RE: [opensuse] possibility to use standard keyboard single-hande

Thanks for everybody's help and suggestions.

Maybe I didn't explain clearly enough in my first post, my question
would be "how to touch-type with single hand" rather than "how to type
with single hand". Features like sticky keys I am already using, trouble
being not able to touch-type, thus efficiency is completely lost.

I have googled around and discovered Linux's support for mirrored QWERTY
keyboard layout is still not generally available (e.g. require kernel
patching and recompile, only have reference on using it on console but
few reference on using this on X etc). However right-hand Dvorake
keyboard support is widely available in all operating systems. So I
think I should start practice right hand Dvorake keyboard (I'd be glad
if I also able to type single handed after my left arm recovered) and
I'll use both hands for typing Chinese so I don't have to re-learn
Chinese typing on right-hand keyboard. This shouldn't be a problem
because only 5% of time I type Chinese.

On Thu, 2007-03-08 at 18:39 +0000, efh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
On 08-Mar-07 Zhang Weiwu wrote:
The doctor suggested me to use left arm as less as possible.
I think this is only possible if I can type single-handed.

After I read this article I decide to start to practice single
hand typing on standard keyboard:
http://edgarmatias.com/papers/hci96/

Problem being I don't know if this is possible on Linux. Using
this typing technology, it require OS to make Space Bar work
in the way like "Shift". E.g. press "Shift" and "a" you get "A",
press space bar and "a" you get ";", the symmetrical opposite
key of "a" on keyboard.

I tried to google around, it seems so far not so much Linux
software take this issue seriously yet (or at least simple google
search is not sufficient). I guess there might be a keyboard
layout that can help me do that: checking gnome keycode map list,
there is no keyboard layout for single-handed QWERTY.

Maybe this is simple? Maybe all I need is to tweak some configuration
file for X or Gnome? I don't know.

A lot of google search showed that alternative method is to use
Dvorak single-handed layout keyboard. That's not an easy option
to me because I type Chinese a lot and I already remembered key
position. Switching from QWERTY to an alternative layout is a big
trouble for me, too much to re-learn and re-practice. And, my arm
is not permanently injured, I wish to get back to dual-hand typing
after several months. Holiday is not an option for me too, I am
running a company and under business pressure.

One simple suggestion -- if it is medically acceptable -- is to
use your injured arm/hand only for the keys Shift, Ctrl, Alt, and
use your good hand for all other keys. That would minimise the
strain on your injured arm.

Another approach would be to re-program say the SPACE bar to act
as Shift, and some other key otherwise rarely used (e.g. F12)
to act as SPACE.

Indications of how to do this sort of thing can be found in

man xmodmap

Hoping this helps, sympathy with your problems, and wishing
you a good solution and outcome!
Ted.


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E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <ted.harding@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861
Date: 08-Mar-07 Time: 10:29:31
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