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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: SJPx on Mon, 12 October 2020, 14:53:23

Title: [IC] Ergo Encoder - Ergonomic Keyboard with a Big Knob
Post by: SJPx on Mon, 12 October 2020, 14:53:23
Ergo Encoder

Renders
Render Album - https://imgur.com/a/0F08xRK

Project Details
Hey Everyone!

This is a project that Exitfailure and I are both super exited to share with you.

We want to offer an ergonomic keyboard that sheds the bulky appearance of a traditional ergo and trades it for something more sleek and minimal.

We call it the Ergo Encoder. This board was designed from the ground up with functionality and appearance in mind.

We first started off with the most important and most recognizable part of the keyboard, the encoder. In our initial ideas we settled for a 20mm encoder which still held the function of today's 25mm encoder but in a smaller package. As we kept developing the board however we decided that the encoder was part of its character and was something that would make it stick out. Because of this we added the 25mm knob instead.

The second idea that we had was around the typing angle. While 5° is not necessarily bad ergonomically we know that some people prefer to typing on a flat board. To cater to both of these audiences we decided that adding some form of removable leg to adjust the typing angle would be a good idea. This also opens up the potential for users of the keyboard to make their own to have a personalised typing angled that suits them more than 5°.
With the keyboard being in interest check we are open to design changes as long as they are not too major and don't take away from the character of the board.

Unfortunately due to assembly issues we will only be selling around 25 of the premium aluminum case with no plan of another run. If there is an overwhelming amount of interest there may be a second run in the future. However we will be making the project open source upon completion.
 
Our current estimate for the full price of the board is around $375 excluding any add-ons, such as extra plates or different encoders.
Please take the time to fill out the interest check so that we can get the most detailed feedback possible on the keyboard.

https://forms.gle/vGDapoEgujUHsngw8

Prototype
We will be ordering a prototype soon and will be updating you guys about it as soon as we receive it.

Title: Re: [IC] Ergo Encoder - Ergonomic Keyboard with a Big Knob
Post by: dededecline on Mon, 12 October 2020, 15:41:14
As a long time user of ergonomic keyboards and alice layout keyboards, at a glance I really like the aesthetic of this board. However, I do not think that your flat profile + feet is a good idea, but a compromise that may leave more people put off than interested.

In my experience, flat profile and add-on feet are not associated with Alice layout (outside of stacked acrylic or the keeb.io/gboards alices) or premium aluminum boards (which eliminates what I just mentioned).

I'm very interested in this board should you reconsider the base angle, however!

I would also highly recommend posting a KLE of the layout options available, it's hard to tell from the renders shared.
Title: Re: [IC] Ergo Encoder - Ergonomic Keyboard with a Big Knob
Post by: Baionlenja on Mon, 12 October 2020, 17:19:17
Do I even dare ask what you mean by "assembly issues"
Title: Re: [IC] Ergo Encoder - Ergonomic Keyboard with a Big Knob
Post by: SJPx on Tue, 13 October 2020, 01:46:06
Do I even dare ask what you mean by "assembly issues"

HI, cheers for the question. I understand that throughout this post I am being vague but this is due to us finalising a few minor details especially with the great feedback we have already received. What I meant by assembly issues was with the USB port on the keyboard. The company who we plan on purchasing the pcb from do not offer a soldering service and so won't be able to solder on the port. This means that exit failure will be soldering on the usb ports, I would do so with him but my soldering skills are lacking to say the least. This means that a larger sale size would require the custom to solder on the USB port. Although some do not mind this I know that if I were looking for a keyboard this would really put me off.

I hope this answers the question in enough detail.
Title: Re: [IC] Ergo Encoder - Ergonomic Keyboard with a Big Knob
Post by: SJPx on Tue, 13 October 2020, 01:49:30
You are not the only one to share the concern of an add on angle attachment. However the other side of the argument with a flat case has also come through. Both exit failure and I have been contested on  this from the beginning.

We will be looking into it so please keep your eyes peeled as a new IC should be going up soon to resolve this once and for all.