Cool Hand

a Twiddler 3 chord map optimized for the UNIX command-line
designed for vim/bash/mutt/irssi

dedicated to the legendary parmaster

Summary

This is a beginner-friendly Twiddler chord map. It is accompanied with a suite of configuration files for the UNIX command-line. The maps are displayed with the keys facing away from you (same as Finger Editor in Reverse Mode in Twiddler Tuner).

Design

This chord map combines ideas from TabSpace, BackSpice, MirrorWalk and Dial with Fingers.

It is a good beginner's layout. It uses symmetry to facilitate learning. The chords are designed to be completed by hitting all the buttons simultaneously in one crisp motion.

Observations

• Not all chords are created equal
  Take a good look at your hand. Now make a fist while curling each finger slowly with as little effort as possible. Notice the asymmetrical curve your fingertips form.
  While R00M is easily chordable, its mirror chord L00M requires significant effort.

• Adjacent fingers pull/push each other during movement
  For the RETURN key, it is more satisfying to chord LMM0 than LM00 even though the former uses more buttons.

• Chords performed by striking all buttons at the same time are faster
  Than walking the chord, holding down one button at a time.

• Fast chording/typing is a subconscious activity
  With practice, the learning gets progressively pushed towards lower layers of the motor cortex. In other words, it is coded in the muscles instead of conscious memory.

• Multi-Character Chords(MMC) increase cognitive load
  MMCs are tantalizing because they promise to deliver speed improvement. Excessive use of bi/trigrams requires conscious context-switches. Fingers are faster than your attention.

Design Principles

• use symmetry to facilitate learning
• prefer chords with keys on the same column
• reduce adjacent fingers on different columns
• prefer comfortable 3-4 button chords over difficult 2 button chords
• prefer chords that balance/stabilize a free rolling Twiddler in the palm (I use the Twiddler strapless)
• prefer MMC that approximate the chord configuration of its first character
• for N-grams, prefer comfort over mnemonic
• prefer individual characters over MMCs

Tested on Twiddler 3 running firmware 0.15u

"grins like a baby but bites like a gator"