I've been working on a very... unique physical layout design, just for fun really. I doubt I'll get round to actually making it.
Here it is:
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(http://i.imgur.com/M0Wb4kf.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/KK8fPRy.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/L3zAWSu.png)
Original Imgur album here. (http://imgur.com/a/3DrUn)
As you can see, it's a matrix layout, it's got 51 keys, and it's smaller than a Poker II. It's got a very non-standard layout.
It'd be designed to have just about all the functionality of a full size keyboard, through the use of an extra num/nav shift layer, and a Fn key for accessing F keys.
The design is still a work in progress. I haven't even started on a case design yet, and the keycaps aren't done either.
There's an FAQ section on the Imgur album (http://imgur.com/a/3DrUn), and I'd be glad to answer any questions you have, but I'd also really like your feedback.
The design was made in SolidWorks. It's modeled after a chocolate bar because when I was making it with very basic key key caps, they matrix layout looked like a chocolate bar, so I modeled the keycaps off of chocolate bar chunks and colored it appropriately.
If you can see any glaring problems with the design such as key combo clashes, do tell!
A bit odd to have all of the columns parallel to each other.
But I do like that snazzy bottom row.
It's actually more intentional than the whole chocolate look it's got going on.
If you ever look at the high end mechanical keyboards, they all have keys aligned column wize, like so:
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(http://images.anandtech.com/doci/6861/Kinesis%20Advantage%20%281%29.jpg)
Basically the standard "offset" keys are a relic of the typewriter, where they were a technical necessity. Keys had to be offset so that the key levers had room to fit in. When computer keyboards were designed, everyone had been typing on typewriter boards for so long that it was easier to just use a typewriter layout so people didn't have to re-learn.
Columnar layout is still far better ergonomic wize, even if I have gotten used to it.