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geekhack Community => Ergonomics => Topic started by: kikim792 on Thu, 09 April 2015, 16:25:58

Title: Possible to build square layout?
Post by: kikim792 on Thu, 09 April 2015, 16:25:58

Hi,

I am interested in building a keyboard with a square grid layout. Couple of motivations behind are:

- Other than a historical reason, modern keyboard does not need to follow legacy layout.
- With square layout, it would be easier to enter numbers using keys UIO/JKL, etc

Is it possible to build one using commercially available kits? Any pointer to get me started is appreciated.

Thanks.

KK

Title: Re: Possible to build square layout?
Post by: plegnic on Thu, 09 April 2015, 16:31:14

ortholinearkeyboards.com (http://ortholinearkeyboards.com). Looks like the Atomic might be more what you are looking for?

Title: Re: Possible to build square layout?
Post by: kikim792 on Thu, 09 April 2015, 16:43:54

@plegnic,

It's nice except it is missing the top row for ESC and function keys.

Thanks.

Title: Re: Possible to build square layout?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Thu, 09 April 2015, 16:46:06

Another option would be a point of sale board, such as the Access one in this classified (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67907.0).

Title: Re: Possible to build square layout?
Post by: SonOfSonOfSpock on Thu, 09 April 2015, 16:47:46

If you are okay with scissor switches, your picture looks a lot like the TypeMatrix 2030 keyboard. I know that doesn't answer your question about building a keyboard though.

Title: Re: Possible to build square layout?
Post by: davkol on Fri, 10 April 2015, 10:03:20

You definitely want separate halves, or a at least a hole between them. The grid forces quite aggressive ulnar deviation otherwise, if you touch type using the standard technique. It's not that bad on a low-profile keyboard, such as the TypeMatrix, but sucks with more profiled, tall keys.

There are plenty of POS matrix keyboards. Usually from Access-IS or Tipro. The latter usually support daisy-chaining. There's been the Humble Hacker project and later GH36x2 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61306) as well, but it seems samwisekoi has abandoned it…?

I don't see the point of not going the whole way to a columnar layout with dedicated thumb clusters though, unless you're on budget and want to reuse existing parts.

Title: Re: Possible to build square layout?
Post by: Oobly on Fri, 10 April 2015, 10:55:50

Quote from: davkol on Fri, 10 April 2015, 10:03:20

You definitely want separate halves, or a at least a hole between them. The grid forces quite aggressive ulnar deviation otherwise, if you touch type using the standard technique. It's not that bad on a low-profile keyboard, such as the TypeMatrix, but sucks with more profiled, tall keys.

There are plenty of POS matrix keyboards. Usually from Access-IS or Tipro. The latter usually support daisy-chaining. There's been the Humble Hacker project and later GH36x2 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61306) as well, but it seems samwisekoi has abandoned it…?

I don't see the point of not going the whole way to a columnar layout with dedicated thumb clusters though, unless you're on budget and want to reuse existing parts.

+1

Title: Re: Possible to build square layout?
Post by: qisqaqas on Fri, 10 April 2015, 22:30:50

Possible. Check this guy's project here (http://imgur.com/a/sWuH1). He did something similar