Iersonal Com Uter

clair ZX8L iersonal com uter Science of Cambridge Ltd, of the UK, has really come up with a world -first with the Sinclair ZX80. It is easily the smallest and least expensive computer available which will interface to a TV set and by JOHN CLARKE cassette recorder. It features full BASIC operation with powerful editing and single keystroke functions. 2114L RAMs. Incidently, the The Sinclair ZX80 computer would earpiece. An RCA socket is provided for sists of two RF for the Australian version have to be one of the most inexpensive the RF modulator. Also a 46 -way edge modulator on the market today, especially con- connector pad is brought out carrying operates at VHF channel 1. 600mA/9V DC plug pack, sidering that it has programming features the Address Bus and Data Bus, along We used the as to which would normally be found on only with the Z80 control lines. This bus can which is available an accessory, the the more expensive systems. To have provide for extra memory expansion power up the computer. Connecting TV set, we were rewarded the machine up and running, a DC boards. Leads are supplied for the coax to our a square power supply and television set is all that cassette interface and RF modulator. with a reassuring curser, black a white letter K in it, at the bottom is required. A domestic cassette recorder Opening the top cover to the com- with of the screen. The screen can also be used to store programs. puter case reveals a double -sided PCB, left hand side on a steady display in Measuring 175 x 35 x 218mm (W x H filling the whole area of the case. The characters appear reverse video (black letters on a x D) and weighing only 340g, the ZX80 touch sensitive keyboard is allocated the field The full screen con- with its own integral keyboard is very first 70mm of PCB depth. The two major white background). tains 32 columns by 24 rows of compact. Housed in a white plastic case ICs on the PCB, the NEC Z80 MPU and held together with plastic rivets it gives the Sinclair Research "Super ROM", are characters. difficulty with using the ZX80 impression of lightweight mounted in IC sockets while the remain- One the general immediately obvious. The construction. However, the fibreglass ing ICs, mainly 74LS TTL, are soldered becomes keyboard lacks tactile feedback, pre- printed circuit board fortunately gives directly to the board. A small heatsink is venting the user from touch typing. structural strength to the case. provided for the 5V regulator. With flat of plastic as a keyboard At the rear of the computer case are A crystal oscillator provides the a sheet it is necessary to continually watch the three 3.5mm sockets for the DC power 3.25MHz clock for the microprocessor keys as they are pressed. supply, tape recorder microphone and and the 1K of read/write memory con- A further problem occurs when a key is pressed and accepted by the computer: the screen will lose synchronisation for a short duration, producing severe flicker. (This could perhaps be regarded as an - advantage for some, in that this flicker in- dicates that the key just pressed was detected by the computer!) Operating the cassette interface is straightforward, just press SAVE to store on tape and LOAD to 11-111s zs -rrt the program It was necessary to ÑÍCRNK:I-FOCJf]rQl7'rrIR retrieve the program. IN RC 101,4 experiment with the volume settings of the cassette recorder before the SAVE/LOAD operation was completely reliable and we suggest that you experiment with the storing of short programs to perfect these settings before any serious storage of programs is done. Writing programs with the ZX80 can be very quick, since the keyboard has what Sinclair describes as "Key Word" entry. tOrTIOI`` LIT, RUN, tw This means that words such as Left: the Sinclair ZX80 in action. The ZX80 is easily held in one hand, yet features full BASIC operation and single keystroke functions. ELECTRONICS Australia, December, 1980 127 .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Evaluation of Computer Input Devices for Use in Standard Office Applications While Moving in an Off-Road Vehicle
Evaluation of computer input devices for use in standard office applications while moving in an off-road vehicle by Thorsten Baldus A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Industrial Engineering Program of Study Committee: Patrick E. Patterson, Major Professor Samuel K. Adams Roger E. Baer John K. Jackman Mack C. Shelley Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2006 UMI Number: 3229052 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 3229052 Copyright 2006 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 ii Graduate College Iowa State University This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation of Thorsten Baldus has met the dissertation requirements of Iowa State University Signature was redacted for privacy. Major Professor Signature was redacted for privacy. 'o/
[Show full text]
Eye on the Message: Reducing Attention Demand for Touch-Based Text Entry
Avestia Publishing International Journal of Virtual Worlds and Human-Computer Interaction Volume 1, Year 2013 Journal ISSN: 2368-6103 DOI: 10.11159/vwhci.2013.001 Eye on the Message: Reducing Attention Demand for Touch-based Text Entry I. Scott MacKenzie, Steven J. Castellucci Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science York University Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3J 1P3 [email protected]; [email protected] Abstract- A touch-based text entry method was developed with the device’s text entry method to enhance the user the goal of reducing the attention demand on the user. The experience. method, called H4touch, supports the entry of about 75 symbols In our observations of users interacting with touch- and commands using only four soft keys. Each key is about 20 based devices, it is evident that text is most commonly larger than the keys on a Qwerty soft keyboard on the same entered using a Qwerty soft keyboard, perhaps device. Symbols are entered as Huffman codes with most enhanced with swipe detection [26], word completion, letters requiring just two or three taps. The codes for the letters and common commands are learned after a few hours of next key prediction [9], or auto correction [23]. practice. At such time, the user can enter text while visually Because the keys are numerous and small, the user attending to the message, rather than the keyboard. Similar must attend to the keyboard to aim at and touch the eye-on-the-message interaction is not possible with a Qwerty desired key. Even highly practiced users must attend to soft keyboard, since there are many keys and they are small.
[Show full text]
Touch Typing at Home
Touch Typing at Home Physical & Medical Team There are lots of different touch typing tutors on the market. I have selected the following ones as they have been UK designed with children in mind, however this is by no means an exhaustive list! Free online software BBC dancemat is a free typing tutor for kids. http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3c6tfr http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/tutor/keyboarding.php Doorway online http://www.doorwayonline.org.uk/ Software to purchase Nessy Fingers https://www.nessy.com/uk/product/nessy-fingers/ £30 single user license for a year. Current pricing due to Covid 19 is £24 plus VAT for a 2 month subscription to the typing tutor, reading and spelling and writing materials. Colourful typing tutor uses games and real words to practice touch typing. UK English. Not compatible with IPad/tablets English type https://englishtype.com/ Junior £29.95 for home license for everyone in your house. (Primary age) English Type Senior £29.95 for home license for everyone in your house (secondary age) Both are one-off purchases with no subscription needed. Not compatible with tablet/ IPads. Demo can be downloaded This software was developed by and Educational Psychologist in the UK and uses whole words rather than nonsense letter strings Touch type 2 http://www.inclusive.co.uk/touch-type-2-p2205 £39 single user license. A straightforward typing tutor with U.K. voice and clear layout. Not as visually appealing as some but suitable for all ages. Touch Type Read and Spell https://www.readandspell.com/home-course UK version.
[Show full text]
Typing Slowly but Screen-Free
Typing Slowly but Screen-Free: Exploring Navigation over Entirely Auditory Keyboards Reeti Mathur, Aishwarya Sheth, Parimal Vyas, and Davide Bolchini* Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI Indianapolis, USA *[email protected] Looping Flow Time Time Time Alphabetical Probabilistic Chunked [based on letter position] Figure 1. We investigate novel forms of entirely auditory keyboards that support text interaction without a reference screen. Time, rather than a fixed location in space, becomes the dimension in which to navigate symbols (right); a blind user experiments with an off-the-shelf armband to type in screenless mode (left). ABSTRACT CSS Concepts Accessible onscreen keyboards require people who are • Human-centered computing~Auditory feedback • blind to keep out their phone at all times to search for visual Human-centered computing~Accessibility affordances they cannot see. Is it possible to re-imagine text INTRODUCTION entry without a reference screen? To explore this question, On-screen keyboards support text entry on mobile devices we introduce screenless keyboards as aural flows by displaying a visual layout of letters but continue to pose (keyflows): rapid auditory streams of Text-To-Speech significant challenges for people who are Blind or Visually- (TTS) characters controllable by hand gestures. In a study, Impaired (BVI). Whereas a person who is blind may walk 20 screen-reader users experienced keyflows to perform with some form of travel aid in one hand (cane, a human initial text entry. Typing took inordinately longer than companion or guide dog), mobile displays force users to current screen-based keyboards, but most participants coordinate two hands to swipe or touch type on the screen.
[Show full text]
Issues and Techniques in Touch-Sensitive Tablet Input
SAN FRANCISCO JULY 22-26 Volume 19, Number 3, 1985 Issues and Techniques in Touch-Sensitive Tablet Input William Buxton Ralph Hill Peter Rowley Computer Systems Research Institute University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario Canada M5S 1A4 (416) 978-6320 1. Introduction Increasingly, research in human-computer interac- Abstract tion is focusing on problems of input [Foley, Wallace Touch-sensitive tablets and their use in human- &Chan 1984; Buxton 1983; Buxton £985]. Much of computer interaction are discussed, It is shown this attention is directed towards input technolo- that such devices have some important properties gies. The ubiquitous Sholes keyboard is being that differentiate them from other input devices replaced and/or complemented by alternative tech- (such as mice and joysticks). The analysis serves nologies. For example, a major focus of the market- two purposes: (1) it sheds light on touch tablets, ing strategy for two recent personal computers, the and (2) it demonstrates how other devices might be Apple Macintosh and Hewlett-Packard 150, has been approached. Three specific distinctions between on the input devices that they employ (the mouse touch tablets and one button mice are drawn. These and touch-screen, respectively). concern the signaling of events, multiple point sensing and the use of templates. These distinc- Now that the range of available devices is expand- tions are reinforced, and possible uses of touch ing, how does one select the best technology for a tablets are illustrated, in an example application. particular application? And once a technology is chosen, hove can it be used most effectively? These Potential enhancements to touch tablets and other questions are important, for as Buxton [ 1983] has input devices are discussed, as are some inherent argued, the ways in which the user physiccdty problems.
[Show full text]
Movement Strategies and Performance in Everyday Typing Anna Maria Feit Daryl Weir Antti Oulasvirta Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland
How We Type: Movement Strategies and Performance in Everyday Typing Anna Maria Feit Daryl Weir Antti Oulasvirta Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland Figure 1. Four users showing different typing behaviours involving different numbers of fingers and movement strategies. This paper reports typing rates, gaze and movement strategies for everyday typists, including both professionally trained and self-taught typists. We explain how untrained typists are able to type at very high rates, which were previously attributed only to the touch typing system that enforces the use of all 10 fingers. ABSTRACT Studies were carried out with trained typists (e.g., [2,4,6, This paper revisits the present understanding of typing, which 8, 23, 27, 29]) mostly operating typewriters. The participants originates mostly from studies of trained typists using the ten- were often professionally employed typists, skilled in typing finger touch typing system. Our goal is to characterise the with 10 fingers and able to consistently perform at rates of majority of present-day users who are untrained and employ over 80 words per minute (wpm) [8, 22, 24]. diverse, self-taught techniques. In a transcription task, we We are seeking to shed new light on the everyday typing tech- compare self-taught typists and those that took a touch typing niques, employed by a majority of users, that do not fall within course. We report several differences in performance, gaze the touch typing system. Touch typing originates from the deployment and movement strategies. The most surprising 1890s and is the technique taught in typing classes. Column- finding is that self-taught typists can achieve performance wise, each key is assigned to one finger.
[Show full text]
220 Layout with IBM* Compatibility FTSC Full Tr
5150 KEYBOARDS & KEYPADS 5150 CHERRY ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS 3600 Sunset Ave., Waukegan, IL 60087 708/360-3500 • FAX 708/360-3566 GSO-1600 & GSO-lS00 GSO-1600 GSO-lS00 mM Compatible Keyboard with Built-In Bar Code Compact, 101 Key, mM Compatible Keyboard with Reader. For PC, XT, AT,andPS/2-Systems. Separate Numeric Keypad. For PC, XT, AT and PS/2 Systems. • Input port for bar code stylus, laser scanning gun, or slot reader. • Fits into 19 inch rack (less than 16 inches wide). • Barcodes are automatically identified and differentiated • 101 keysforPC*. XT*, AT*, and PSI2* systems as well (all resolutions). as ffiM* terminals. • 103 keys (2 keys forprograrnroing mode) conforming to • Switch selection ofPC*, XT*, AT*, and PS/2 * modes. ASCU international key layout per DIN 66003/66303 . LED's indicate the mode selected . • Superior Cherry MX keyswitches with' ' Gold • Superior Cherry MX keyswitches with "Gold Crosspoint" contacts help eliminate input errors. Crosspoint" contacts help eliminate input errors. GSO-1307 DEC VT-220 Layout with • Includes housing and cable. IBM* Compatibility • Rugged construction. • " Deep Dish " for home keys FandJ with dimple on key • 105 keys using superior Cherry MX keyswitches with 5 for touch typing. "Gold Crosspoint" contacts to eliminate input errors. • Mane finished, 2-shot molded keycaps are wear resistant • High reliability: and easy to clean. Keycaps colors are: beige/grey (code MCBF = I x 10' operations. U9), white/grey (code L9) . MTBF = 80,000 hours. • Materials conform to UL 94. MCBF (each keymodule) 50 x 10" operations. > • Separate cu rsor pad. • Ergonomic, low profile design with "cylindrical style" • Full N -key rollover.
[Show full text]
Posture & Positioning
Keyboarding 101 Posture & Positioning Keyboarding 101 Learning Target: To learn proper keyboarding techniques to utilize when typing. Essential Questions: 1. Why is it important to use proper keyboarding techniques? 2. What proper keyboarding techniques should be utilized when typing on a computer keyboard? What is Keyboarding? • Keyboarding is the capability of entering text by using the correct fingers without looking at the keys (touch typing). • Touch typing involves using all ten of your fingers to type, using the correct finger for each key, and not looking at the keyboard. What is Keyboarding? • Having excellent keyboarding skills will help you to use the computer more efficiently and be more productive. • Keyboarding skills are skills for life. You will use these skills now and in the future for things like school work and in your career. There is no hiding from a computer today! Why Do We Care? As the day drags on, people tend to slouch. While slouching may feel like a comfortable way to relax and save energy, it can lead to back and neck pain. If you maintain good posture, you're likely to feel more alert throughout the day, because the muscles will have less strain placed on them, resulting in lower energy usage. Learning to have better posture is a practice that may take some time, but you'll look and feel better---and your body will be more relaxed. And MORE Why Do We Care… • The proper keyboarding posture minimizes static and dynamic muscle loads that may cause damage to your nerves, ligaments, muscles and tendons.
[Show full text]
Don't Skype & Type! Acoustic Eavesdropping in Voice-Over-IP
Don’t Skype & Type! Acoustic Eavesdropping in Voice-Over-IP Alberto Compagno Mauro Conti Sapienza University of Rome University of Padua [email protected] [email protected] Daniele Lain Gene Tsudik University of Padua University of California, Irvine [email protected] [email protected] ABSTRACT vate and sensitive information, such as photos, passwords, Acoustic emanations of computer keyboards represent a se- and messages. Protecting such sensitive data by encryp- rious privacy issue. As demonstrated in prior work, physical tion is a common approach to prevent unauthorized access properties of keystroke sounds might reveal what a user is and disclosure. However, there is no protection if data is typing. However, previous attacks assumed relatively strong leaked before encryption. In fact, eavesdropping on physical adversary models that are not very practical in many real- signals, such as acoustic or electromagnetic emanations, is world settings. Such strong models assume: (i) adversary's one way to recover either: (1) clear-text data before encryp- physical proximity to the victim, (ii) precise proﬁling of the tion, e.g., during its input or visualization, or (2) encryption victim's typing style and keyboard, and/or (iii) signiﬁcant keys, e.g., during data encryption and decryption. Indeed, amount of victim's typed information (and its corresponding the history of eavesdropping on physical signals dates back sounds) available to the adversary. to 1943, when a Bell engineer discovered that an oscilloscope This paper presents and explores a new keyboard acous- can retrieve the plain-text from electromagnetic emanations tic eavesdropping attack that involves Voice-over-IP (VoIP), of a Bell Telephone model 131-B2 { a mixing device used by called Skype & Type (S&T), while avoiding prior strong ad- the US Army to encrypt communications [9].
[Show full text]
923,920,400/100,412,4913,680,682,.691, 516, 515; 248/917,921,918,922,919, Primarye.E.E." Examine-Jeffery A
III USOO5212473A United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 5,212,473 Louis (45) Date of Patent: May 18, 1993 (54) MEMBRANE KEYBOARD AND METHOD 4,933,522 6/1990 Celander ............................. 200/513 OF USNG SAME 5,119,078 6/1992 Grant .................................. 340/71 75 Inventor: William M. Louis, Encinitas, Calif. OTHER PUBLICATIONS 73 Assignee: Typeright Keyboard Corp., IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, "Key Matrix Using Encinitas, Calif. a Fluid Medium' by Cook et al. vol. 13, No. 3, dated Aug. 1970, p. 744. (21) Appl. No.: 658,541 IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, "Briefcase-Porta 22 Filed: Feb. 21, 1991 ble Text-written with 100-key Full-Size Keyboard' by 51) Int. Cl............................................... Goog 3/oz Pechanek et al. vol. 27, No. 4A, dated Sep. 1984, pp. 52 U.S. C. ...................................... 340/711; 341/22, 2002-200 ... if 58 Field341/27, of Search 200/513, ....................... 200/516, 340/711,700, 200/517,361/380 407, puter"IBM.Techniel by IBM Corp.,Pisclosure vol. 32,Bullein, No. 10B,Solding dated Mar.in 341/21, 22, 27, 24; 200/512.5 A, 513,511,517, 1990, pp. 266-267. 520,521,923,920,400/100,412,4913,680,682,.691, 516, 515; 248/917,921,918,922,919, PrimaryE.E.E." Examine-Jeffery A. Bri 693; 364/709.06, 710.01, 189, 708; 361/380; Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bernard L. Kleinke; Jerry R. 235/1 D Potts; William Patrict Waters (56) References Cited 57 ABSTRACT U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS A membrane keyboard producing audible and tactile 2,527,016 10/1950 Loung ................................
[Show full text]
A Flick-Based Japanese Tablet Keyboard Using Direct Kanji Input
A Flick-based Japanese Tablet Keyboard using Direct Kanji Input Yuya Nakamura1 and Hiroshi Hosobe2 1Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences, Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan 2Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences, Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan Keywords: Text Entry Touch Screen, Touch Typing, Software Keyboard. Abstract: Tablets, as well as smartphones and personal computers, are popular as Internet clients. A split keyboard is a software keyboard suitable for tablets with large screens. However, unlike other methods, the split keyboard has space in the center of the screen, which makes the part of the screen for displaying suggestions small and inconvenient. This paper proposes a Japanese input software keyboard that enables direct kanji input on a split flick keyboard. Once the user has mastered this keyboard, it allows the user to efficiently input Japanese text while holding a tablet with both hands. The paper presents an implementation of the keyboard on Android and reports the result of an experiment on its performance compared with existing methods. In addition, since direct kanji input generally takes time for users to learn, one of the authors by himself has conducted a long- term experiment to confirm the possibility of its mastery. For 12 months, both the input speed and the error rate have gradually improved. 1 INTRODUCTION makes the part of the screen for displaying conversion suggestions small and inconvenient. Japanese text is composed of Chinese-originated In Japan, there are about as many users of “flick” “kanji” characters and Japanese “kana” characters keyboards as QWERTY keyboard users. Flick is a (Tamaoka, 2014). While a kanji character typi- gesture operation especially used for character input cally has a meaning, a kana character does not; in- on touch-screen devices such as tablets and smart- stead, a kana character is associated with a speech phones.
[Show full text]
Keyboard Proficiency: an Essential Skill in a Technological Age. Number 2. INSTITUTION City Technology Colleges Trust Ltd., London (England)
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 348 557 CE 061 804 AUTHOI: Gillmon, Eve TITLE Keyboard Proficiency: An Essential Skill in a Technological Age. Number 2. INSTITUTION City Technology Colleges Trust Ltd., London (England). REPORT NO ISBN-1-873862-01-7 PUB DATE Sep 91 NOTE 39p. AVAILABLE FROMCity Technology Colleges Trust, Ltd., 15 Young Street, London W8 5EH, England, United Kingdom (7.50 British pounds). PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Business Education; Computer Oriented Programs; Foreign Countries; Information Systems; Job Skills; Junior High Schools; *Keyboarding (Data Entry); *Technological Advancement; *Typewriting; Word Processing IDENTIFIERS England ABSTRACT A structured keyboard skills training scheme for students in England should be included within school curricula. Negative attitudes toward keyboard training prevail in schools although employers value keyboard application skills. There are several reasons why keyboard proficiency, which facilitates the efficient input and retrieval of text and data, is needed in today's technologically advanced society: imputing and extracting text and data is a fundamental part of information technology; there is a need for efficient text input skills; and these skills enable the highest standards of text presentation available. Structured training in the skill is required because touch-typing is a complex psychomotor skill; systematic teaching in schools prevents picking up bad habits. In devising a strategy to provide training in schools, several points should be considered: (1) keyboard skills should be developed and monitored so they are shared through curriculum areas;(2) teaching staff should acquire keyboard training; (3) positive images of keyboard use enhance student motivation; (4) proficiency should be developed in all students; and (5) only basic equipment is needed.
[Show full text]