Comment: Adventures with a Flexible Keyboard

I am now the proud owner of a flexible, rollable, waterproof keyboard from Dot.Com.

They are quite strange but very quiet, which was the main reason I got it.

One particular key confuses me: the 'Power' key. With a single, usual duration key-press, I can now shut down my computer from my keyboard! Accidental data-loss looms in the not-too-distant future.

This is not the only keyboard that has such a layout and the existence of such a key dumbfounds me! It doesn't even turn power on: ie. it really is a 'Power Off' key! It is truly an amazingly *BAD* user interface design!

One thing that strikes me is that the whole idea with this keyboard in particular is that you can spill stuff on it and it will be fine since it is completely sealed. (I've poured water on it deliberately and it is indeed fine) *But* what if you spill your coffee and the mug falls hard enough to hit the power off key! Hmmm...

I have been in touch with the company about this and they said you used to be able to disable the Power Key with jumpers on original keyboards. Obviously this is not possible with mine! A lovely translation of design from one context to another without really thinking about it!

Also, apparently this wonderful key is supposed to put the computer into standby and any other key will wake it up. Mine, sadly, does not do that!

I've now found out how to disable the power key from Control Panel in Windows XP. However, this not only disables the key on the keyboard but also the button on my PC. This isn't all bad, so this story does have a happy ending!

The dot.com keyboard is water resistant, flexible, dust and contaminant proof. The company say the keyboard can be used in industrial environments, hospitals, libraries, marine and boating applications, in fact anywhere where dust and liquids are present. It is available 'in a range of seven great colours to compliment your décor'.

Darren Pearce
University of Sussex

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