A common problem with pocket computers is quick and intuitive typing, because a comfortable keyboard with up to 293 WPM is too big. On the other hand, boards like the Blackberry are small and cumbersome, and handwriting and voice input are only suitable for casual input.
Developer Daniel Norris says chonkey pocket (h/t Relipting), which has full-size mechanical keys for touch-typing, although there are only ten. We use code technology, so you don’t have to worry.
Chonky Pocket is based on the Raspberry Pi and is designed to offer all-day battery life with a choice of full-size ports. Another design goal was to allow touch typing. However, users will have to work through the learning curve of the code for speed.
Like the original CharaChorder One from 2020, the Chonky Pocket only has 10 keys. The Chonky Pocket handheld doesn’t look as ergonomic as the CharaChorder One. It’s like a Game Boy with comedy teeth and a scroll wheel, plus the CharaChorder One claims he achieves up to 300 WPM in a 10-key configuration, while Norris claims he’s in Chonky Pocket where he It only claims 50 WPM (after practice).
It’s important that both the user and the underlying software get used to code entry. For Chonky Pocket, Norris based his 10-key mechanical key design on artey.io layout. He added a few more keys to that his 8-key his layout for quick access to programming-related symbols. Artsey is said to be able to learn the basics in “less than an hour” and with practice he can reach 50 WPM.
The keyboard and dedicated scroll wheel are probably the most eye-catching features of the new Chonky Pocket, but here are the device’s other key specs:
- 5 inch touch screen display
- accelerometer and gyroscope motion sensor
- Full-size USB, Ethernet, and HDMI ports
- all-day battery life
If you love Chonky Pocket and want to build your own, Norris has shared a 3D printed STL file of the case on his GitHub page. You can also find a component list and other resources/software on device wiring, power, batteries, etc. .
Before starting this project, Norris wanted a power-saving screen, a second HDMI port, a more accessible SD card, and perhaps a more pocket-friendly build (based on the Pi Zero W?). So it might be worth waiting for a next-gen device with a sleek design and a pocket size smaller than cargo pants.
