Tap Launches New 'TapAcademy' for Learning to Use Its Wearable Keyboard

[MacRumors]

Tap, the company behind the futuristic Tap wearable keyboard, today announced the launch of a new TapAcademy app for iOS that's designed to make it easier to learn to use the keyboard.

Tap is a keyboard that you wear on your thumb and fingers, using a series of finger taps to type different letters, numbers, and symbols.

Sensors built into the finger rings detect the movement of your fingers, translating your gestures into words for a novel, type anywhere experience. Of course, because it uses gestures, the Tap requires customers to learn a whole new way of typing.

In our Tap review earlier this year, we found it easy to learn to use the Tap through the existing Tap system, but this new method makes it even simpler to learn and then master.

TapAcademy is a 30-day course that you use for 10 minutes a day to learn all of the letters, numbers, and symbols that you need to use the Tap effectively as a keyboard replacement for iOS devices, Macs, and more.

Tap says that its TapAcademy app will turn Tap users into expert tappers, with most people achieving speeds of 30 to 40 words per minute.

TapAcademy is available from the iOS App Store starting today, and the Tap Keyboard can be purchased from the Tap website or from Amazon for $179.

Article Link: Tap Launches New 'TapAcademy' for Learning to Use Its Wearable Keyboard

 

[tex210]

Tap, the company behind the futuristic Tap wearable keyboard, today announced the launch of a new TapAcademy app for iOS that's designed to make it easier to learn to use the keyboard.

Tap is a keyboard that you wear on your thumb and fingers, using a series of finger taps to type different letters, numbers, and symbols.

Sensors built into the finger rings detect the movement of your fingers, translating your gestures into words for a novel, type anywhere experience. Of course, because it uses gestures, the Tap requires customers to learn a whole new way of typing.

In our Tap review earlier this year, we found it easy to learn to use the Tap through the existing Tap system, but this new method makes it even simpler to learn and then master.

TapAcademy is a 30-day course that you use for 10 minutes a day to learn all of the letters, numbers, and symbols that you need to use the Tap effectively as a keyboard replacement for iOS devices, Macs, and more.

Tap says that its TapAcademy app will turn Tap users into expert tappers, with most people achieving speeds of 30 to 40 words per minute.

TapAcademy is available from the iOS App Store starting today, and the Tap Keyboard can be purchased from the Tap website or from Amazon for $179.

Article Link: Tap Launches New 'TapAcademy' for Learning to Use Its Wearable Keyboard

I still think sign language would be better.

 

[coolfactor]

They really need to show more demo video than just the abstract marketing video on their website. I'm surprised by this. Where are the live demos?

Edit: found some great videos:

Impressive tech!

 

[AngerDanger]

The hero image on their site depicts my biggest issue with this device:

An order to make use of it on iOS/Android, you actually have to hold your hands closer to your body instead of reaching out and typing on the screen. If you thought capacitive screens made bad keyboards, consider that they don't require a separate app to teach you how to do something you already know how to.

 

[coolfactor]

I still think sign language would be better.

That can definitely be an evolutionary step to this technology. All technology starts somewhere, so it's not about what's better, but what's next?

 

[tex210]

That can definitely be an evolutionary step to this technology. All technology starts somewhere, so it's not about what's better, but what's next?

I actually envision it just being camera based.

 

[luvbug]

Once a large group of people become competent in a skill, like typing, the cost to convince them to abandon that skill and learn another (this device), without any idea whether it will actually prove to be better for them, is huge. I'm not switching from a keyboard, even a virtual one, until we have direct mind<->machine interfaces.

 

[Scooz]

Will they take my Leap Motion on comission?

 

[tex210]

Did any of you ever try this product. I’m just curious. I was fascinated by it when I first heard of it and had forgotten all about it until now.
https://waytools.com

 

[riverfreak]

Did any of you ever try this product. I’m just curious. I was fascinated by it when I first heard of it and had forgotten all about it until now.
https://waytools.com

Famous vaporware. Not sure if they ever shipped. I waited a year then bailed.

 

[Kabeyun]

I actually envision it just being camera based.

You mean like this?

 

[Pupi]

The hero image on their site depicts my biggest issue with this device:

View attachment 804682

An order to make use of it on iOS/Android, you actually have to hold your hands closer to your body instead of reaching out and typing on the screen. If you thought capacitive screens made bad keyboards, consider that they don't require a separate app to teach you how to do something you already know how to.

That’s like saying a car is worse than a bike because you have to take on driving lessons and such. Having to learn something never made that thing inherently bad. Just less accessible. But likely with a higher ceiling of possibilities.

 

[Kabeyun]

I’ll bet brass instrument players would be naturals at this.

 

[tex210]

You mean like this?

No actually, I was thinking a system that understands ASL gestures.

 

[Kabeyun]

No actually, I was thinking a system that understands ASL gestures.

Gotcha. I heard about this company last year, but no idea if they’ve got a consumer facing product yet.

 

[0924487]

The hero image on their site depicts my biggest issue with this device:

View attachment 804682

An order to make use of it on iOS/Android, you actually have to hold your hands closer to your body instead of reaching out and typing on the screen. If you thought capacitive screens made bad keyboards, consider that they don't require a separate app to teach you how to do something you already know how to.

It frees screen real estate.

 

[ignatius345]

It frees screen real estate.

So does a regular physical keyboard on a laptop. I don't much see the appeal of this, myself, but I guess if someone wants to spend a month learning to use this, more power to them.

 

[0924487]

So does a regular physical keyboard on a laptop. I don't much see the appeal of this, myself, but I guess if someone wants to spend a month learning to use this, more power to them.

What about on iPad?

 

[ignatius345]

What about on iPad?

On the rare occasions when I've used an iPad to write, I just use the Magic Keyboard which does the job quite nicely. I have never been so pressed for space I couldn't perch it on an airplane seat tray or something. But again, to each their own!