Kinesis Advantage - Everything you want to know but are afraid to ask!

[ricercar]

After a day typing, I'm seriously considering dual trackpoints, one for each index finger. The convenience of cursoring with either hand would far outweigh the cognitive dissonance of Which One Do I Use Now? each time I sat down.

I'm still troubled by button placement. However dual r/l cursors means I can have mouse buttons on each hand: move with one, and click with the other.

[Input Nirvana]

I figured dual controls were not as silly as it first seemed. Datahand is similar spreading out the work to 2 hands, so cursor 1 hand, click with the other makes sense provided your hand is NOT on a mouse. Theoretically, it should be a little faster half of the time, and the same speed the other half. Plus, the whole left hand/right hand people thingy.

[ricercar]

I traced the Kinesis fkey pinout



a-b=esc
a-j=f1
a-k=f2
b-h=f3
f-h=f4
g-h=f5
b-e=f6
c-e=f7 (proprietary macro data)
d-e=f8 (proprietary macro delay)
r-t=f9 (proprietary repeat rate)
s-u=f10 (proprietary disable macro)
s-t=f11 (proprietary program macro)
r-v=f12 (proprietary program remap)
y-x=printscrn-sysreq
v-w=scroll lock
q-r=pause break
o-p=(proprietary) keypad
n-p=(proprietary) program

[Input Nirvana]

Heyyyy...

I needed that to wire and add the missing switches...

Thank youuuu  

EDIT----
Here is what I want to do, cut square holes in the metal and insert the F-key switches

[Input Nirvana]

I've gone over the article and done some editing, overall updating (clean up, corrections, clarification, citations, add/delete, progress, etc.). Hopefully it is a bit more cohesive and flows a bit better.

The project has been stalled for a while, but now I've got almost everything needed at this point to proceed. (Whenever those Blue Cubes and Hyperscroll show up)

[Input Nirvana]

I'm about ready to ditch the 3 PRNT SCRN/SCRLL LK/PAU BRK switches. Are these even used in the PC world any more?

I would rather add more functional keys than hang onto the old non-used ones just because they are in the boards firmware/programming. The latest Mac keyboards come with F1-F19. The arrangement I have in the pic with the blue keys on the case (8 keys) actually work with the index finger pretty well. The highest key in each of the 2 columns, not so much (they could become the programming buttons). The 3 keys added under the left thumbkey cluster could be where the mouse buttons go, trackpoint cursor on the right hand.


My question is this: What do I need to do to add the extra keys (F13-F18) to the matrix and programming of the keyboard? Is it reasonable, or pretty crazy? Can I add a controller for those keys? Or does the existing controller prevent that? I'm not a programmer/IT person.

[kishy]

I'm about ready to ditch the 3 PRNT SCRN/SCRLL LK/PAU BRK switches. Are these even used in the PC world any more?

Print Screen, if you happen to like the ability to take screenshots...

Scroll Lock, I have yet to see a modern use for this. I'll map it to toggle things in games for an easy visual reminder that it's toggled (thanks to the LED).

Pause/Break can be used to pause a POST or the hardware summary page displayed after the POST.

[Input Nirvana]

Hmmm, at least 2 of the 3 sound pretty worthless for what they are. Sounds like I just found 3 re-mappable keys! That puts me up to F15 without even trying! And, there are several ways of taking screen shots.

I have some of your Cherry clones from Ricercar (note pics with what appears to be Cherry blacks)  

[kishy]

Hmmm, at least 2 of the 3 sound pretty worthless for what they are. Sounds like I just found 3 re-mappable keys! That puts me up to F15 without even trying! And, there are several ways of taking screen shots.

I have some of your Cherry clones from Ricercar (note pics with what appears to be Cherry blacks)  

Lol glad they're going to good use I'll have some genuine ones in another unwanted keyboard listed soon (I'd say tonight but it's midnight in 3 minutes, so maybe not "tonight")

Worthless, well, it's all up to interpretation. I'd say Scroll Lock is the only worthless one. There are times when GUI-operated screenshot methods simply can't do it. Pause/Break is a must if you're me, but most people will never use it once in their life.

[Input Nirvana]

East coast AND Canada...I guess that explains the exceptionally nice hat!

[kishy]

Eh, not really on any coast, but close enough I guess.

My asshat, you mean? Yes, it's rather nice.

I listed that black MX keyboard btw.

[timon37]

My question is this: What do I need to do to add the extra keys (F13-F18) to the matrix and programming of the keyboard? Is it reasonable, or pretty crazy? Can I add a controller for those keys? Or does the existing controller prevent that? I'm not a programmer/IT person.

You're on a mac os x as I understand? I unfortunately don't know much about it but it should be possible to make a custom keymap (it's probably just a text file like on linux) and use it on one keyboard and not the other, that would allow you to take a controller from another standard usb keyboard and use those 100+ keys for whatever you want. You can test if that could work without actually moding anything so it's worth a try. Though it might be problematic to make sure the os applies the right keymap for the right device, especially if you unplug and plug etc.

As for the trackpoint vs datahand, a trackpoint should be much better since the movement speed is proportional to the pressure force and it's not just 8 directions, if I'm not mistaken? Whereas with a datahand you have just 3 speeds and 8+ directions (you can get more by e.g. moving slowly left and fast up). So even if you have to move the hand a bit you get more control and perform the pointing quicker.

[Input Nirvana]

I use Colemak as my keyboard layout, which is a software issue. I guess you guys are saying to add the extra keys it would be the same thing but with an additional controller.

[timon37]

Yeah exactly, an example for linux macos also uses X so it might be the same. Alternatively it's likely that the kinesys controller has quite a few free keys that just aren't wired up, and if you wired them up they might give you usable scancodes that you could then map to whatever in a custom keymap. But finding them may be time consuming and a bit dangerous. Then again the controller I used at worst reset itself when I shorted the wrong pins so it shouldn't be that dangerous. It's probably safest to search for not fully occupied rows/cols.

[Input Nirvana]

I think I got it. If the matrix is 8x12=96, and there are 86 keys, there should be 10 "openings" for 10 additional keys to be added? And the odds are that there are scan codes in the IC.

[timon37]

Yeah exactly, then again the IC might just ignore them or worse crash if the firmware wasn't written in a safe way, it probably shouldn't corrupt its own code since that is probably stored in separate internal memory, but I can't say much for sure:(

[Input Nirvana]

Hmmmm...
Sounds fun, but possibly hazardous/big time waster.
Maybe just invest in the X-keys DIY board from PI Engineering...and figure out how to integrate it.

[Input Nirvana]

Or uses a Mac keyboard controller with the F13-F19 keys already to go.

[Input Nirvana]

I've finished the mounting plates for the F keys, the jumpers are soldered, and I have completed filing the F key openings.

I need to install the Escape, Program, and Keypad keys, wire and assemble. I've not been satisfied with any key placement away from the thumb cluster or keywells. In the picture below I show where I've finally decided to put the Program and Keypad keys, under the shift keys on either side (see diamond shaped blue keys on extreme left and right).


The 2 keys are the only non-programmable and non-swappable keys on board. They are used infrequently.

I need a shallow keyswitch because there is very little room at those locations. I would also like a smaller footprint key.

I'm looking, but not too sure what other key/keyswitch options are available that would work? I'm thinking possibly a micro switch, or--?

[cfishy]

What are the dimensions? get it so that you can look up catalogs. i should mention that tim tyler, the god of keyboard hackers, uses a micro switch that clicks. see his webpages for details.

p.s. after the intermission all the keyboard pictures look like bras and boob holders.

[Input Nirvana]

I think it's about .5" pretty tight.

[Input Nirvana]

Disregard.
Cherry switch fits perfectly after cutting into keywell plate mounting.
Pic to follow in article.

[dfj]

I suspect you will do well to consider one of the firmware solutions so as to be able to map yer keys to matrix easily - I tried out mnemonix's code and it it worked for me. Not certain when it will be supporting the trackpads and nipples, though. If yer a coder, then this might be some decent fun, if not, that X-thing mentioned above might support more devices.
  For just the keyboard matrix, the open-source diy solutions are pretty cheap. Alternatively there is the teensy++, but we haven't ported full membrane keyboards to there yet. I'm going to be attacking that problem in the next week or so, so depending on how fast your project is moving we might get the teensy support to you in time. I don't have any trackpad/nipple devices, so I am not likely the ideal person to do the support fer that. I do know how to mix multi-device into the HID, though - so we'll need to see what happens, I suppose.

  Anyway, awesome mod, love do see folks do a great job on the physical layer.

dfj

[Input Nirvana]

I'm pretty interested in the options you listed. I'd like to be kept in the loop. I'm not a coder, so many of the electronic aspects are out of my reach. Those changes can be implemented in Phase II once the current mods are done in a few weeks as time allows.

Thanks!

[dmw]

I don't know how I missed this before, being a kinesis fan and all.

Great work on these mods, and the documentation!  Oh, and the intermissions!  Keep them coming.

I know dfj has already offered, but I've also got a firmware that works on the teensy++.  With it, you have pretty complete flexibility in defining different maps and multiple layers.  I'm using it in my humble hacker keyboard, and chimera15 has had it working on his "Scratch build mini" prototype.  I even have plans to mod my Kinesis with it.  So if you want to go that route, let me know.  I'd be happy to help get you going.

Just thinking out loud here, but it might be interesting to have each half have its own controller, so they could ostensibly be used individually (one-handed).  You could then have a high-speed serial (non USB) link between the two halves to use them in two-handed mode.  Obviously it complicates things, but it could be cool.  I've been pondering a split-design for the next version of my keyboard.

Anyway, thanks for posting all this.  Keep it up!  Can't wait to see the final product.

[Input Nirvana]

You missed it because it started as a question about a Trackpoint for the mod (hence the misleading thread title). I didn't know it would evolve into detailing the whole process.

I'm totally-super-interested in taking the programing a new controller route, but I will be a burden to someone like a wet bag of sand since I am not a programmer. So much can be done at the firmware level, I'm bumming because it seems mostly out of my reach. (I wish I was at least the worst programmer in the world, then I would be better than I am now) lol

Also keep in mind, although the keyboard is Mac/PC switchable...I'm looking at it from mostly a Mac perspective. I went Mac 4 years ago when they changed to the Intel chip...I'm pretty happy.

My mod has taken so long mostly because I've had to research almost every step I've taken, (plus being busy with life) there's really nothing on the web about cutting these in half, but everybody seems to want to do it. Hopefully documenting will help someone since it wasn't there for me. I'll be ready to wire it up in a few weeks. I want to be done in another month or so with the current Kinesis (Phase I). If possible, I would like to put wireless and a custom controller into the second Kinesis end of this year (Phase II). I'm building up to making a wireless Datahand with a custom controller beginning of 2011 (Phase III).

I've been all over your Humble Hacker, and now Chimera15s scratch build. Some of your works show me what needs to be done, so "thanks" to you guys!

I think it's time for an intermission

[dmw]

I'm totally-super-interested in taking the programing a new controller route, but I will be a burden to someone like a wet bag of sand since I am not a programmer. So much can be done at the firmware level, I'm bumming because it seems mostly out of my reach.

I'm working on making my firmware more friendly for non-programmers.  It's not totally there yet, but I'm still happy to help you get set up.  You really don't need to know any programming at all.  Currently, all you have to do is edit some text files that define the keyboard matrix, and what you want to map to each key.  It's pretty straight-forward, but even if that turns out to be a challenge, you can just tell me what you want, and I'll make the changes for you.  Since you're not a programmer, I can just build a firmware to your specs, and send it to you.  All you would have to do is load it onto the controller and try it out. And if you use a teensy++, getting the firmware onto the controller is a breeze - no special tools needed.

Also, as far as platform (Mac vs. PC), it's completely irrelevant to the firmware.  You map whatever keys you want however you want.  I'm also on the Mac, and my humble hacker keyboard has its keys mapped for the Mac by default.

I took some time today and mapped out the matrixes of four of the six key sets in my kinesis.  I ordered another Teensy++, and I plan to wire it up as soon as I get it.  So it should be pretty easy to go from that to a firmware for your board.

[Input Nirvana]

Even cooler then  I'm pretty capable, I just need some basic tools/resources/understanding and I can go from there probably with a few prompts/corrections along the way. The Contoured is totally worthy of experimental enhancement mods. Kinesis may incorporate some of them in the updated version they're working on.

I want to proceed, not just from a "mod the Contoured" position, but from an overall knowledge-fiddle around-experiment position as well. Firmware is the last frontier, and definitely the foundation (other than creativity) for these projects. I'll go back to some of my notes of what I thought would be most worthwhile.

One future issue is the Trackpoint, and trying to get it to be more responsive with less effort, more than software settings allow.

Count me in. I'll be ready to start on this new aspect seriously in a couple weeks.

Thank you!

[dmw]

Great!  Just let me know when you're ready to go.

[Input Nirvana]

It looks like the Humble Hacker firmware/programability/remapping exceeds that of the Kinesis Contoured in most, if not all aspects. I assume it would allow for a distinct "macro" key? Have at least 2 on board layouts (qwerty + colemak), AND embedded layers (keypad and misc.). What about wireless, in the hardware, not as an add-on dongledoodle? Compatible?