Alphagrip Extras

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I was looking for an alternative keyboard to help relieve some problems I was getting due to wrist strain (Ulnar tunnel Syndrome). I came across the AlphaGrip keyboard and liking the look of it purchased one. This page has information relating to my use of the AlphaGrip that others might find to be of use. This page is divided up into the following main areas:

Useful Links

My alternative key mapping

Useful Links

Other sources of information on these products are:

www.alphagrip.com. This is the home site for the Alphagrip keyboard.
Google discussion group

My alternative keyboard mapping

I like the basic idea of the AlphaGrip, but I am not that happy with the out-of-the-box keyboard mapping. I then came across the "Carl Anderson" alternative keyboard mapping that works in conjunction with the AutoHotkey spoftware for the PC. Carl's mapping is available for download from the Alphagrip site. I found that there were elements of Carl's mapping that I thought I could improve for my own use, so I made a number of changes to carl's original AutoHotkey script. I liked the idea of introducing extra shift keys, but I did not see the need for two blocks of them. My changes can be summarised as:

Basic Ideas behind use of shifts

Unshifted = Lower Case letters
White shift = upper case letters
Red shift = numerics and associated characters
Green shift = non alphanumeric characters
Blue shift = special keys
Orange shift = function keys

Changes from Carl's mapping

Use (only) left block (CYKL) on front as new shift keys Leave right block Ent/BKsp/Tab/Space with original meaning. This potentially frees up 4 keys in Blue shift for other purposes.
Keep ALT/CTRL mapping from Carl's template onto JV and XZ
Keep the red key mapping on front and back in line with Out-of-box mapping, but make them also work with new Red Shift key (R=. and H=, need looking at as now give l and c),
Keep Green shift mappingas Out-of-Box, but make them also work with new shift key.
Keep Blue Shift mapping from Carl's mapping. This duplicates some options such as cursor keys, but does make it possible to now use these in conjunction with SHIFT which is quite often used for multi-select.
Change the Orange Fn key mapping to be consistent with the Red numeric mapping as changed under 1 above. Could extend orange set to include additional function keys but no requirement so do not do yet.
Add commonest punctuation keys to chording (both fingers inner). The ones chosen are fullstop, comma, colon, semi-colon. The last two might be worth using for something else?
Make symbols such as #, @, " work correctly with a PC set up to use a UK keyboard.

My new mapping is shown by the following diagrams:
(Viewed from the front)

If you are interested in trying this out then you can use one of the following downloads.

AutoKotkey script in source form
Compiled version
Can be used without the need to isntall the AutoHotkey package.
Cheat Card
Ideas for future change:
1. Consider using extra Yellow shift keys for special characters (Ł, Euro) or perhaps to avoid using chorded letters (but then what about shift) Alternatively extend function keys to F20
2. Do we need Carl's Red Shift (L) or can this be used for other purposes and original red shift retained? Currently support both?
3. Do we need Carl's Green shift (Y) or can this be used for other purposes and original Green shift retained? Currently support both?
4. Some of Blue shift jeys repeated elsewhere. Could be used for other purposes. However currently not changed as no good reason not to have duplicates. Best candidates for re-use might be Home/End/PageUp and Pagedown as now on front
5. Could consider adding blue/green/yellow shift options to right upper block

Main Menu | CPOC | C68 for QDOS | History | Feedback

Alphagrip Extras

Useful Links

My alternative keyboard mapping

Basic Ideas behind use of shifts

Changes from Carl's mapping

My new mapping is shown by the following diagrams:

Ideas for future change: