They are used to accent a keyboard and it is art.
Ease of typing. I believe the idea is to counteract the distance the fingers have to stretch to reach each row.
It's mainly just preference/ease of use. For boards like the Ergodox or the Planck it's much easier to have a bunch of uniform keys so you can lay it out however you'd like. Some people also just prefer the feel of uniform key caps. I for one prefer sculpted because it gives the keys a little extra slant.
That's what I was certain it was for, but do you believe that difference is noticeable and worth it?
That's what I was certain it was for, but do you believe that difference is noticeable and worth it?
Are you talking about Artisans Keycaps?
That makes more sense.Are you talking about Artisans Keycaps?
lol I think he just meant to ask why all keycaps aren't flat.
MoreAggressively sculpted keycaps make a noticeable difference when you try to reach your finger to the further-away rows. Existing keycap profiles are actually *less* aggressive than they should be, especially on the number and F rows.
Try putting your hands on the keyboard with one of your fingers (e.g. the index finger) in as relaxed, neutral a position you can. Your finger should have a bit of a curve in every joint, especially at the second knuckle. Now, uncurl your finger a little bit. Ideally, your fingertip should now be right at the top of the next further away key. This is approximately what happens on a mechanical typewriter, because the keys are in a stairstep arrangement:Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/n2IrRkQ.jpg)
Unfortunately, the bottom (ZXCV) row on a typewriter is really hard to reach, because when you curl your finger *more* than its relaxed position, it doesn’t really get any longer, but mostly just comes straight back toward the body. So on a mechanical typewriter, the top two letter rows and to some extent the number row are pretty easy to reach, but the bottom row is a pain in the butt, especially for the middle finger, which is a bit longer than the other fingers. This is why uncommon letters were placed on the bottom row of the Dvorak keyboard layout, which was designed for mechanical typewriters.
The earliest electronic typewriters and computer keyboards had completely flat/uniform keys. Some of them had a slight tilt to the key tops, trying to mimic the typewriter style, but regardless, they didn’t get nearly as much step as on a typewriter. Something like this:Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/HZbnn3s.jpg)
In the early 1970s, typists and researchers/keyboard makers at IBM and Honeywell figured out that you could make typing easier by using sculptured key tops. Look at the IBM Selectric II typewriters and beam spring keyboards, and certain Honeywell hall effect keyboards from that era. They have key tops with a shape roughly like this (but a bit taller):Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/ivgULup.jpg)
This shape is still the gold standard among keycaps available today. Look how aggressive the step is from one row to another. This shape is still not perfect in my opinion (it has less step between the home row and the further away rows than the typewriter has), but it’s better than anything else available (unless you DIY your keycaps or use a non-flat plate to hold the switches).
In the 1980s, the German government insisted that all keyboards be less than 3 centimeters tall, from the desk to the top of the home row keys, and insisted on a keyboard slope of less than 15°. I haven’t read the studies that led to this standard (if anyone can read German and knows where to find a copy, and wants to translate them, I’d love to see), but in my opinion this was a terrible set of conclusions to make from a human ergonomics perspective. But anyway, as a result, keycaps had to be shrunk down, and in general the step between rows was made less aggressive. Examples include “Cherry” profile and “Alps” profile:Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/llRcU2j.jpg)Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/iYZOH5P.jpg)
Later on, people who didn’t understand the point of the keycap shape designed even more watered down profiles, such as “OEM”, which is IMO inferior to the ones above:Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/Skd3ZQB.jpg)
Among available keycaps, I’m also a fan of the shape of the keycaps on the Apple Extended Keyboard:Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/Pg2kjPE.jpg)
In my opinion, entirely flat/uniform keycap profiles such as DSA, or SA when used on a flat keyboard with straight-stemmed switches, are inferior to all of the above:Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/UUJfGGp.jpg)Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/EZgGBdg.jpg)
Look how wimpy the step is between rows.
For more analysis, see https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=68550 and https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=62444
One concern of sculpted keycaps is that keycaps are pressed perpendicularly, but sculpted keycaps makes is so they are pushed a little "crookedly" since their tops are not parallel to the base. I doubt it's an issue, but it's something I've thought of.My personal opinion is that this isn’t too big a deal for the ZXCV row, but that the optimal angle on that row would be slightly tilted forward, as you suggest.
FYI the regulation was not from German goverment but from DINFrom what I understand, the DIN standard had some kind of legal force in Germany. I.e. work computers in Germany needed to abide by the DIN ergonomics standard to be sold.
The angle 15° and maximal keys'height of 30mm are for the purpose, that your handwrist and finger joints are not too much bended even without a wrist/palm rest pad.
FYI the regulation was not from German goverment but from DINFrom what I understand, the DIN standard had some kind of legal force in Germany. I.e. work computers in Germany needed to abide by the DIN ergonomics standard to be sold.
I am learning a lot of awesome stuff in this thread. Thanks to all who've shared their knowledge.
Regarding DIN and standardization, standards aren't necessarily designed to be good; they're just designed to be standard. As in, some people liked heavily-sculpted keycaps, while others liked flat caps. The solution, therefore, is to create a slightly-sculpted standard that nobody likes. What else do you expect from a nation who, at the time, was occupied by communists?
Thank you every single one of you, that was really helpful. Sorry for the newbish question.
The reason I asked this question:
The Ergodox EZ comes with PBT DCS keycaps (blank), and I would love to get an additional color to simply make it look cooler by replacing the modifier keys.
The only issue I'm having is where can I buy these keycaps? (since DCS makes it a little more confusing for me since they aren't uniform)
This site has exactly what I'm looking for in their "Ergodox Modifier Set":
http://pimpmykeyboard.com/dsa-pbt-abs-blank-keycap-sets/
However, it is DSA, so it won't match with the sculpted DCS, (if I am correct)
A question for jacobolus: is there a mainstream keyboard with mechanical switches that does not have perpendicular stems? Would that help with this keycap set?They’re all from the 70s. IBM beam spring (https://deskthority.net/wiki/Beam_spring), Honeywell hall effect (https://deskthority.net/wiki/Honeywell_Hall_Effect), Cherry M7 (https://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_M5/M6/M7), Marquardt linear (https://deskthority.net/wiki/Marquardt_Two_Fingers_Typewriter_switch) and clicky (https://deskthority.net/wiki/Marquardt_Butterfly), SMK “vintage linear” (https://deskthority.net/wiki/SMK_vintage_linear), NEC linear (https://deskthority.net/wiki/NEC_vintage_linear), MEI WEAB (https://deskthority.net/wiki/MEI_WEAB).
damn this thread is old
its to please your fingertips
damn this thread is old
its to please your fingertips
I'd like to see you do better. :pdamn this thread is old
its to please your fingertips
Terrible poem - doesn't even rhyme.
I'd like to see you do better. :pdamn this thread is old
its to please your fingertips
Terrible poem - doesn't even rhyme.
I'd like to see you do better. :pdamn this thread is old
its to please your fingertips
Terrible poem - doesn't even rhyme.