Finger Shifts.
Once we have the main elements of writing established with the thumb and index shifts, we will look at some of the functions that change modes and make navigation easy. These shifts also provide the various lines found on a standard keyboard, straight lines associated with the letter “l” and bent lines associated with the letter “x”.
The Right Middle Shift
For the # 8 finger, we take the cue from the letter “l” and use it for the three different locked modes. “L” & “C” to lock capitals (8-9), “L” & “N” to lock numbers (8-0) & “L” & “S” to lock scroll (8-7). The “L finger” also is the shift for the different lines starting with the underscore (8-4), hyphen on the “h” finger (8-3), the accent (8-2) and pipe character (8-1). This leaves the two thumbs which are used for providing the right and left shift keys. These are the only two finger keystrokes that complete when the second key is released as this provides us a method of producing some three finger keystrokes. These three finger keystrokes are used to provide the twelve “F” keys typically found at the top of a keyboard. We will explore these keystrokes in depth later.
| | | ` | - | _ | Lt Shift | Rt Shift | Scroll Lk | Hold | Cap Lk | Num Lk |
The Left Middle Shift
For the #3 finger, we take our cue from the letter “p” and use this shift to provide all of the page functions. Page-down with the “p” & “d” fingers (3-0), page-up with the “p” & “u” fingers (3-9), Page end with the right “e” thumb and home (3-6) on the left thumb (3-5). Pause is the “p” & “z” fingers (3-1) and print screen is the “p” & “s” fingers (3-7). The remaining shifts take their cue from the letter “x” and produce the bent lines such as less-than on the “l” finger (3-8) greater-than on the “g” finger (3-4) and the caret on the left ring finger (3-2). Where else would you find a carat?
| Pause | ^ | HOLD | > | Home | End | P-Screen | < | Pg-up | Pg-Down |
Linked keys and Cursor Movement – The Ring Finger Shifts
The next elements that we will cover are the cursor movements and the keystrokes that control basic computer operations. These are the keystrokes needed to link functions, alter text and move on-screen elements. These are vital keystrokes that can help you with short cuts and can really get you out of a jam. Here is where you can provide control-alternate-delete in order to keep your windows clean!
The Right Ring Finger
The finger responsible for c, m, & u (# 9) is the shift key for cursor and mouse use and also provides for some remaining symbols. With the 9 finger held, the 7 finger becomes the left mouse button and the 8 key becomes the right mouse button as these are typically the fingers used with a mouse for that purpose. Keyboard mouse buttons are a poor replacement for actual mouse buttons but they can still have some utility. Next are the cursor keys, 9-6 cursor right, 9-5 cursor left, 9-4 cursor up and 9-3 cursor down. The last three shifts are used for the symbols $ on the left ring finger (9-2 those carats can be expensive!), % on the left pinky (9-1) (almost a Z) and # on the right pinky “N” finger (9-0).
| % | $ | i | h | f | g | Mouse Left | Mouse Right | HOLD | # |
The Left Ring Finger
This finger is often associated with “marriage” and is thus used for functions that are typically combined together. These keystrokes are combined when pressed before the following keystroke so that pressing the control keystroke before pressing the “c” keystroke is the same as holding control and the “c” key on a traditional keyboard. With the left ring pressed, the right thumb “E” finger is “Escape” (2-6), the right index “A” finger is the right “Alternate” key (2-7), the right middle “B” finger is “Break” (2-8), right ring “C” finger is the right “Control” key (2-9), right pinky “D” finger is “Delete” (2-0), and the left pinky is “insert” (2-1). There is some flexibility here to either provide for both left “alternate” and “control” keys, or use these as Macintosh “command” and “Option” keys or “Windows” and “menu” keys. The typical arrangement is Windows key on the “w” finger (2-4), and “Menu” on the left middle finger (2-3). The last shift is the left thumb “f” and may be used as a function key typical on many laptops and can be customized by manufacturers to provide functions that they desire (2-5).
| Insert | HOLD | Menu | Windows | Function | Escape | Alternate | Break | Control | Delete |
By the Numbers – The Pinky Shifts
Numbers are provided in this system with analytical logic, left to right, similar to the way it is represented on standard keyboards. In number-lock mode, the numbers are single press and release, left pinky to right pinky, 1 through 0. In a non-number lock mode, the right pinky is held for the first numbers, 1- 5, on the left hand side, and the left pinky is held for the last five numbers, 6 – 0, on the right hand side. The six various brackets “{“ (1-2) “[“ (1-3) “]” (1-4) “}” (1-5) “(“ (0-8) “)” (0-9), the addition symbol, “+” (0-7) and the equals symbol, “=“ (0-6), complete the available pinky shifts.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | = | + | ( | ) | HOLD |
| HOLD | { | [ | ] | } | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
The Function Keys – Three Finger Shifts
Most modern keyboards produce over one hundred keystrokes and a system of ten squared can only provide one hundred. Therefore, we needed to extend the system to incorporate the rest of the standard keys and we do this by using a few three finger keystrokes. As discussed earlier, the shift keys are the path to these keystrokes and provide the twelve function keys. These shift keys begin with the right middle “8” finger and use the left and right thumbs.
Right Middle & Right Thumb
Start with the right middle “8” finger held, add the right thumb “6” finger and the left pinky “1” finger for the F1 key (8-6-1), left ring “2” finger for the F2 key (8-6-2), left middle “3” finger for the F3 key (8-6-3), left index “4” finger for the F4 key (8-6-4), the right index “7” finger for the F5 key (8-6-7), and the right ring “9” finger for the F6 key (8-6-9). The right pinky provides the virtually never used “systems request” key (8-6-0) but could be replaced with another keystroke if desired.
| F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | reserved | HOLD 2 | F5 | HOLD 1 | F6 | SYS REQ |
Right Middle & Left Thumb
Start with the right middle “8” finger held, add the left thumb “5” finger and the left pinky “1” finger for the F7 key (8-5-1), left ring “2” finger for the F8 key (8-5-2), left middle “3” finger for the F9 key (8-5-3), left index “4” finger for the F10 key (8-5-4), the right index “7” finger for the F11 key (8-5-7), and the right ring “9” finger for the F12 key (8-5-9). The right pinky provides a method to swap the position of the “space” key with the “f” key (8-5-0) to assist in making input more efficient. The “space” key is
typically the most used key so it makes sense to provide this function with a single tap of the left thumb, similar to the way many people currently create it.
| F7 | F8 | F9 | F10 | HOLD 2 | reserved | F11 | HOLD 1 | F12 | f/space |
This covers all of the standard keys necessary for input but here are some final thoughts to consider. Because we use the same key codes of a standard keyboard, shifted keystrokes will produce the same symbols as you would normally get from shifted keystrokes on a standard keyboard. This way it may make it easier for you to get the keystrokes you want by remembering where they are on a traditional keyboard. For example, if you press both thumbs before pressing the “1” keystroke, (5-6, 0-1) you would get the “!” key. Although this is less efficient, it may help until you learn the complete system.
Only a few repeat keys are currently provided in this system although all repeats could be programmed if necessary. Our thought was to keep things simple and not allow the process to overwhelm new users. The keys that do repeat are; space, back-space, delete, period, hyphen, underscore, and the cursor keys. The repeats occur when both keys remain pressed after the keystroke is completed. Functions like alt-tab are slowed down to make choosing the window you want easier and a better option than being able to only choose between two windows. There may be other improvements or issues to address as this interface develops so please keep it in mind. We want your constructive comments and urge you to assist in improving this new concept in human-computer interaction.
Thank you for learning about this new alternative input method, we hope that it may serve you well in many ways, for many years to come. If you should have questions or comments, please contact us at in10did@gmail.com . For more information and to see videos related to this technology, please visit www.in10did.com
This input technology is covered but US Patent # 6542091 and is the property of Wayne Rasanen, President, IN10DID, Inc. This document may be copied and freely distributed provided that it remains attributed to the author and IN10DID, Inc.
