FAQ’s
Q: What is the FrogPad™ keypad?
A: An elegantly small, intuitive and powerful interface
for input and information access with a variety of
devices. It solves the keyboard limitations that until
now have stood in the way of achieving the objective
of information access anytime, anywhere and from any
device. It also replaces device interfaces that are
awkward, space inefficient, time-consuming to learn
and inappropriate for wireless computing because they
are based on keyboard layouts that are over 100 years
old and technologies that are nearly fifty years old. View Full Image of FrogPad
Q: How does FrogPad™ work?
A: Unlike chording keyboards, 86% of the time you
only have one key to press. You never press more than
two keys at one time, similar to the shift on your
current keyboard.
Q: How small is the FrogPad™?
A: The FrogPad™ is 5 x 3.5 x .4 inches and weighs
4.9 ounces but the keys are the same size as those
found on a standard size keyboard.
Q: Is the FrogPad™ compatible with my device?
A: FrogPad™ is a standard USB plug-and-play keyboard
and can be used with wearable PC's, Tablets, DeskTops,
Laptops, Linux, and MACs (OS 9) and above. It has
a cable connector for both a standard PC and all
USB host applications. The Bluetooth FrogPad™ will
interface to all Bluetooth MAC’s and PC’s
and we have beta drivers for Mobile phones and PDA’s.
Q. Can I use FrogPad™ with either hand?
A. Our current models of FrogPad™ are optimized
for either hand. We produce both Lefty and Righty. The
two frequently used modifier keys are most efficiently
managed with the thumb.
Q: You say the FrogPad™ keyboard provides full-functionality.
What does this mean?
A: FrogPad™TM provides all of the functionality you
find on a standard keyboard today, alphanumeric, punctuation,
symbols and even function keys. It provides all of this
functionality while simplifying typing to a one-handed
activity.
Q: There are already some portable keyboards
in the market for PDA’s. The foldable QWERTY
keyboards seem like the perfect fit since they also
offer full-size
keys and require no re-learning. Why would someone
consider a FrogPad™TM when the key layout would need
to be relearned?
A: The foldable keyboards may be portable for transportation
purposes but they do not offer true portability when
in use because they require a “desk and chair” environment.
FrogPad™TM offers portability when in use because it
can be held in one hand and operated with the other.
Learning to use the FrogPad™TM keyboard gives you the
ability to type rapidly in a truly portable environment.
Our usability tests have shown it is actually very intuitive
and easy to learn.
Q: I am already able to touch type on a QWERTY keyboard.
How difficult would it be for me to learn to use the
FrogPad™TM?
A: Whether you are an experienced or inexperienced
QWERTY typist, you’ll find that the layout is
optimized for quick adaptation. The key layout is optimized
both around the most frequently used keys and around
the strongest fingers of the hand. We have prepared
a tutorial that will get you up and touch typing with
FrogPad™TM within an hour.
Q. Does the FrogPad™TM keypad work in different languages?
A: We have produced a Japanese and a US English version.
Our patented keystroke algorithms allow us to easily
scale the solutions to any language.
Q: What is your plan for allowing others to integrate
the FrogPad™TM technology into their devices and solutions?
A: Our technology licensing agreements are customized
for each partner. Companies interested in establishing
an OEM or other relationship with FrogPad™TM may contact
us via email at
Q: I can’t get my FrogPad™ to work with
on my MAC what do I do?
A: As the apple web-site says “Mac OS X Server
can detect USB devices on only one of your computer's
USB ports at a time. When using a display that has an
ADC (Apple Display Connector), connect your keyboard
to USB port 1 on the computer. The USB ports on the
display will not work. You cannot plug and unplug the
keyboard or mouse while the computer is turned on.” For
this reason, you cannot connect an Apple USB keyboard
to the USB port on another Apple USB keyboard. If you
want to use two bus-powered hubs with your computer,
connect each to a USB port on the computer or to a self-powered
hub. If you use three or more hubs connected to one
another, set them up so the chain alternates between
the two kinds.
Q: Does the FrogPad™ work with windows 98
A: The FrogPad™ works with Windows 98 with the caution
that since the USB standard is fairly recent you
might need to download new USB drivers for your
machine before using the FrogPad™. You can download
these drivers here.
Q: How long will it take me to learn FrogPad™?
A: Think about how long it took you to learn how
to properly type on the standard qwerty keyboard.
79% of the population does not touch type. In about
2 minutes with FrogPad™, you will understand the logic
behind the patented letter layout. In an hour you
will remember where most of the letters are located,
Then in about 6-10 hours you can get to 40 words a
minute. Keep in mind, children do not go through a
semester of typing classes. Children can be trained
on FrogPad™ very quickly. And imagine the difference
it will make to their posture.
Q: Is FrogPad™ compatible with the Japanese
edition of Window XP Professional?
A:
FrogPad is completely compatible with standard 101 "English" Keyboard, which
the Japanese Edition Window XP Professional supports. The only thing different
with the 101 English Keyboard from 104 Japanese keyboard is the Japanese input;
by adjusting MS IME to "Roma-ji Henkan", you can use 101 English Keyboard to
enter Japanese - Space key for Henkan, and Enter key for Kakutei or Muhenkan
- you must use mouse to switch between the Hiragana, Katakana, Eigo(chokusetsu
nyuuryoku).
Q. How does FrogPad compare to chording
keyboards, such as CyKey?
A. The basic
difference with chording and Froggie is that the
chording user must identify (and press) a unique
chord (consisting of up to 4 keys) for each letter
or function, while the
Frog user only needs to identify the key location
(and press that key) for each letter or function. Also,
chording user must press and release each chord while
Frog allows continuous key pressings. Having said that,
these differences are more apparent when one uses either
or both of these keyboards for some time. Chording
and Frog share the same problem that it will take "some"getting
used to…. Yet FrogPad has a patented letter layout
based on the research of Dvorak, and is much more
intuitive. The learning curve is shortened dramatically.
The CyKey has alphabet chords somewhat more intuitive
than other chording devices, yet it will not reproduce
all of the other functions of the standard keyboard.
