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geekhack Community => Ergonomics => Topic started by: steve.v on Wed, 05 February 2014, 16:21:47

Title: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: steve.v on Wed, 05 February 2014, 16:21:47
I plan on sourcing parts to make this board for myself and I have a question to members who owns an Ergodox keyboard. On a few instances I've seen comments about the position of the thumb keys; Is this a problem to some? I believe I have fairly medium size hands and from the looks of the ergodox, the key(s) where one may normally press for the key "spacebar" seems to be a bit further away from the home row. Should I be worried about having to stretch my thumb after every typed word to reach the spacebar key?
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: kod on Wed, 05 February 2014, 16:47:09
I'd highly recommend you print out a mockup of the keyboard layout before committing time / money to it.
The thumb cluster works fine for some people, but i think it's too far away.
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 05 February 2014, 16:50:18
I plan on sourcing parts to make this board for myself and I have a question to members who owns an Ergodox keyboard. On a few instances I've seen comments about the position of the thumb keys; Is this a problem to some? I believe I have fairly medium size hands and from the looks of the ergodox, the key(s) where one may normally press for the key "spacebar" seems to be a bit further away from the home row. Should I be worried about having to stretch my thumb after every typed word to reach the spacebar key?

take a picture of ur hand next to a ruler..

then we can compare.
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: steve.v on Wed, 05 February 2014, 16:58:25
I'd highly recommend you print out a mockup of the keyboard layout before committing time / money to it.
The thumb cluster works fine for some people, but i think it's too far away.

I've actually never thought of that, good idea.
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: steve.v on Wed, 05 February 2014, 17:03:06
is this layout fairly accurate?

http://zalusithix.com/ergodox-ui/
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 05 February 2014, 19:05:47
is this layout fairly accurate?

http://zalusithix.com/ergodox-ui/

yes, that is 1:1..  just get the scaling right.. and ur set.
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: SonOfSonOfSpock on Wed, 05 February 2014, 19:10:36
I have medium size hands from about everything that I've seen that needs a hand measurement such as gloves, etc. I don't have a problem with the thumb keys. I'm using DSA key caps.
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: Zustiur on Wed, 05 February 2014, 19:43:21
I find the thumb keys are close enough to use but too far away to rest on comfortably, like you would on a space bar. I therefore remapped space to be the first key on the bottom row next to the cluster.
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 05 February 2014, 21:32:48
I find the thumb keys are close enough to use but too far away to rest on comfortably, like you would on a space bar. I therefore remapped space to be the first key on the bottom row next to the cluster.

yes... this is a correct assessment, it's a different feeling than the traditional spacebar in resting position.


In use, there isn't much of a hinderance.. since if you have to make some wrist movements between the 3rd and 2nd row no matter what..


Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: davkol on Thu, 06 February 2014, 03:46:51
I have rather small hands. The 2x keys are okay and I can press bottom-row keys with my thumbs/palms rather comfortably (especially the key that is the closest to the thumb cluster).

I've seen an ergodox modded to have one extra key between the thumb cluster and bottom row.

It could be interesting to use two 1x keys (and put keycaps with different profiles on them) instead of one 2x key as well.
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: plainbriny on Thu, 06 February 2014, 04:18:06
It could be interesting to use two 1x keys (and put keycaps with different profiles on them) instead of one 2x key as well.

Like this?
[attach=1]
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 06 February 2014, 04:55:39
Here you go.. I made a PDF from the CAD files that you should be able to just print.

It should be scaled correctly, but do measure yourself that the keys are 3/4" wide.
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: yasuo on Thu, 06 February 2014, 05:38:35
It could be interesting to use two 1x keys (and put keycaps with different profiles on them) instead of one 2x key as well.

Like this?
(Attachment Link)
Yeah angled thumb, like Oobly boards :)
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: davkol on Thu, 06 February 2014, 09:52:24
It could be interesting to use two 1x keys (and put keycaps with different profiles on them) instead of one 2x key as well.

Like this?
(Attachment Link)

That doesn't look like different keycap profiles.
Title: Re: Regarding ErgoDox
Post by: steve.v on Thu, 06 February 2014, 11:35:56
Here you go.. I made a PDF from the CAD files that you should be able to just print.

It should be scaled correctly, but do measure yourself that the keys are 3/4" wide.

Many, many thanks Findecanor, printing it out to see now.