New 53-key Alpha-Numeric USB Keyboard Challenges QWERTY

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July, 2006 – New Standard Keyboards (NSK) has announced shipment of a USB-interface computer keyboard that has just 53-keys and offers several advances over standard QWERTY keyboard designs for gamers, businesses, home users, and assistive technology users.

The new NSK535S has a silver casing with black keys and white letters and follows the NSK535R, the company’s first product, which features a “rainbow” of color-coded keys that correspond to common keyboard functions. Both models retain the full functionality of a standard keyboard, but depart from traditional 101-key QWERTY designs by placing only 53 keys within easy reach of the home position. The approach is an alternative for media PCs, assistive technology users, non-typists who never solved the mystery of QWERTY, as well as for swift business data entry where the clutter of a typical QWERTY keyboard is not needed.

The NSK also takes up much less desk space, measuring just 12.5-inches wide x 5 inches deep x 1-inch thick.

The keyboard supports USB-equipped PC running any version of Windows. When used with MS Office applications, it also types additional characters directly from the keys.

The keyboard was designed by NSK founder John Parkinson, an electrical engineer with a degree in psychology and background in industrial psychology and ergonomics. Parkinson developed training programs in a typewriter factory prior to designing the New Standard Keyboard.

The NSK can be learned quickly and differs from other attempts at alphabetical-based designs because it is also efficient for high speed typing.

Why Introduce a New Keyboard Layout?

The NSK brings touch-typing within reach of the majority of ordinary computer users. When typing was a specialist job skill, only those adept at it did it. The concept behind the NSK is to make typing easier.

A second reason is to provide the means by which non-typists can access information technology at a reasonable pace. The difference between the familiar ABC and the Qwerty jumble of letters often becomes the difference between accessible and inaccessible.

The New Standard Keyboard is not for people who like Qwerty. It’s for people who don't like Qwerty but are forced to use it because there is no reasonable alternative. It’s also proven beneficial for those for those in need of assisted technology, and for dyslexics. Individuals with disabilities that may require one-handed or with mobility problems, which can make QWERTY difficult to use, are finding the NSK helpful.

The NSK has several functional and ergonomic advantages over QWERTY keyboards, which will make it a desired accessory for new system buyers and those wishing to upgrade their keyboard. Those advantages include:

Keys are aligned with natural movements of fingers to insure proper posture when typing. The short-travel key (2mm) with its positive click action is much more responsive for gaming applications
Alphabetical letters are easier to find and keys are color-coded on the NSK535R to aid hunt & peck typists. The rainbow color scheme on the debut model was originally designed to help teachers give children a better understanding of the different functions of the keys and help them understand the computer itself.
All 53 keys can be easily reached from the home position
Shift keys are centralized and shift characters can be typed one-handed for assisted applications and handicapped users
Editing keys are integrated
Numeric keypad mode provides separate embedded keypads for each hand
The keyboard has a smaller footprint, which allows the mouse to be placed right next to the typing keys
There are only half as many keys to learn