How Do You Use Your Keyboard, and What Would Contribute to the Perfect Layout?

[StaCT13]

Hi, all! I've recently happened to become interested in the wonderful (and expensive) world of custom keyboards. By custom, I mean designing the PCB all the way to programming the controller.
Basically, I've been eyeing the ErgoDox (as can be seen here: http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?22780-Interest-Check-Custom-split-ergo-keyboard), and thought the design was good, but could use some improvement in the placement of the keys, especially for my particular usage.

Here are some points that I'm factoring into the design:

-I use the arrow keys along with modifiers for a lot of shortcuts, such as ctrl+up/down for volume. I also use win+left/right for that fancy 'snap' feature in Windows 7 (having no right Windows key turned me off of the Realforce 86U). Basically, I want a full sized arrow key cluster that's located near all these modifiers, usable with 1 hand.
-I tend to use the F- keys quite a bit as well, so I want to make them accessible without key combos, as well as grouped up bunches of 4 (so I can easily push F5 without having to count)
-I often get confused touch typing the number keys, so I think they should be laid out one per finger . (I'm also looking into other ways to simplify them)
-I type with Dvorak (which this will likely include), but what would be the best way to switch to QWERTY on the fly? DIP switch? Thumb toggle?
-When you have one hand on the mouse, there should be a way to type short items without having to transfer your hand all the way back to the home row (a la HalfKeyboard)
-Most of all, I want to minimize finger travel. This means, I'm aiming for each half of the keyboard to have 6 columns of keys, and only 4 (maybe 5) rows. This way, you should never have to commonly reach over keys (such as for the enter or shift)

Basically, I'm trying to develop the layout right now, based upon both my and your usage habits. I'm trying to make this as ergonomic as possible, but also not be so specific that you can't type in anything without having both hands on it. Once I get the layout down, I can move on to further production steps. This is not necessarily a survey of interest, but rather a question of, how would you use such a keyboard? Any input is welcomed.


TL;DR: I'm designing a keyboard similar to the ErgoDox. How do you use yours (what common key combos/keys), and what would contribute to the perfect design?

[bear95]

I set my numpad as a tool. Keys for forward, back, smooth page up, down, refresh, search, new tab, close tab(very useful), emails+facebook, private browsing, cut, copy, paste, new window, volume up, down, and open starcraft(XD).

What I would want for a keyboard is the ability to press a single key for common actions rather than pressing two at once. That's why I dedicated my whole numpad area for these actions.

[hemflit]

-I type with Dvorak (which this will likely include), but what would be the best way to switch to QWERTY on the fly? DIP switch? Thumb toggle?

Key combo intercepted by controller?

-Most of all, I want to minimize finger travel. This means, I'm aiming for each half of the keyboard to have 6 columns of keys, and only 4 (maybe 5) rows. This way, you should never have to commonly reach over keys (such as for the enter or shift)

Modifiers under thumbs?

TL;DR: I'm designing a keyboard similar to the ErgoDox. How do you use yours (what common key combos/keys), and what would contribute to the perfect design?

I don't have one of those, but since you're asking, I hate Fn-layers structured so I have to use both hands for Delete/Backspace, PgUp, PgDn, Home, End.

I use those 6 keys all the time. I'm okay with needing a key combo for them, but it should be a single-hand combo.

[N8N]

I use the numpad occasionally and don't want to give it up; however I also use the nav cluster.  What I never use is the second layer on the numpad (when "num lock" is off.)  There was some discussion over on the WASD vendor forum a while back about a design that would use a quasi-tenkeyless format which would use a numpad with the "num lock off" layer being the standard nav cluster.  I think that would be a great layout for those with smaller desks and/or those who just want to keep their mouse closer to the alphas.


Unfortunately I can't find the thread now, and I can't spend a lot of time searching as I'm supposed to be doing work related stuff ATM and was just taking a coffee break...  if anyone can find it though I really liked that idea and Weyman even sketched it up.

Edit: here it is, found it just after I hit "send'

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?24474-alternative-to-tenkeyless-idea

[StaCT13]

I do have a question for anybody who commonly uses modifiers: do you tend to use them with one hand, or do you stay on the home row to do so? I rarely use them (other than games and media controls), so I don't really know what's typical. I personally use them with one hand, meaning that they don't need to be particularly close to the home row, but I'm wondering about those who use them regularly.

[N8N]

It's a bad habit, but for combos like ctrl-c, ctrl-v etc. I tend to hit them all with left hand, should really retrain myself not to do that but old dog, etc.  I think that comes about because I've usually got my right hand on the mouse when using these combos.

[davkol]

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[Henry Allen Venture]

It's a bad habit, but for combos like ctrl-c, ctrl-v etc. I tend to hit them all with left hand...

I thought that was normal...

Anyway, to answer OP's question, I've seen a layout posted not long ago on here that was tenkeyless, but instead of the arrows and the home cluster (or whatever the term for that is) it had the numpad, with all of the arrow keys and home cluster accessable in the numpad via a function key (which I think was the right win-key). I thought that was absolute genius. I would just about replace all my full-size keyboards in a heartbeat if there was a Filco available in that layout. Sorry I can't remember which thread I saw the picture in - hopefully you got the idea without it. I guess you could call it "arrowkeyless"?

[davkol]

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