New orbiTouch Keyless Keyboard Released

Keybowl, Inc. announced that it is shipping the new Alpha Edition of the orbiTouch Keyless Keyboard that gives full keyboard and mouse function with no finger or wrist motion. The Alpha Edition provides out-of-the-box usability via integrated alphabetic and color-coded rings that guide the user in moving the twin ergonomically sculpted domes on the orbiTouch to produce character input. Each orbiTouch Alpha Edition is packaged with a set of new tools including an online Learning Zone CD with games and tutorials. The orbiTouch Alpha Edition is priced at $399–a 40% decrease over the price of the orbiTouch when it was introduced in 2003.

The original orbiTouch, now in use in ten countries, has provided a revolutionary solution for people unable to comfortably use a traditional keyboard and mouse. Feedback from these orbiTouch users has led to the development of the new orbiTouch Alpha Edition, which provides enhanced usability, while preserving the unique benefits of the orbiTouch.

Typical of the orbiTouch user experience is Ted Freeman, a research scientist at the University of Washington, who has suffered for years with tendonitis in his wrists. He observed that “The orbiTouch completely eliminates the source of my injuries, unlike any ergonomic keyboard I have used. No matter how well they may be designed, ergonomic keyboards still have keys that require repetitive finger motion. I can use the orbiTouch all day long without causing pain.”

California resident Dianna Dearborn commented, “I am disabled with rheumatoid arthritis that interfered with my career as a senior electronic/software engineer. The orbiTouch is my key to getting back to work. It has helped me to “type” longer with less pain than any QWERTY device. Without reservation I recommend the orbiTouch, not just for those with special need, but for anyone who must do character entry for long periods of time.”

And from an educator: “We on the Assistive Technology team are so impressed by this keyboard that I had to pry it out of a colleague’s hands. We love the mouse feature and students catch on very quickly to the process. We followed your suggestion and made enlarged rings (from the training disk) and mounted them on the monitor for students with low vision.”

Keybowl president and CEO, Dr. Peter McAlindon, stated that “From day one, we built the orbiTouch to help people achieve success. The new user-friendly features of the orbiTouch Alpha Edition and our ability to bring this product to our customers at a new lower price together represent another major step forward for PC and Internet accessibility.”

Source: Keybowl