WO2001027732A1

WO2001027732A1 - Ergonomic alphanumeric keyboard

Info

Publication number: WO2001027732A1
Application number: PCT/FR1999/002510
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Hossenlopp; Bernard Yannou
Original assignee: Paul Hossenlopp; Bernard Yannou
Priority date: 1999-10-14
Filing date: 1999-10-14
Publication date: 2001-04-19
Also published as: AU6097899A

Abstract

The invention concerns an ergonomic alphanumeric keyboard for typewriters, teleprinters, computers and other appliances for data communication and processing, enabling data to be input by typewriting with two hands. Said keyboard comprises two palm-rests (1a, 1b) with globally convex shape, designed to support at least partially the weight of the hands by resting the palms thereon while typing. Said support is characterised in that it essentially involves the palm central and distal parts leaving the thumbs free to move in the intermediate space (12) between the two palm-rests. The thumbs are more frequently used, among other things to activate with a lateral movement four keys (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) integrated in the two faces (120a, 120b) opposite the palm-rests, and for activating eight keys from top to bottom arranged in two keypads (6a, 6b) of four keys located in the intermediate space (12). Four other keys (9a, 9b, 10a, 10b) are integrated in the palm-rests substantially facing the right-hand and left-hand keypads, said keys are activated by the forefinger and the middle finger of each hand. The sixteen keys concerned are, mainly assigned to punctuation functions <<,>>, <<.>>, editing functions, <<Spacing>>, <<Enter>>, <<Tab>>, <<Backspacing>> , and mode change <<Ctrl>> , <<Shift>>, <<Alt>>, <<Alt Gr>>, <<Fn>>. The palm-rests are adapted to the morphology of the hands by a translation element (140a, 140b). Solutions for managing the cursor (18, 15, 16a, 16b) and a thumb wheel (17) for vertical scroll of the display are integrated in the intermediate space (12).

Description

ERGONOMIC ALPHANUMERIC KEYBOARD

The present invention relates to keyboards of typewriters, teletypewriters, computers, and, more generally, of all machines or apparatus for communication and processing of written information, comprising a keyboard for typing with two hands.

The very design of traditional keyboards makes them particularly ill-suited to the anatomical and physiological possibilities of users. Indeed, they have major drawbacks:

• The shape of these keyboards being rectangular and flat, it forces the user to adopt an unnatural position during typing: wrists broken up and inward and elbows pressed against the body, this causing fatigue and discomfort. • When typing on a traditional keyboard, the hands remain aerial to allow the fingers to strike the keys. The weight of the hands is therefore reflected in the form of a moment in the spine, causing fatigue, back pain and even back pain. Furthermore, the two well-known configurations, qwerty and azerty, have established themselves as standards, and this despite a flagrant obsolescence. Indeed, the keys of the first typewriters are placed in such a way as to slow typing, by maximizing the distance of travel of the fingers, to prevent the hammers of mechanical machines from getting tangled. In addition, the rows of keys are offset, so that these same hammers are properly inserted, which is at odds with the natural radial movement of the fingers. More than a hundred years later, the qwerty and azerty arrangements and the rectangular keyboards with offset rows continue, although clearly suboptimal, as they are unsuitable for fast work and the morphology of the individual.

Numerous patent applications have been filed in this area and try to provide solutions to the problems mentioned above. For example, in French patents 2,359,707, 2,446,723 and 2,611,589, a means has been described for questioning the arrangement of the keys of traditional keyboards, and for proposing a new optimal allocation of characters. The current keyboards on the market are still almost all qwerty or azerty keyboards. Among the ergonomic keyboards, most have adopted the principle of two distinct sets of keys called "right hand pad" and "left hand pad" located in planes with different inclinations, this solution allowing typing with the hands in the extension of forearm. Another characteristic is relatively widespread, these are wrist rests formed by an extension of the keyboard shell towards the user. However, these wrist rests intended to relieve the user from the weight of his hands are, in practice, usable only at rest because the movement of the hands during striking makes them impractical.

We have already described in American patent 5553953 a keyboard support having surfaces intended to receive the palms, the recommended use of which is to tilt the keyboard backwards. However, this solution responds only very partially to the ergonomics of typing since the user must always move his hands; and the rear tilt of the keyboard poses a problem of legibility of the keys and therefore of accessibility of the characters. Furthermore, the invention does not allow easy use of the thumbs when the hands are placed on the palm rests.

Likewise, the American patents WO 92 18996 and WO 94 24685 describe a keyboard whose right and left hand pads are concave to facilitate the ideal positioning of the hands above the mean plane of the right and left hand pads, the slightly curved plunging fingers on the keys. The hands rest while typing on palm rests planes, even concave themselves in the center of which are two keypads activated by thumbs. Resting your hands and using your thumb more are good intentions, but this invention has many limitations including:

• The contact of the hands on the palm rests is mainly on the proximal part of the palm which considerably hinders the movement of the thumbs and which risks generating pain,

• The thumbs are used in a movement that is very unnatural and tiring in the long run. Indeed, by staying in the same plane as the other fingers, they work constantly in hyperextension. The ideal would be for them to work in a position below the planes of the hands. On the other hand, the thumbs only work to activate keys in an up and down motion or conversely, while the natural movement of these is that of gripping which consists in folding back inside the hand.

French patents 2359707, 2446723 and 2611589, previously cited, have already been described, an improved alphanumeric keyboard characterized in that the vowels are implanted in the left hand, and the most frequent consonants in the right hand. More specifically, in these patents a scientific arrangement of the characters on the keys is proposed, which allows spectacular results as regards comfort and typing speed. The methodology used essentially consists in applying qualitative ergonomic criteria to the results of a frequency analysis of the appearance of letters in a chosen language. This optimization of the distribution of the letters on the keys leads in particular to the fact of being able to type approximately 4000 words of the French language on the single row of guard (central row of keys, on which the fingers come to place themselves in initial position), against none in azerty. Likewise, since the frequently used letters are in the vicinity, the total distance of travel of the fingers is reduced by a factor of more than two, and, on the other hand, the movement of the hands is considerably reduced. It was, moreover, conceivable, partly on the basis of an optimized letter distribution keyboard, to design functional palm rests during typing which propose solutions to the limitations mentioned, to result in an even more comfortable typing. , less tiring and less risky in terms of musculoskeletal disorders caused by the practice of keyboards. According to the invention, a methodology was adopted based on ergonomic criteria, the most important of which correspond to that:

• The palms rest permanently on the palm rests during striking, which differentiates them well from all palm rests or wrist rests having for only function only a relief of the weight of the hands and forearms in rest phase.

• Until now, the support of the hands on the palm or wrist rests is mainly on the wrists and the proximal part of the palm, including the fleshy area close to the thumb which, when compressed, considerably hinders the movement of said thumb. As a result, pain frequently appears in this area. We wanted to relieve these limited support areas by extending, on the one hand, the support surface to the distal and central areas of the palm and, on the other hand, avoiding the support on the proximal zone at the level of the fleshy part at the base of the thumb, allowing the thumb to move without constraint.

• Once the thumb was released, we thought of putting more pressure on it during the continuous two-handed strike. Indeed, typing on conventional keyboards does not use this finger very much, except to activate the spacing key, while, paradoxically, it is a finger that has a lot of strength and endurance.

• It was then necessary to consider allowing the thumb to have a satisfactory rest position and defining its stresses in movement. In the rest position, the thumb is found, slightly curled up, under the plane of the hands and other fingers. We have found that existing keyboards overlook this problem by causing the thumb to move closer to the plane of the hands, generating continuous tension in the muscles at the base of the thumb.

• Regarding the movement of the thumbs, this is most of the time requested to activate the space bar or even keys in an up and down movement or vice versa, while the natural movement of the thumb is a movement lateral from left to right or vice versa, movement corresponding to that of gripping which consists in folding back inside the hand. We wanted to favor this natural movement of the thumb.

• The thumb can however be used to activate keys from top to bottom or vice versa within the limit where these keys are close to the rest position of the thumb, therefore well below the plane of the hands. However, it is noted that the thumb is often used for this movement in a plane too close to the plane of the hands generating the tension of the muscles of the base of the thumb already mentioned. We have sought to use the thumbs in this movement from a correct position.

• We wanted to use the lateral rotation movement of the thumb to access a greater number of keys that can be activated from top to bottom or vice versa. So far, very few keyboards have taken into account the articular singularity of this finger. • We wanted to encourage, in our search for better use of the thumb, the alternation of the hands during continuous typing. This essential criterion stipulates that consecutive strikes must be made one hand after the other. It is justified by improving the rate of typing since when a finger activates a key, the next can then position itself in advance. In addition, it is always preferable to leave the maximum rest to each member after a strike. • We sought to reduce the movement of the fingers on the keyboard during typing, by promoting better accessibility to the rows of keys, as well as to minimize the movement of the arms during typing.

• We wanted that, whatever the anatomical characteristics of the hands, size and / or shape, the palm rests could respond to their functions.

• We wanted to give the palm rests a hand setting function that allows the keyboard user to automatically position their fingers on the guard row without looking at the keyboard or looking for the usual tactile marker on two of the keys in said row . This need may correspond to a more family practice of the keyboard in a less conventional position of the user.

• We wanted to provide keyboard users with one or more means of managing the cursor and / or of scrolling vertically without having a mouse, so by integrating these functions into the keyboard.

The present invention therefore takes up the idea of the separation into two pavers right hand and left hand, whether these pavers are planar or not, whose mean planes are of different orientation so that the hands are in a natural position. More specifically according to the invention:

• The shape of the palm rests which has been proposed is generally convex, curved, protruding above the medium planes of the right hand and left hand pavers to allow positioning of the hands by wedging them so that the fingers fall above the keys of the guard row being somewhat curved.

• The shape of these palm rests allows the palm to rest on the main internal part of the hand, except for the proximal area at the level of the fleshy part at the base of the thumb.

• The protruding shape of the palm rests, freeing up an intermediate space, allows the thumbs to be in their rest position lower than the medium shots of the corresponding hands.

• These palm rests are adjustable to allow adaptation to all hand sizes. A translation of the palm rests parallel to the average planes of the corresponding right hand and left hand pavers has proved sufficient for this adaptation to the different morphologies.

• Twelve keys can now be activated with the thumbs, which allows rebalancing of finger activity.

• Four keys can be activated by the thumbs in its natural lateral movement, which is made possible by the integration of these keys in one side of each palm rest. These faces are substantially opposite and substantially orthogonal to the mean plane of the corresponding right hand or left hand block.

• Among these four keys, the two most accessible since they are directly under the thumb, are assigned to two non-alphanumeric but statistically very frequent functions, namely "Space" on the left and "Enter" on the right. The other two keys are assigned to the same "Alt" mode change function, this function being duplicated in each block so as to allow simultaneous action of both hands in performing a function in the "Alt" mode. .

• Eight keys, integrated in the intermediate space, can be activated by thumbs up and down or vice versa. They are in the form of two curved rows of four keys that closely follow the trajectory of the thumb in its lateral movement.

• These eight keys are essentially assigned to the three mode change functions "Shift", "Ctrl", "Alt Gr", these functions being duplicated in each block of four keys that can be activated by the thumbs so as to allow simultaneous action with both hands in the performance of a function in one of the three modes mentioned. The two remaining keys are assigned to the two editing functions "Tab" and "Backspace".

• For practical reasons, four buttons have been integrated on the sides of the palm rests facing the right and left hand pads. Two keys are intended to be activated by the indexes, and are assigned on the right to the “,” function and on the left to the “function. », These two keys being very frequent. Two keys are intended to be activated by adults, and are assigned to the same "Fn" mode change function, this function being duplicated in each block so as to allow simultaneous action of both hands in performing a function in the "Fn" mode. • In the intermediate space between the palm rests, means can be integrated such as a thumb wheel having the function of vertical scrolling of the display, preferably accessible by the thumb or the index finger of each of the two hands. In the same way, can be integrated a means such as a small lever sensitive to displacement or to pressure (small joystick) to manage the displacement of the cursor, as well as two buttons having for function the screen selection and the activation of the menu contextual, all preferably activated by the index. In the same way, we can prefer instead of the small lever and the two associated buttons, a pointing device of the sensitive carpet type ("paddle") or of the ball type (trackball).

By relying on the ergonomic criteria mentioned in the foregoing, the present invention provides an ergonomic alphanumeric keyboard for typewriters, teleprinters, computers, and other communication and information processing devices, said keyboard allowing the input of said information by typing with two hands, said keyboard comprising two palm rests intended to at least partially support the weight of the hands by pressing the palms during typing, each palm rest being arranged in line with a keypad intended to be operated by one of the hands, namely right hand pad and left hand pad, characterized in that each palm rest has a projecting surface, a portion of which is intended to serve as a support for the distal zone of the palm if there is another to serve as a support in the middle of the palm if necessary and a lower surface of the palm rest possibly receiving the part p palm, at least the side opposite to the thumb, this palm rest being such that at least any couple of the three aforementioned elements - distal part of the palm, middle of the palm, proximal part of the palm at least side opposite to the thumb - rests on the palm rest considered, the two palm rests being spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the keyboard to define between them an intermediate space in which the thumbs can engage. The invention also relates to the application of the principles of optimized distribution of functions to a modern ergonomic keyboard, improved by supports allowing the hands to remain immobile and supported during data entry by typing with two hands. According to a particular characteristic, provision can be made for the projecting palm rest to have at least one plane tangent to its upper portion which is parallel to the mean plane of the corresponding right hand or left hand block.

Advantageously, it can be provided that there exists, for the right and left palm rests, at least one face substantially orthogonal to the mean plane of the corresponding right hand or left hand block, in which is integrated at least one control device, activatable by a finger, which may be a button, a button, a pointing device or a means such as a scroll wheel whose function is to scroll the display vertically.

Advantageously, provision can be made for each palm rest to have a face substantially orthogonal to the mean plane of the corresponding right hand or left hand block and substantially parallel to the preferred transverse direction of the corresponding right hand or left hand block, the two faces considered. thus being substantially opposite and releasing an intermediate space in which the thumbs engage, one of the two faces substantially opposite integrating at least one control device of the button, button, device type. pointing or medium such as a scroll wheel whose function is to scroll the display vertically.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the faces substantially opposite each have two keys, the two right keys being intended to be activated by the right thumb from left to right or vice versa and being substantially at the same distance from the middle plane of the right hand pad, the two keys on the left being intended to be activated by the left thumb from right to left or vice versa and being substantially at the same distance from the middle plane of the left hand pad.

It is advantageous to assign the four keys integrated into the faces substantially opposite to the functions "Enter", "Space", and once "Alt" on each face.

Alternatively, you can assign the "Enter" function to the key closest to the right hand pad, the "Space" function to the key closest to the left hand pad, and the "Alt" function to two remaining keys.

Advantageously, provision can be made for each palm rest to have a face which is substantially orthogonal to the mean plane of the corresponding right hand or left hand block and which substantially faces the corresponding right hand or left hand block, one of these two faces integrating at least one key, button, pointing device or means of control device such as a thumb wheel having the function of vertical scrolling of the display, this control device being activatable by the index, middle finger, ring finger or the little finger of the corresponding hand.

According to a variant, it is possible to provide that the faces substantially opposite the right hand and left hand blocks each have two keys, these being substantially at the same distance from the mean plane of the corresponding right hand or left hand block, and for each face , the key closest to the intermediate space being intended to be activated by the index finger of the corresponding hand and the key farthest from the intermediate space being intended to be activated by the middle finger of the corresponding hand.

According to a variant, it is possible to provide that the four keys integrated in the faces substantially opposite the right hand and left hand blocks are assigned to the functions ". ",", ", And once" Fn "on each side.

According to a variant, it can be provided that the function “. "Is assigned to the key that can be activated by the left index finger, the", "function is assigned to the key that can be activated by the right index finger, and the" Fn "function that can be activated by adults is assigned to the two remaining keys.

Advantageously, provision can be made for the position on the keyboard of each palm rest to be adjustable relative to the corresponding right hand or left hand pad by a translation substantially parallel to the mean plane of the corresponding right hand or left hand pad. Advantageously, provision may be made for the intermediate space to incorporate at least one control device of the key, button type, pointing device of the sensitive carpet (“paddle”) or ball type (trackball) type, or means such as a wheel for vertical scrolling of the display. Advantageously, it is possible to provide that in the intermediate space extend two blocks of keys that can be activated by the thumbs in a movement from the top to the bottom or vice versa.

According to a particular characteristic, it can be provided that the thumbs-activated keypads, namely right thumbpad and left thumbpad, are rows of buttons roughly arranged in an arc of a circle substantially describing the path followed by an extended thumb when the hand rests on the matching palm.

According to a variant, it is possible to provide that the keys of the right thumb pad are four in number and, starting from the key closest to the right hand pad, that they are assigned to the functions "Backspace", "Shift", " Alt Gr "and" Ctrl ". According to a variant, it is possible to provide that the keys of the left thumb pad are four in number and, starting from the key closest to the left hand pad, that they are assigned to the functions: "Tab", "Shift", " Alt Gr "and" Ctrl ".

Advantageously, provision may be made for a keyboard, which can be used for entering information on a computer comprising a screen with cursor, to include means such as a scroll wheel whose function is to scroll the display vertically, preferably accessible by the thumb or the index finger of each of the two hands, and located between the right thumb pad and the left thumb pad. Advantageously, provision may be made for a keyboard, usable for entering information on a computer comprising a screen with cursor, to include means such as a small lever sensitive to movement or to pressure (small joystick) for managing the movement of the cursor, as well as two buttons whose function is screen selection and activation of the contextual menu, all located between the right and left hand blocks and preferably activated by the index.

Advantageously, one can think that the right hand and left hand blocks are substantially defined by a table of 6 rows of keys by 6 columns, the two outermost columns of each block whose keys can be activated by the little fingers being offset by one half line down, the upper row of each block which is furthest from the palm rests being significantly more distant from the other rows and comprising only 5 keys, the key of the outermost second column does not exist, thus dividing this upper row into two parts, a row of 4 keys and an isolated key in the outer and upper corners of the right hand and left hand blocks. Various optimized distribution of functions for different languages can be performed and inserted in these right hand and left hand keypads. In the same way, we can think of adapting to the matrix form of the right hand and left hand pavers, distributions of functions known as Y azerty or qwerty.

To better understand the object of the invention, we will now describe, purely by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing.

On this drawing :

• Figure 1 shows a plan view of the keyboard according to the invention, highlighting the palm rests as well as the various key pads;

• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of Figure 1;

• Figure 3 shows a top view of the right hand, well positioned on his right palm rest, fingers outstretched. This figure represents in particular several zones of the internal part of the hand.

• Figure 4 shows a schematic plan view of the keyboard intended to show the functions assigned to the keys integrated in the palm rests and to the keys activatable by thumbs.

The keyboard according to the invention comprises two palm rests, namely a right palm rest 1a and a left palm rest 1b, intended to at least partially support the weight of the hands by pressing the palms during typing. Each palm rest is arranged to the right of a keypad, intended to be actuated by one of the hands, namely right hand pad 3a and left hand pad 3b. The right hand 3a and left hand 3b key pads have for planes the planes 2a and 2b. The position on the keyboard of each palm rest la or lb is adjustable, relative to the right hand pad 2a or corresponding left hand 2b, by a translation 140a or 140b substantially parallel to the mean plane 2a_or 2b of the corresponding right hand pad or left hand . The contour lines 150a and 150b indicate the extreme positions of these palm rests. The two planes 2a and 2b are such that they allow the hands to strike while being in the direction of the forearms. Thus, the two right hand 3a and left hand 3b blocks respect the opening angle of the forearms, namely about 30 degrees. In addition, these two planes 2a and 2b have an angle of inclination towards the rear of approximately 4 degrees and an angle of pronation of the hands (external rotation of the hands on the forearm axis) of approximately 15 degrees.

The axes A and B are defined as being the preferred transverse directions of the right hand and left hand blocks. The palm rests have four surfaces substantially orthogonal to the planes 2a and 2b; these are surfaces 120a and 120b substantially parallel to directions A and B, and surfaces 121a and 121b substantially opposite the right hand and left hand blocks. Each of these four surfaces incorporates two keys. The surface 120a integrates the keys 7a and 8a assigned respectively to the “Enter” and “Alt” functions, these two keys being substantially at the same distance from the plane 2a, the key 7a being the closest to the right hand pad 3a. The surface 120b integrates the keys 7b and 8b assigned respectively to the functions "Space" and "Alt", these two keys being substantially at the same distance from the plane 2b, the key 7b being the closest to the left hand pad 3b. The surface 121a integrates the keys 9a and 10a assigned respectively to the functions "," and "Fn", these two keys being substantially at the same distance from the plane 2a, the key 9a being the closest to the surface 120a. The surface 121b integrates the keys 9b and 10b assigned respectively to the functions “. "And" Fn ", these two keys being substantially at the same distance from the plane 2b, the key 9b being the closest to the surface 120b.

The space cleared between the surfaces 120a and 120b integrates various control devices placed on a substantially flat surface 12. On this surface 12 are integrated two blocks of four keys 6a and 6b which can be activated by the thumb from top to bottom or vice versa. These blocks are rows roughly arranged in an arc of a circle substantially describing the trajectory made by an inch in extension when the palm is on the palm rest. The keys of the right thumb pad 6a are, starting from the key closest to the right hand pad 3a assigned to the functions "Backspace", "Shift", "Alt Gr" and "Ctrl". The keys of the left thumb pad 6b are, starting from the key closest to the left hand pad 3b assigned to the functions: "Tabulation", "shift", "Alt Gr" and "Ctrl". A wheel 17 having the function of the vertical scrolling of the display, preferably accessible by the thumb or the index finger of each of the two hands, is located between the two right thumb blocks 6a and left thumb block 6b. A small lever 15 (small joystick) sensitive to movement or pressure to manage the movement of the cursor, as well as two buttons 16a, 16b having the function of screen selection and activation of the contextual menu are located in the center of the keyboard between the plans 2a and 2b. According to a variant, it may be preferable to this small lever and its two buttons a cursor management system based on a sensitive mat (paddle) 18 located in space 12 and in front of the pavers which can be activated by thumbs 6a and 6b.

The right hand 3a and left hand 3b blocks are substantially defined by an array of 6 rows of keys 100a, 101a, 102a, 103a, 104a, 105a and 100b, 101b, 102b, 103b, 104b, 105b by 6 columns of keys, the two outermost columns of each block, the keys of which can be activated by the little fingers being shifted by half a line downwards, the upper row 100a or 100b of each block which is furthest from the palm rests la or lb being significantly more distant from the other rows and comprising only 5 keys, the key of the outermost second column does not exist, thus dividing this upper row 100a or 100b into two parts, a row of 4 keys 5a or 5b and a key insulated 4a or 4b in the outer and upper corners of the right hand 3a and left hand pavers 3b.

The assignment of the functions to the keys of the right hand 3a and left hand 3b blocks can be broken down into several proposals which are optimally adapted to different languages.

Claims

- Ergonomic alphanumeric keyboard for typewriters, teletypewriters, computers, and other communication and information processing devices, said keyboard allowing the entry of said information by typing with two hands, said keyboard comprising two palm rests (the, lb) intended to support at least partially the weight of the hands by pressing the palms during typing, each palm rest being arranged in line with a keypad intended to be actuated by one of the hands, namely right hand pad and left hand pad (3a, 3b), characterized in that each palm rest has a projecting surface, a portion of which is intended to serve as a support for the distal zone (201a, 201b) of the palm if necessary , another to serve as a support in the middle of the palm (202a, 202b) if necessary and a lower surface of the palm rest possibly receiving the proximal part of the palm, at least the side opposite the thumb (203a , 203 b), this palm rest being such that at least any couple of the three aforementioned elements - distal part (201a, 201b) of the palm, middle of the palm (202a, 202b), proximal part of the palm at least opposite side of the thumb (203a,

203b) - rests on the palm rest considered, the two palm rests (la, lb) being spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the keyboard to define between them an intermediate space (12) in which can s engage the thumbs. - Keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that the projecting palm rest (la, lb) has at least one plane tangent to its upper portion which is parallel to the mean plane of the right hand pad (2a) or left hand (2b) corresponding. - Keyboard according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that there are, for the right and left palm rests (la, lb), at least one face substantially orthogonal to the mean plane of the right hand pad (2a) or left hand (2b) corresponding, in which is integrated at least one control device, activatable by a finger, which can be a key, a button, a pointing device or a means such as a wheel having the function of the vertical scrolling of the display. - Keyboard according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that there is for each palm rest a face (120a, 120b) substantially orthogonal to the mean plane (2a, 2b) of the pad right hand or hand corresponding left and substantially parallel to the preferred transverse direction (axes A, B) of the right hand (3a) or corresponding left hand (3b) block, the two faces considered thus being substantially opposite and freeing up an intermediate space ( 12) in which the thumbs engage, one of the two faces substantially opposite (120a or 120b) incorporating at least one control device of the button, button, pointing device or means such as a wheel for vertical scrolling of the display. - Keyboard according to claim 4, characterized in that the faces substantially opposite (120a, 120b) each comprise two keys, the two right keys (7a, 8a) being intended to be activated by the right thumb of left to right or vice versa and being substantially the same distance from the mean plane of the right hand pad (2a), the two left keys (7b, 8b) being intended to be activated by the left thumb from right to left or vice versa and being substantially the same distance from the middle plane of the left hand pad (2b). - Keyboard according to claim 5, characterized in that the four keys (7a, 8a, 7b, 8b) integrated in the faces substantially opposite (120a, 120b) are assigned to the "Input", "Space" functions , and once "Alt" on each side. - Keyboard according to claim 6, characterized in that the "Enter" function is assigned to the key (7a) closest to the right hand pad (3 a), the "Space" function is assigned to the key (7b) the closer to the left hand pad (3b), and the "Alt" function is assigned to the two remaining keys (8a and 8b). - Keyboard according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that there is for each palm rest a face (121a, 121b) substantially orthogonal to the mean plane of the right hand pad (2a) or left hand

(2b) corresponding and substantially facing the right hand pad (3a) or left hand (3b) corresponding, one of these two faces (121a or 121b) incorporating at least one control device type button, button, device pointing or means such as a wheel having the function of the vertical scrolling of the display, this control device being activatable by the index, middle finger, ring finger or little finger of the corresponding hand. - Keyboard according to claim 8, characterized in that the faces (121a, 121b) substantially opposite the right hand (3a) and hand blocks left (3b) each have two keys, these being substantially the same distance from the mean plane of the corresponding right hand or left hand pad, and for each face (121a, 121b), the closest key (9a, 9b) of the intermediate space (12) being intended to be activated by the index finger of the corresponding hand and the most distant key (10a, 10b) of the intermediate space (12) being intended to be activated by the middle finger of the corresponding hand. - Keyboard according to claim 9, characterized in that the four keys (9a, 10a, 9b, 10b) integrated in the faces (120a, 120b) substantially opposite the right hand (3 a) and left hand (3b) blocks are assigned to functions ". ",", ", And once" Fn "on each side. - Keyboard according to claim 10, characterized in that the function ". "Is assigned to the key (9b) activatable by the left index finger, the function", "is assigned to the key (9a) activatable by the right index finger, and the function" Fn "activatable by adults is assigned to both remaining keys (10a and 10b). - Keyboard according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the position on the keyboard of each palm rest (la or lb) is adjustable relative to the right hand pad (2a) or left hand (2b) corresponding by a translation (140a, 140b) substantially parallel to the mean plane (2a or 2b) of the corresponding right hand or left hand block. - Keyboard according to one of claims 1 or 4, characterized in that the intermediate space (12) integrates at least one control device of the key, button, pointing device of the sensitive carpet type ("paddle") ( 18) or of the ball type (trackball), or means such as a wheel (17) having the function of scrolling the display vertically. - Keyboard according to claim 13, characterized in that in the intermediate space (12) extend two blocks (6a, 6b) of keys activatable by thumbs in a movement from top to bottom or vice versa. - Keyboard according to claim 14, characterized in that the key pads activatable by the thumbs (6a, 6b), namely right thumb pad and left thumb pad, are rows of buttons roughly arranged in an arc of a circle describing substantially the trajectory made by an inch in extension when the hand rests on the corresponding palm rest (la or lb). - Keyboard according to claim 15, characterized in that the keys of the right thumb pad (6a) are four in number and, starting from the key closest to the right hand pad (3a), are assigned to the "Backspace" functions "," Shift "," Alt Gr "and" Ctrl ". - Keyboard according to claim 15, characterized in that the keys of the left thumb pad (6b) are four in number and, starting from the key closest to the left hand pad (3b), are assigned to the functions: "Tabulation" , "Shift", "Alt Gr" and "Ctrl". - Keyboard according to claim 13 usable for entering information on a computer comprising a screen with cursor, characterized in that it comprises means such as a wheel (17) having the function of scrolling the display vertically, accessible preferably by the thumb or the index finger of each of the two hands, and situated between the right thumb pad (6a) and the left thumb pad (6b). - Keyboard according to claim 13 usable for entering information on a computer comprising a screen with cursor, characterized in that it comprises means such as a small lever sensitive to displacement or to pressure (15) (small joystick) to manage the movement of the cursor, as well as two buttons (16a, 16b) having for function the screen selection and the activation of the contextual menu, the whole situated between the right hand (3a) and left hand (3b) blocks and preferable activable by index finger. - Keyboard according to claim 1, characterized in that the right hand and left hand blocks (3a, 3b) are substantially defined by an array of 6 rows of keys (100a, 101a, 102a, 103a, 104a, 105a and 100b,

101b, 102b, 103b, 104b, 105b) by 6 columns of keys, the two outermost columns of each block whose keys can be activated by the little fingers being shifted by half a line down, the upper row (100a , 100b) of each block which is furthest from the palm rests (la, lb) being significantly more distant from the other rows and comprising only 5 keys, the key of the outermost second column not existing, thus separating this upper row (100a, 100b) in two parts, a row of 4 keys (5a, 5b) and an isolated key (4a, 4b) in the outer and upper corners of the right and left hand pads (3a, 3b).