DataHand
Ergonomic keyboard using magnets and optical sensors, no wrist motion.
The DataHand is an unconventional computer keyboard introduced in 1990 by DataHand Systems, Inc., designed to be operated without any wrist motion or finger extension. It consists of two separate units, one for each hand, with each finger activating five buttons using compass directions and a down press, while thumbs have five buttons as well. The keyboard uses magnets for key return and optical sensors for activation, aiming to reduce finger workload while providing tactile feedback.
- Introduced
- 1990
- Inventor
- Dale J. Retter
- Company founded
- 1985
- Initial prototype released
- 1995
- Models
- Professional, Professional II
- Cease sales announced
- early 2008
- Limited orders resumed
- January 2009
Lore & Background
DataHand Systems, Inc. was founded in 1985, and the keyboard was invented by Dale J. Retter, produced as early as 1990. After the initial prototype was released in 1995, the company released the Professional and Professional II models with new bodies; the Professional II added extended programming capabilities, including macro recording. The company announced in early 2008 that it was ceasing sales due to supplier issues, stating it would not sell the keyboard until a new manufacturer could be identified. In January 2009, the website began taking orders for a limited number of new DataHand Pro II units, but by circa April 19, 2010, they were out of stock.
The layout initially resembles QWERTY, but the middle two columns of keys are delegated to sideways finger movements, and keys outside the main three rows are accessed through two additional modes: number and symbols, and function/mouse mode. There are three primary modes: letters, number and symbols, and function/mouse mode. The button modules are adjustable independently for each side vertically or forward and back. The keyboard appeared in several films and TV shows, including the 1997 sci-fi movie Contact, the 2006 spy movie Stormbreaker, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Shadow Conspiracy (1997), and Rounders (1998).
Reader's Guide
The DataHand is notable for its radical departure from conventional keyboard design, aiming to eliminate wrist motion and finger extension through a system of finger wells with magnetic key return and optical sensors. Its history reflects a niche but dedicated user base, as evidenced by the 2019 open-source lalboard revival by a user known as JesusFreke, which used 3D-printed parts and off-the-shelf magnets. This was followed by the Svalboard in 2023, a small-run production device evolving the lalboard design, and in 2024, the Lightly DataHand-style keyboard with trackpoint and trackball options. The keyboard's legacy includes its influence on ergonomic design and its persistence through community-driven projects after the original company ceased production. Its appearance in popular culture, such as in Contact and Rounders, underscores its distinctive visual and conceptual impact.
Did You Know?
- A 2019 open-source revival called the lalboard was created by a user known as JesusFreke.
- The DataHand appears in the 1997 film Contact as spaceship controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created the DataHand and when did it first appear?
Dale J. Retter developed the DataHand under DataHand Systems, Inc., a company he established in 1985. The product was officially introduced in 1990, although the first working prototype was not released until 1995.
How does the DataHand's key mechanism work?
Rather than a single flat board, it splits into two independent hand units where each finger selects from five buttons arranged in compass directions plus a downward push, while the thumbs each get their own set of five keys. Magnets handle the spring-back action and optical sensors detect every activation.
What ergonomic problem was the DataHand designed to solve?
It was engineered so the user never has to rotate the wrist or stretch the fingers to reach a key. By confining each digit to a tight cluster of buttons, it sharply reduces the range of motion and overall physical load on the hand.
Which DataHand models were actually produced?
The commercial line included the Professional and the Professional II. Both shared the same two-hand, magnet-and-optics design philosophy.
What happened to the DataHand product line?
DataHand Systems announced it would cease sales of the keyboard in early 2008, ending the product's commercial run after roughly eighteen years on the market.
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