Twiddler Explained

Twiddler
Manufacturer:	HandyKey Corporation (1992-2007), Tek Gear, Inc (2007-present)

The Twiddler is a chorded keyboard and mouse allowing one to type with a single hand.^[1]

History

The first Twiddler was launched in 1992 by the HandyKey Corporation.^[2] HandyKey was purchased in 2007 by the Canadian firm Tek Gear.^[3]

Specification

The original Twiddler used a serial port for communication and a PC AT keyboard port for power.^[4] This was replaced with USB for the Twiddler 2.^[5] The third generation Twiddler, the Twiddler 3, natively communicates using USB or Bluetooth and provides haptic feedback through an optionally installed module.^[6] The fourth generation, the Twiddler 4, announced in 2024, will use USB-C or Bluetooth, and replaces the Twiddler 3's joystick with an optical trackpad.^[7]

References

1. Web site: Learning the one-handed Twiddler3 keyboard a challenge worth taking . New Atlas . 2022-01-08 . 2015-04-13.
2. News: Crossman . Craig . Keyboard-in-a-mouse enhances slide shows . 2022-01-08 . The Miami Herald . 1992-04-27 . 71.
3. Web site: Ray. Bill. 2015-01-21. Come and Twiddle Tek Gear's one handed keyboard. 2022-01-07. The Register. en.
4. Web site: Rhodes. Brandon. 2018-03-30. A New Driver for the Original Twiddler. 2022-01-07. rhodesmill.org.
5. Web site: Twiddler 2.1. 2022-01-07. TekGear. en.
6. Web site: Schultz. Brian. 2015-05-05. Winnipeg Company Develops One-Handed Keyboard. 2022-01-07. ChrisD.ca. en-CA.
7. Web site: 2024-04-30. Twiddler 4. en-CA.