Quadriplegic man sets record for fastest hands-free typing

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We've got to give props to the amazing Hank Torres — who lost use of his arms and legs after a hang-gliding accident 30 years ago — for setting the Guinness world record for fastest hands-free typing.

Hank typed the following phrase — "The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human." — in 83.09 seconds last Friday at the Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference in Orlando, Fla.

Hank had a nice set-up to help achieve his record. In fact, we are learning about this because, along with a head-tracking system called TrackerPro and a PC, Hank uses the Swype software keyboard found on many Android phones. (The maker of TrackerPro, AbleNet, now includes the Swype keyboard in the software bundle.)

Not only is it amazing what Hank can do with the keyboard, it's a pretty amazing demonstration of the keyboard's functionality itself. Just watch this video and tell me you're not impressed with him and with the software keyboard. You can't.

Catch up with Wilson on Twitter at @wjrothman, or join our conversation at the Technolog Facebook page.