Enso Gives Keyboard Commands to Windows Users

illuminatedwax writes "The Wall Street Journal's Walter S. Mossberg's latest column is a writeup on a new software system called Enso. Enso is from a small software startup called Humanized, led by Aza Raskin. The software allows Windows users to do common tasks, like launching programs, spellchecking, or Googling for search terms, but what's interesting is that it allows you to do these tasks from within any program in Windows by use of the keyboard. From the article: 'There are two initial Enso products, which can be downloaded at humanized.com. One, called Enso Launcher, allows you to launch programs and switch among windows via typed commands. The other, called Enso Words, allows you to do spell-checking, even when the program you're using doesn't include that capability, and to look up the meaning of words. Both products also include a simple calculator and the ability to launch Google searches.' Humanized says that users will be able to program their own commands for Enso in future versions."

Beta tester thoughts.

[elcid73]

My thoughts:

Ive been beta testing it for a handful of days. Ive never heard of quicksilver, and all that (PC user) so Im not sure what to make of the comparison- but Ill say the following things:

The quasimodal activation is what they wanted to emphasis, but it takes some getting used to. The caps lock key is the key in question quasi-modal means you have to hold it down while typing (like shift) long commands which requires some interesting hand movements. Further- for long commands like open with internet explorer (since its not a default browser on my system) then you have tab to complete the command like other CLIs but since youre already holding the caps key down, its really strange IMO . They do have a mode lock, but they discourage use.

-I sent some feedback during the beta about the memory usage 23-35MB at any given time seems a bit high for a launcher, but a)its beta , b) YMMV and c)You may not care about that.

-Actual usage is great. I like the learn where you can make shortcuts that dont clutter up your file system, it has a real-time list of applications/docs/etc that gets filtered out as you type your command and you can tab-complete or just arrow down if you want.

-Spellcheck, which is a much touted initial proof of concept feature of Enso, seems odd when you only want to spell check single word the spell check interface takes a second to load up (on both of my admittedly older & slower machines) and takes up the whole screen with a giant text box which seems like overkill. You can use the define command I think and get a did you mean prompt which is nice.

-Getting quick access to commonly worded applications (like internet explorer) requires a shortcut (I used ie obviously) but you cant combine that with the open with command. open ie opens up IE, but the open with ie gives me an is not a command error message.

Also Id like to say the best part of this interface is the subtle messaging/feedback system they have. Feedback is large and unmistakable and clear, yet still manage to stay out of your way.

My final thought is that the WSJ article misses the point of spellcheck. Although I agree that its a bit clumsy at times, its point is to break apart the notion of a different spellcheck with a different dictionary for every single application on your system. You have to learn the shortcut key for each one and build/add/ignore dictionaries for all as well.

Enso (thankfully) seeks to a put a single spellcheck interface that is universal in all applications.

Maybe its just me but...

[Hobbs0]

Wasn't this sort of stuff available in Linux years ago?

QuickKeys

[non]

QuickKeys for the macintosh essentially did all of this and more 15 years ago. nothing new here, move along.

Re:Die caps lock, die!

[Overzeetop]

And eliminate the programs application to most Architectural shops. Oddly enough, practically all architectural drawings (save residential plans from hacks) are done in all caps.

keyboard shortcuts are built-in

[radarsat1]

Maybe this software does something "more", but keyboard shortcuts are already built into Windows. I use it to launch Cygwin Rxvt terminal windows all the time. You just put it in your Start Menu and then right-click, Properties, and enter something in "Shortcut key". It works no matter what program I'm using.. I use Ctrl-Shift-F10 to launch Rxvt, and I have yet to see a situation where some program stops shortcut key from working. Similarly I launch Calculator with Ctrl-Shift-F12, etc.

Free, superior alternatives

[irishstallion]

Um, has anyone ever heard of Windows+R? It's called the run menu, and if you don't need a big bloated app it works great. For those who would prefer to do less legwork, and let the machine handle it, here are 2 free alternatives:

This http://www.autohotkey.com/ [autohotkey.com] is autohotkey. Universal windows auto-complete(no more typing your name or your address, or any words you tend to misspell), ridiculous hotkey action, it's all scripting, so you can make your scripts into exes and use them on any windows computer anywhere.

This http://www.bayden.com/SlickRun/ [bayden.com] is slickrun. Windows Run++, pretty much. Windows+q opens your run window, and you can program a bunch of features, it has autocomplete, yadda yadda yadda, it tells me it's using 8k, YMMV.

Or you could buy something that has some obvious flaws and less features. You know, if you are into that kind of stuff. Oh, and it's definitely a slashvertisement when you talk about shitty products that you have to pay for, instead of brilliant, old products that are free. In case you were wondering.

Start Menu Shortcuts

[DavidD_CA]

I've got all of the programs I frequently use assigned to keyboard shortcuts already, through the Windows start menu.

Ctrl-Alt-C brings up Calculator
Ctrl-Alt-N brings up Notepad

All you need is a shortcut to that application (or file, or website) somewhere in your Start Menu. From that shortcut's Properties, you can assign any key combination you like in the "Shortcut" textbox.

And while the unified spellcheck is a nice feature, I use Microsoft Office for nearly everything I do... so, I already have that. It shares the dictionary across applications.

Aza Raskin

[iluvcapra]

Aza Raskin, the owner of the company, is the son of Macintosh co-creator and User Interface Il Duce Jeff Raskin [wikipedia.org].

Here's a similar, better, FREE keyboard launcher:

[wernst]

I covered this for Computer Power User magazine a few months back: Launchy, over at http://www.launchy.net/ [launchy.net].

This free, Open Source software has many sterling qualities, including:

- extremely fast
- looks great by default, and is skinnable too
- takes less than 7mb of RAM while running, and no discernible CPU cycles
- uses Alt+Space to activate/deactivate, so you can keep your CAPS LOCK key and your left pinky too
- autocompletes text as if by magic
- opens applications, files, and websites
- opens bookmarks
- has calculator built-in
- doesn't cost $25 (or whatever)

Hey look, I'm still using my Apple II once in a while, and respect the Raskins as much as the next guy, but that's no reason to use an inferior, more expensive product.

Re:Already Built-in solution for running programs

[99BottlesOfBeerInMyF]

Or, using OS X, you can skip steps 1, 2, and 3 and just hit cmd-space, type the first few letters, and hit enter. It works for programs and files.

Re:Already Built-in solution for running programs

[Draknor]

If you are going to go to that trouble, take it the next step & put those icons in your Start Menu somewhere, and assign short cut keys for them. Even fewer keystrokes to launch -- first thing I do on any new/rebuilt XP computer is assign the Notepad icon to CTRL+SHIFT+N & Calculator to CTRL+SHIFT+C.

Second thing I do is replace Notepad with Crimson Editor :-)

Third thing is replace Calc with Powertoy Calculator :-)

The caveat to this method is a limited number of letters that make sense for a given app (is CTRL+SHIFT+I for IRC or IE?), and no central location to view all of your hotkeys. But it's damned fast (unless Explorer bogs down & takes 30 seconds to do anything, which happens from time to time).

A similar method

[mako1138]

What I do is co-opt the "favorites" menu for shortcuts.

1) Put shortcuts into the favorites menu.
2) If any two share the same first letter, rename.

Access with separate keystrokes
[WIN] (brings up start menu)
a (goes into favs menu)
[first letter] (runs shortcut)

So to get to Firefox, I type [WIN] a f, for Cygwin it's [WIN] a c, etc.

This method works best if you don't use IE, obviously. You can keep the "Links" folder from showing up in the start menu by making it hidden.

Re:Sounds like EMACS

[Anonymous Coward]

"a simple calculator"? Either you have a strange definition of simple, or you haven't read the Emacs calculator manual. The Emacs calc mode is not limited to arithmetic and numerical algebra on decimal numbers, fractions, vectors and matrices: it can do symbolic algebra including calculus and solving equations. It's more like poor man's Mathematica than a simple calculator.

Autohotkey is not for mere mortals (end users)...

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

Autohotkey is not for mere mortals (end users). I just tried out the latest version. You click the "open" action on the tray icon and you'll get a grey scripting window. End users would probably want to see a mapped key summary on the default page instead.