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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: sirylj on Fri, 19 October 2012, 00:45:46

Title: Full Keyboard with Larger Keys Info Request
Post by: sirylj on Fri, 19 October 2012, 00:45:46

*Reposting part of my post from the new members forum since I'm not sure if it really belongs there (sorry I if I shouldn't repost this or something similar)

For a while now, off and on I have searched for a full-sized keyboard with extra large keys (not print, physically larger keys).
I have found BigKeys and several other brands or types of keyboard that offer slightly larger key sizes, but have yet to find one which offers a full 105-key setup.
I am trying to find such a keyboard for my father who has trouble with the small key size on every keyboard he deals with.
After measuring the keyboard I use now, the keys in home-row are 0.5 inches square, I was hoping to increase the key size to about 0.75 inches square (and possibly scale the rest of the board), but not to much greater as to end with a unwieldy and overly large keyboard.
So if anyone can help me towards a keyboard or service they know of that can produce these results, I would be greatly happy with the help (and so would my dad).

For the TL;DR crowd :: I'm sirylj, and I need a 105-key keyboard with home-row key sizes of about 0.75 inches square.

(I don't have experience with doing so, but if this requires that I build a keyboard, through whatever means that requires, please provide the information so I can at least give it my best attempt.)

Thanks.

Title: Re: Keyboard Info Request
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 19 October 2012, 07:45:39

We had a long discussion a year ago, lost in the R00TW0RM debacle, when I was trying to sell a "children's" keyboard and listed it as good for the elderly.

It was branded for Milton-Bradley, very colorful, and the large flat keys had a 1" pitch instead of the usual 3/4" and, as a bonus, simplified white Alps that gave a nice click.

After being ridiculed in this forum for weeks, I finally sold it on ebay for about $35 and the buyer said that his grandmother was absolutely delighted with it.

Here are some options that might be viable:


http://www.yourstoreonline.net/big_bright_ez_see_keyboard_mouse/id2040682/product.html?gclid=clbx4egmjbmcfq45naodtloarq (http://www.yourstoreonline.net/big_bright_ez_see_keyboard_mouse/id2040682/product.html?gclid=clbx4egmjbmcfq45naodtloarq)


http://www.enablemart.com/Catalog/Large-Key-Large-Print-Keyboards/KinderBoard (http://www.enablemart.com/Catalog/Large-Key-Large-Print-Keyboards/KinderBoard)

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Chester-Creek-Large-Key-1-Keyboard/11060744 (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Chester-Creek-Large-Key-1-Keyboard/11060744)

Title: Re: Keyboard Info Request
Post by: sirylj on Sat, 20 October 2012, 14:46:05

Hello and thanks for the links.

While a keyboard with a larger pitch sounds like a good step in the right direction, my father has remarked before that while extra room between keys would be helpful (he will not touch a laptop keyboard).

Even a desktop keyboard simply does not offer enough room, and that he would much rather just have the physical key size be larger.

I will look for the Milton-Bradley keyboard you described and for keyboards with larger pitch now that you have mentioned it.

Thanks for the help and resources.

Title: Re: Keyboard Info Request
Post by: alaricljs on Sat, 20 October 2012, 14:53:47

The standard pitch of Cherry MX key spacing is in fact .75 inches exactly.  The tops of the keycaps are quite a bit narrower however.

Title: Re: Keyboard Info Request
Post by: sirylj on Sat, 20 October 2012, 15:42:07

Pitch would certainly be helpful in a new keyboard and will be something I look for, as my father attempting to type is akin to me trying to type while wearing leather gloves (in addition to having to hunt-and-peck — something else I'm currently working on).

This post is the body of a post I made in the new members thread, which got a response about information on topics in the DIY section with information on how to build one. I am more than willing to build a keyboard if necessary, but how to obtain keycaps with a 0.75 inch face (my goal size, 1 inch might be too much) would be a mystery, so any info available on obtaining or creating would be great.

EDIT: Just found this thread in the DIY section someone wrote about how he made keycaps out of molds of an original keycap. If I added a resin or something else onto it, it might work at scaling it up to 0.75 inches or some size like it. If I did, would normal keycaps off of any keyboard work? And would a 105-key set be reasonable?

Thanks for the input.