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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Lotsofgoats on Mon, 30 April 2012, 18:09:47

Title: Alternate layout via backlighting
Post by: Lotsofgoats on Mon, 30 April 2012, 18:09:47

Has anybody ever backlit a keyboard for the purpose of displaying two different keysets? I switch to Colemak every once in a while with an AHK script that runs off of Scroll Lock, and I figured it would be a cool idea to switch to a different layout on the keys themselves via backlighting (e.g. one printed on the key, one somehow activated when backlit). I dislike the look double-printed keys as well as those goofy stickers.


I have to figure that somebody more technical and more imaginative than me could find a way to get something like this to work. Mostly just spit-balling here.

Title: Alternate layout via backlighting
Post by: Djuzuh on Mon, 30 April 2012, 18:11:40

It's easier to just switch the keyboard. And probably cheaper too.

Or, like always, learn to touch type.

Title: Alternate layout via backlighting
Post by: Lotsofgoats on Mon, 30 April 2012, 18:15:41

I'm not terribly serious about this idea. I already touch type, so I'm not really concerned about getting any sort of functionality for myself.


I'm just kinda trying to file this under, "Wouldn't it be cool if..."

Title: Alternate layout via backlighting
Post by: Squelos on Mon, 30 April 2012, 19:13:35

Well, you would just need custom caps.
The problem being that you cant just change keys, because each row has a different height :/

But getting custom caps that can be backlight, I dunno :/

Title: Alternate layout via backlighting
Post by: Human on Tue, 01 May 2012, 02:34:59

You will need:
Custom caps like the way Razer BW's "locks" indicator LED works, invisible(blank) when no light and visible when backlighted.

A keyboard with custom(individual) backlit. Ducky's Dragon year edition seems to be the closest we can find.