mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >

Everyone loves the iPhone, but some have a little trouble adapting to typing on a touch screen. After a lifetime of using keys, its hard to operate without tactile feedback. I have trouble punching just one at a time. My Touch Keys to the rescue! It’s a plastic shield that attaches to the front of your iPhone with holes where the keyboard buttons are to give you the feel of where each key is. It doesn’t attach permanently, but clings to the glass by
static. It won’t scratch your touch screen, and won’t leave residue. There’s also an adhesive version, if that’s what you prefer. And it’s transparent! If you turn your iPhone sideways to watch a movie, you can see it right through the My Touch Keys. In fact, it’s hard to tell the cover is there at all, but you can feel where the keys are. Whether you tend to hit more than one key at a time, or just hesitate because you feel like you might, this will give you the extra tactile feedback you need.
See how it looks on an iPhone in this video. My Touch Keys is (are?) $7.99 plus shipping. There’s a buy one, get one free sale, but that probably won’t last forever. If you don’t have two iPhones, you could split the cost with another user. OK, iPhone users, would tactile feedback make your typing easier on a touch screen? Would you consider using this?
This is about the millionth article I’ve read about how the keypad is too hard to use.
Try *turning the phone around.* The keys get larger and farther apart.
posted by Steph Mineart on 4-7-2008 at 7:49 am
Oooh! Another article on the iPhone! Here, I thought I went to a website with content. Silly me.
posted by Just Al on 4-7-2008 at 8:33 am
I would consider getting this, but only if my husband needed to use my phone a lot. I don’t mind the keyboard on the iPhone, but I have small fingers. Many of my friends have had difficulty using Safari because of the keyboard (which is okay- they usually steal my phone to look up porn). Hubby would love it, but he’s a Mac hater. It works out.
posted by Holly on 4-7-2008 at 3:49 pm
“Try *turning the phone around.* The keys get larger and farther apart.”
Which only works in Safari. Doesn’t help much when you’re taking notes, or writing an email, or trying to look for an address while driving.
posted by Etrigan on 4-7-2008 at 6:58 pm