geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Pylon on Tue, 24 August 2010, 18:46:37
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I'm not sure if this has been proposed before, but why hasn't anyone built a fully modular keyboard?
My proposal is to basically have a core 87-key tenkeyless center module. On either left or right of this module are attachments, where modules can be clipped on and communicate to the main 87-key module. There could be many different kinds of addable modules, like a numeric keypad, media controls, side function keys, programmable keys of all sorts, trackballs, LCDs, etc. The attachments themselves also carry electrical connections to prevent a cable mess. The keyboard should be designed in such a way that modules can be clipped onto either side of the 87-key center module, so for example, for some reason you would want a numeric keypad to the left of the alphanumeric section, you could. The modules could have further attachment points on them so you could build a "train" of modules to either sides of the keyboard, e.g. you could have an 87-key center module, then clip a numeric keypad on the left side of it, and then also include media keys to the left of that, and then perhaps a USB hub to the left of that to top it off. And provide a point on the numpad to attach a trackball aobve it, etc. Kinda like the International Space Station I guess.
I guess the keyboard would have to be USB only (there goes NKRO) as I doubt PS/2 can allow such a thing.
Thoughts?
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DSI Modular Mac (http://www.notestation.com/kb-modmac-umodularmackeyboard.htm)
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Make center one PS/2 and additional modules USB and center work as USB-hub... I have thought about this too, so basicly you would start with just alphanumeric and add numpad and cursor/other keys to that on either side. As basic, this could be take quite a bit further...
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You could probably just use USB as a protocol and give every module a hub and its own controller, and basically daisy chain modules together. The problem with this is that it might violate the USB protocol, may require an AC adapter if too many power hungry modules (e.g. LCDs) are added, and some extra work will have to be done to make modules bidirectional in order to work on either side of the center module.
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Wasn't there some sort of DSI keyboard where you could switch around the QWERTY pad, number pad, and arrow pad? I remember hearing about it a while ago here.
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These things.
http://www.ergodex.com/mainpage.htm (http://www.ergodex.com/mainpage.htm)
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On it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rantenki/4700550544/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rantenki/4700550544/)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4700550544_aa3a7c9a26_z.jpg)
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Nice work ranteki!
Are you going to sell those soon?
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Nice work ranteki!
Are you going to sell those soon?
No plan to sell, and it is on hold while I move into my new place (and wait for delivery of my new CNC).
The entire stack will be opensource though.
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Microsoft Sidewinder X6 allows you to clip the numeric keypad to the left or the right side. I find it unlikely that the connectors would talk USB though, like on the DSI.
I think that a HHKB layout in the middle would be best. Then people could clip on cursor keys, num pad, function keys or game pads to any side. If you market it to gamers, then perhaps it could sell better than the DSI ...
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I've thought about this, but I want to go one step further than the aforementioned DSI Modular Mac Keyboard.
Make the base module a split keyboard-one half for each hand. This would allow even more freedom in terms of positioning.
Ever since I saw the Maltron board, I've been wondering why the numpad isn't in the middle, easily accessed with either hand...
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That DSI Metal trackball is the bomb!
(http://www.notestation.com/kb-modmac-u.jpg)
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SteelSeries/Ideazon ZBoards aren't truly modular, but they are fairly reconfigurable. Expansion boards are available for many popular games, but surprisingly, many many more expansion boards are quietly available for all the major office, productivity, and engineering apps. People generally rave about the intuitive well-designed module layouts. Costs can quickly add up, though I suppose it's not an issue if you've lots of ZBoards using interchangable modules and parts.
I've never bought one because - no matter what all those reviewers say - to me they just somehow look flimsy, cheap, and easily broken.