Matron has huge unrealized potential. If the manufacturing process could be modernized beyond the old mold. Split keyboard ala ergo dox, better switch selection, better fit and finish.
Figuring out how to size and fit it into the modern desktop and workflow.
Was looking at a used one earlier this week. Great idea but stuck in the rehab specialty kind of model. Instead of being a tool for cripples it should be sorted out as a productivity tool for professionals. Just my opinion of course.
I think a flat keyboard can be good enough – given the right design and the right set of keycaps – that the manufacturing/price advantages of a 2-part flat PCB/plate design outweigh the disadvantage of not having full control over switch placement/orientation. The Ergodox design isn’t quite there though, and the typical uniform keycaps that get put on it aren’t helping anything.
This keycap profile isn’t perfect (it’s just what I had lying around, not what I would consciously design), and I haven’t actually wired this thing up yet, but when placed at a 30–60° tent angle, it’s actually pretty comfortable to type on. I like it about as well as a Maltron, and the switches are all in 2 flat planes so it should be pretty easy to manufacture:
Show Image
(more discussion http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=62848)
I think it should be possible to do substantially better than Maltron with a fully three-dimensional design, especially with more control over keycap and switch size, but that gets expensive to manufacture.
I don’t think Maltron the company has the right personnel to start dramatically changing their design and aggressively marketing their keyboards at professionals.
But in general, I think there’s a huge market opportunity to make keyboards for CAD; for computer programmers; for designers and photographers and sound effects people; for accountants; for excel wizards; for journalists and other writers; etc. (not to mention video game players). Most professional computer users have no idea that other keyboard designs even exist, and don’t know how they’d benefit.
In my experience, I find the Maltron the most comfortable ergonomic keyboard to use on the market, and it is exactly because of the design of the curved key wells and thumb key wells, for these reasons:
1. With any flat keyboard, I notice that there is a degree of "reaching" that I need to do in order to reach the number row or the bottom row. The design of the curved key wells reduce the amount of distance that my fingers have to travel more so than other similar design or flat "ergonomic" keyboard. Each key is easily accessible without leaving the home row or with very little travel. This reduces the stress on my fingers, hands, and wrists.
2. Also, at least on the version of my Maltron, the inclusion of arrow keys on the thumb wells makes it possible to have a full TKL keyboard functionality without my hands leaving the home row or having to use a function layer.
3. The numberpad paired with a trackball in the center of the keyboard creates the most ergonomic pointing device and navigation combo that I have ever used. And I have owned all types of ergonomic pointing devices. I can use my thumb to move the trackball, my index or middle finger for the buttons, and all four fingers to use the numpad for navigation, all while barely moving my hand. The curved nature of the board makes the numpad easier to access when resting my hand over the trackball. The DPI leaves something to be desired, though.
4. The beauty of the 2x vertical shift keys takes advantage of the full length of my weak pinky fingers. My pinky simply falls onto those keys to activate the shift key. Huge relief on the overly used pinky finger.
I think that I write the same few things on any thread discussing the Maltron.
While I do admire and appreciate the innovation that is occurring in ergonomic keyboards right now with Ergodox, Acidfire's creation, keyboardio, individual creations, and other designs I have not mentioned, I always find myself gravitating back towards the Maltron. The design has an ease of use and comfort that no other ergonomic keyboard can match, at least in my opinion.