I guess no one reads Deskthority here...
http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/hypermicro-and-hypermini-keyboard-t4185.html
After reading Matias's thread, I came up with an idea for a very compact, perfectly functional keyboard with dedicated directional keys. I'm in a hurry, so just copy/pasting my original post.
"My 2˘ on 60% boards is that I wouldn't mind sacrificing Ctrl+Alt+Windows keys on the right side. I think that making an ultra-portable keyboard with these features would be interesting, and it would also be completely rectangular, with no bezel space.
Normal TKL layout. No function keys. Grave key/tilde is turned into escc with Fn+Esc becoming '`' with Fn+Shift+Esc becoming '~'. Obviously, a locking Fn key as well, with all F-keys mapped onto Fn + the number keys as well as the '-' and '+' keys. Instead of having a windows key, having a Ctrl/Alt key on the left with the Fn lock key in the middle. Fn+Ctrl becomes right click, with Fn+Alt becoming Windows. On the bottom right, make the right shift slightly smaller, as it's already massive, and use the Alt/Windows/key to the left of Ctrl as the arrow keys. Insert an extra key between the '/' and shift as the up arrow key, so it is symmetrical. Function keys can be used to switch between these and navigation functions, being end/home and Page Up/Page Down. Perhaps have Shift+directional keys act as volume control/mute/windows lock. Use a cluster of keys as the numpad, enabled via Fn, as well as the rest of the random media controls.
Finally, because I'm mostly for typists, I'd really like a Delete key where the backslash is, switchable again via Fn."
How does this sound as an idea, any interest?
Guys, I understand that there is a 40% project, I was just proposing an alternate layout which I thought would b interesting, which is very different from existing ones. Let me make a layout to show what I mean.
Do you guys have some sort of degenerative bone disease that brings your shoulders closer and closer together..Show Image(http://www.freesmileys.org/emoticons/tuzki-bunnys/tuzki-bunny-emoticon-007.gif)
This would be great for portability...
Do you guys have some sort of degenerative bone disease that brings your shoulders closer and closer together..Show Image(http://www.freesmileys.org/emoticons/tuzki-bunnys/tuzki-bunny-emoticon-007.gif)
This would be great for portability...
tp, added an image. Critique?
If we're making a chocolate bar board... the staggered layout is more ergonomic, because your hands would point in-wards towards each other.
As far as key layout... I believe the further you can push the main letters to the two sides, the better.. because otherwise, you'd be hunched over trying to get your hands close together..
If you sat straight and laid back.. putting your hands together is very difficult because you'd have to lift your whole shoulder up.. or bend your wrist at an even steeper angle..
^^ this may have to be sacrificed to fit the form however.. but I suppose it's worth it if portability is going to be the key element..
Well, I like this idea...
Would like it better if you split the halves and staggered the columns vertically. Then perhaps add some thumb buttons instead of just a space bar. And tented the halves. And angled the thumb clusters. Maybe curve the thumb clusters so you can press them more easily. ;)
[Start rant]
Matrix layout is only one step on the road to ergo. Why only go one step when you are designing a board so you can go as far as you want to?
[End rant]
That said, if matrix is enough of a step for you then this is a good layout. I like the arrow cluster and compactness. Something just one more step in the right direction would be to do a symmetric outward stagger instead like suka's HyperNano: http://deskthority.net/post98712.html
That way you keep it in a compact, single piece, easy to transport board, but more comfortable to use than a normal staggered or matrix layout.
Portable ergodox check out Moz's project
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48718.0
The one thing that I am not liking about it, is the function keys. F1-3 next to F7-0, with F4-6 then F10-12 seems a bit odd.What do you mean by that?
Y, U, I, O, P and Delete are the F keys, if you press it with function. Y is F1, U is F2, I is F3, O is F7, P is F8, Delete is F9. If you press shift and function, Y=F4, U=F5, I=F6, O=F10, P=F11, Delete is F12.
The way it kinda jumps around, to where one key will be right next to one that has a value of several higher.
Y, U, I, O, P and Delete are the F keys, if you press it with function. Y is F1, U is F2, I is F3, O is F7, P is F8, Delete is F9. If you press shift and function, Y=F4, U=F5, I=F6, O=F10, P=F11, Delete is F12.
The way it kinda jumps around, to where one key will be right next to one that has a value of several higher.
Are you referencing a different board from mine?
Linkbane, I like your layout. Forget what I said earlier about all the extra things, I was referring to my ultimate ergonomic board (something I am working on). By ultimate I mean for me, personally. It's a whole lot more different than most would be comfortable with, changing from a "normal" board. Something I've learnt is to do what suits you. So I say, "Go for it!". Make your own board.
I've started experimenting with a different way to prototype keyboards, drilling 3 holes per key (4mm for the central nub, 1.5mm for each pin) and mounting the base of the MX switch directly to the mount plate. This raises the keys up a lot, but you don't have to cut all the squares to mount the keys (drilling is a whole lot easier, at least for me). I glue the bottom switch case to the mount plate. It allows easy access for modding the switches themselves (adding lube / stickers or changing stems / springs, etc).
You can then wire up the matrix with diodes and connect the rows and columns to a Teensy 2.0, flash a suitable firmware modified for your layout and hey presto, functional custom board.
You can always change the character layout by modifying the firmware and flashing it again.
Sorry, yeah, got confused. I was commenting on Swills.Ah, gotcha. I prefer the linear layout of F-keys myself, but I always found programmer Dvorak with its matching of paired symbols, '()' and '[]' for instance, for the same fingers on opposite hand. Having $ & [ { } ( = * ) + ] ! #, so that you don't miss and hit one bracket or parentheses rather makes sense to me. It's also 7 5 3 1 9 0 2 4 6 8 `, which I'm not too sure about, but the design model is sound.
You should make a 10% layout - with it being a long strip so it's used like a piano. A set of pedals can control space / enter / backspace.
You should make a 10% layout - with it being a long strip so it's used like a piano. A set of pedals can control space / enter / backspace.
If you can't figure things out enough to use a 60% layout, just don't bring a laptop in the first place. Honestly, carrying a keyboard in a box isn't that hard, and I think it's really pointless to have a board so tiny that you can hardly use it.
I understand that it was satire.