Braille for gamers?

[tankfulloffoxes]

Has anyone already done or thought of doing a set of keypad that have bumps on them like the f and j keys, but with different patterns so that you can know how to orient yourself when gaming without looking at the keyboard? For example, the up, down, left, and right keys might just have arrows, but your primary weapon/spell could be a square, secondary a circle, etc.  I can just see this being useful either coming out of chat or in mmorpgs where a lot of different keys/macros might be used. 

[Coreda]

I'll admit, I clicked expecting blind gamers was a thing. There may be caps like this, but wouldn't it hurt your fingers after long use? By that time you would have likely memorized the positions, too.

[tankfulloffoxes]

That's to say that the f and j keys hurt your fingers after a lot of typing?  I suppose if you play a game a lot, you should have the layout memorized, but I find myself getting frantic in intense moments, and if it's a game where I have to shift my left hand position even a little, I can mess up getting back to the home position from time to time.

[FoxWolf1]

Some companies sell textured or rubber WASD keycaps for this purpose.

[Coreda]

That's to say that the f and j keys hurt your fingers after a lot of typing?

True, although in my case the bumps on the caps are at the base of the key, so I rarely feel them.

I do like the idea though, if the symbols were soft enough to just indicate the key and make key bindings easier to remember (at least for one game, there's no way someone would be re-arranging them per game  ).

[tankfulloffoxes]

Ha good point.  I guess it is more user specific.  I only play a couple games, and the keys I use in each are pretty much the same.   I've been curious about making keycaps, so I may try that on my own.

[davkol]

That's to say that the f and j keys hurt your fingers after a lot of typing?

Probably not *hurt*, but it makes my fingertips feel very uncomfortable. I hate the bumps, especially nibs on the typematrix and some numpads. That's why I prefer scooped home keys (see F and J in thick Cherry keycap sets, or scooped DSA).

[Altis]

Is there really a point?

I only say this because I never look at the labels on a keyboard while gaming. Once your hand is in position, it tends to stay there and everything is off memory (relative positions). I don't think it's any easier for your brain to remember that the 'use' key is "E" versus "index finger 1 above" -- either way, you're forced to learn a spot on the board for a function.

As long as your index finger falls on "F" with its bump, you should be all set, no?

I don't mean to sound ignorant, I just can't see how this would be beneficial in gaming unless you're moving your hands a lot.