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Offline Snipeye

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 26
Novel Features?
« on: Wed, 15 May 2024, 09:56:53 »
One of my favorite things about building keyboards is doing weird and novel stuff.

For example, in a recent keyboard I managed to shove 30 encoders onto the PCB.  It’s not useful, but it’s a bit interesting. Other examples: infrared decoding so you can use a remote control, combining a mouse and keyboard into a single device, Hall effect switches for analog inputs, motorized linear potentiometers, solenoids, etc.

I’m looking for more stupid things to shove into a keyboard. Any ideas?
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Offline Rhienfo

  • Posts: 742
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
  • Why is everything I want here so expensive :(
Re: Novel Features?
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 15 May 2024, 19:37:51 »
It was actually hard to think of stuff like this because I'm pretty plain when it comes to my keyboards. Retractable feet on a keyboard you build could be novel, don't really see a point but like you might. And side buttons on the keyboard could be novel (and actually serve a purpose lol)

Hope this gives you some ideas.
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keyboard collection - fjell
More
cherry blacks - unlubed - filmed and springswapped with tx 55g mediums - alu Plate | pretty happy with this, the blacks were cherry picked so they weren't that scratchy to begin with, but currently breaking them in, may lube them with a dry lube like ro59 or ptfe powder.
| hhkb bt
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lubed with tribosys 3203 | like topre a lot, prefer it lubed but did make less tactile but that might have been a skill issue. probably will get more tactile over time as the domes age.
| m0115
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bad orange alps lol | definitely needs a restoration. planning on wax boiling them and maybe a replacement pcb because the board has only 2 key rollover apparently.
| praxis
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gateron yellows - lubed with 205g0 - 62g tx mediums - pc plate | probably my favourite keyboard already, feels super nice and sounds pretty good, it's got a great layout as well. probably gonna build this with mx browns, I feel like it would suit the board more.
| camo filco
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stock with silent reds | Pretty cool looking board, the silent reds are actually good, they are smooth and I don't mind the mushiness (it's not even that mushy as well). the layout is pretty weird, but is useable. will probably mod this in the future. maybe a pcb and plate swap, change the keycaps to something dolch like, and also spring swap the springs in the silent reds.


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Offline Snipeye

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 26
Re: Novel Features?
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 15 May 2024, 22:34:38 »
I actually really like idea of side buttons. I see a lot of keyboards with macro/reprogrammable columns k. The outside, but moving them to the actual side of the case would be a very neat aesthetic IMO. Mind if I steal this?
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Offline Rhienfo

  • Posts: 742
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
  • Why is everything I want here so expensive :(
Re: Novel Features?
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 16 May 2024, 02:26:53 »
Quote from: Snipeye on Wed, 15 May 2024, 22:34:38
I actually really like idea of side buttons. I see a lot of keyboards with macro/reprogrammable columns k. The outside, but moving them to the actual side of the case would be a very neat aesthetic IMO. Mind if I steal this?

I don't think I could ever do it myself lol so it's fine.

Besides, when it comes to personal projects (or for me any project) It shouldn't matter if you take ideas, it's a communal hobby. It's also not stealing them too.
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keyboard collection - fjell
More
cherry blacks - unlubed - filmed and springswapped with tx 55g mediums - alu Plate | pretty happy with this, the blacks were cherry picked so they weren't that scratchy to begin with, but currently breaking them in, may lube them with a dry lube like ro59 or ptfe powder.
| hhkb bt
More
lubed with tribosys 3203 | like topre a lot, prefer it lubed but did make less tactile but that might have been a skill issue. probably will get more tactile over time as the domes age.
| m0115
More
bad orange alps lol | definitely needs a restoration. planning on wax boiling them and maybe a replacement pcb because the board has only 2 key rollover apparently.
| praxis
More
gateron yellows - lubed with 205g0 - 62g tx mediums - pc plate | probably my favourite keyboard already, feels super nice and sounds pretty good, it's got a great layout as well. probably gonna build this with mx browns, I feel like it would suit the board more.
| camo filco
More
stock with silent reds | Pretty cool looking board, the silent reds are actually good, they are smooth and I don't mind the mushiness (it's not even that mushy as well). the layout is pretty weird, but is useable. will probably mod this in the future. maybe a pcb and plate swap, change the keycaps to something dolch like, and also spring swap the springs in the silent reds.


collection in pixel art
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Offline Mandan

  • Posts: 39
Re: Novel Features?
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 17 May 2024, 17:45:16 »
Some early workstations had a "fast" or "repeat" key that told the OS to increase the repeat rate.  Such a thing would be handy in console windows when you want to move the cursor rapidly.

> side buttons

Excellent idea! 
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Offline Findecanor

  • Posts: 5043
  • Location: Koriko
Re: Novel Features?
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 18 May 2024, 04:27:52 »
A couple of ideas I've had of but not developed:

• Analogue joystick for scrolling, similar to a IBM Scrollpoint. Emulate a high-resolution scrollwheel (Microsoft's convention of "resolution magnifier" in the HID protocol), but look also at tweaking the input incorporating "negative inertia" like IBM Trackpoint.
I've seen keyboards with multiple joysticks but I dunno if one was used for scrolling.

• "Natural Keyboard"-style ergonomic keyboard, but split and with with adjustable tenting, mating with flat parts of the keyboard without gaps. Don't just use adjustable feet but actual hinges. A keyboard frame made of sheet metal could incorporate "invisible hinges" in the frame: a pantograph mechanism hidden below the top surface so you don't see it. Alternatively, curved sliding surfaces (sectors of a circle with origo at the gap in the surface) and a pin and/or spring could be used.

• Integrated trackpad in the top surface. Not just a separate component but integrated into the top case utilising all the available area.

I've seen buttons on the left side of some recent Bluetooth keyboards: for on/off and pairing (Bluetooth), and I think one also had some media buttons.
The HHKB Studio has touch-sensitive sliders on a couple of its side edges.
I remember from the forums long ago that someone was working on a 60% with Trackpoint that had the mouse buttons on the front, but apparently it never reached mass production.

Unfortunately, the USB HID protocol does not support adjustable repeat rate or motorised sliders itself. You'd have to develop a custom driver or something.
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Offline scootbroer

  • Posts: 6
    • Qazimodo Instagram
Re: Novel Features?
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 27 May 2024, 14:01:36 »
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Offline Rhienfo

  • Posts: 742
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
  • Why is everything I want here so expensive :(
Re: Novel Features?
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 27 May 2024, 15:42:56 »
Quote from: scootbroer on Mon, 27 May 2024, 14:01:36
Could I interest you in a QAZ-ish board with a dedicated QAZ column?

can you not shamelessly self promote please (I will also give it too you, that is novel I haven't really seen those keys like that, it isn't really practical but like that's not really what novel means so I can't complain too much)
« Last Edit: Mon, 27 May 2024, 15:46:54 by Rhienfo »
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keyboard collection - fjell
More
cherry blacks - unlubed - filmed and springswapped with tx 55g mediums - alu Plate | pretty happy with this, the blacks were cherry picked so they weren't that scratchy to begin with, but currently breaking them in, may lube them with a dry lube like ro59 or ptfe powder.
| hhkb bt
More
lubed with tribosys 3203 | like topre a lot, prefer it lubed but did make less tactile but that might have been a skill issue. probably will get more tactile over time as the domes age.
| m0115
More
bad orange alps lol | definitely needs a restoration. planning on wax boiling them and maybe a replacement pcb because the board has only 2 key rollover apparently.
| praxis
More
gateron yellows - lubed with 205g0 - 62g tx mediums - pc plate | probably my favourite keyboard already, feels super nice and sounds pretty good, it's got a great layout as well. probably gonna build this with mx browns, I feel like it would suit the board more.
| camo filco
More
stock with silent reds | Pretty cool looking board, the silent reds are actually good, they are smooth and I don't mind the mushiness (it's not even that mushy as well). the layout is pretty weird, but is useable. will probably mod this in the future. maybe a pcb and plate swap, change the keycaps to something dolch like, and also spring swap the springs in the silent reds.


collection in pixel art
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Offline scootbroer

  • Posts: 6
    • Qazimodo Instagram
Re: Novel Features?
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 27 May 2024, 16:08:15 »
Quote from: Rhienfo on Mon, 27 May 2024, 15:42:56
Quote from: scootbroer on Mon, 27 May 2024, 14:01:36
Could I interest you in a QAZ-ish board with a dedicated QAZ column?

can you not shamelessly self promote please (I will also give it too you, that is novel I haven't really seen those keys like that, it isn't really practical but like that's not really what novel means so I can't complain too much)


Sorry, you’re right the self promotion wasn’t great.
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Offline Rhienfo

  • Posts: 742
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
  • Why is everything I want here so expensive :(
Re: Novel Features?
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 27 May 2024, 17:45:06 »
Quote from: scootbroer on Mon, 27 May 2024, 16:08:15
Sorry, you’re right the self promotion wasn’t great.

It's fine. I get that you're proud of your project and want to show it off, it's just that it's very annoying seeing it in unrelated topics.
Logged
keyboard collection - fjell
More
cherry blacks - unlubed - filmed and springswapped with tx 55g mediums - alu Plate | pretty happy with this, the blacks were cherry picked so they weren't that scratchy to begin with, but currently breaking them in, may lube them with a dry lube like ro59 or ptfe powder.
| hhkb bt
More
lubed with tribosys 3203 | like topre a lot, prefer it lubed but did make less tactile but that might have been a skill issue. probably will get more tactile over time as the domes age.
| m0115
More
bad orange alps lol | definitely needs a restoration. planning on wax boiling them and maybe a replacement pcb because the board has only 2 key rollover apparently.
| praxis
More
gateron yellows - lubed with 205g0 - 62g tx mediums - pc plate | probably my favourite keyboard already, feels super nice and sounds pretty good, it's got a great layout as well. probably gonna build this with mx browns, I feel like it would suit the board more.
| camo filco
More
stock with silent reds | Pretty cool looking board, the silent reds are actually good, they are smooth and I don't mind the mushiness (it's not even that mushy as well). the layout is pretty weird, but is useable. will probably mod this in the future. maybe a pcb and plate swap, change the keycaps to something dolch like, and also spring swap the springs in the silent reds.


collection in pixel art
More

Offline scootbroer

  • Posts: 6
    • Qazimodo Instagram
Re: Novel Features?
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 27 May 2024, 18:20:12 »
Quote from: Rhienfo on Mon, 27 May 2024, 17:45:06
Quote from: scootbroer on Mon, 27 May 2024, 16:08:15
Sorry, you’re right the self promotion wasn’t great.

It's fine. I get that you're proud of your project and want to show it off, it's just that it's very annoying seeing it in unrelated topics.


Totally understand!
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