this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2023
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ErgoMechKeyboards

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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

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Keep it ergo

Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)

i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²

¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid

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I just finished building my first DIY keyboard! Cheapino (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Chraccoon@lemmy.world to c/ergomechkeyboards@lemmy.world
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This is the first time I built a keyboard!
A cheapino!
It took a little bit of time to get everything figured out, but I was able to finish that build relatively easily.
However, I am having trouble customizing the layout... I can't load it in the qmk.fm tool and when I upload a json file it gives me something that doesn't match my keyboard.
Also, the encoder currently types 'y' when turned right, I got 2 thumb keys working as spaces and I don't have a modifier key.
As far as I can tell, everything is soldered right, the diodes are in the right direction...
Did I mess up my soldering or is the cheapino firmware buggy?
Any app that can help me flash/customize my keyboard? I'll keep googling.
Thanks!

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[–] Hazdaz@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I'm all about DIYing things, but I'll never understand these fancy keyboards without the basic keys needed for a keyboard to function - number keys, function keys, arrows, etc. That extra 3 square inches of desk real estate is just not important enough to get rid of those things. I can appreciate the work put into something like this, but I just don't get the limitations.

[–] kugla@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 year ago

The idea is to minimize required motions of hands and fingers, not desk real estate. Even the ordinary keyboards have layers (Alt, Ctrl, ...) and these minimalistic ones just use the idea of layers to put the most used and important keys on the home row where they are most easily accessed. And not on a key that you need to stretch your finger or even move your hand.

I don't care about the aesthetics - my main keyboard is pretty ugly Fifi keyboard. But the ease of typing is fantastic. Occasional switch to ISO keyboard just reminds me that I am not a creature with a hundred tentacles sprouting from my chest ;) The amount of jumping and stretching is just terrible.

But yes, few months of muscle memory relearning can be painful.

[–] createkarma@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I felt the same way but I have been using an ergodox for a while, so I already don't have a numpad which I didn't miss. I recently modified my ergodox firmware to map only 44 keys and removed the rest, similar to this layout. It is an interesting concept and I can appreciate how little I have to move my hands now. I don't miss the number row or function row, those were easy enough to get used to, but some of the missing symbols are harder to get used to. I want to try a few more changes before I decide if I like the smaller keyboards better or just want the standard keys back

[–] Hazdaz@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago

This reminds me of those lowered mini trucks. You ever seen those? They are slammed to the ground. They cut up the bed where yiu normally haul stuff, and fit it with airbags to let it drop so low. Even at their higher settings to drive it, they are so low that they sometimes get hung up on a speed bump. So it can't haul stuff anymore. You can barely drive it, and almost all it's functionality is out the window all for a hobby and aesthetics. Yeah, I think these kinds of keyboards are the lowered mini trucks of the computer world.

[–] Chraccoon@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I also don't understand it at the moment, but I was curious so I built the cheapest good unit I could find to try it out.
Maybe I'll like it or maybe it'll go to eBay. We'll see.
What got me interested initially is the regonomic aspect of split keyboards since I spend most of my time at the computer and I'd like to avoid injury.

[–] Hazdaz@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The vast majority of "ergonomic" keyboards are marketing BS. You want a comfortable typing pose? Tilt the keyboard away from you so your wrists are in a more natural slightly bent downward pose. Most keyboards are laid out the opposite way - tilted toward the person so you can see the keys easier, but that outs your wrist in an unnatural bent up pose.

Used to work for a very high end furniture company so we have tons of ergonomic studies. There is so much to all this but people rather get something pretty than comfortable.

Anyways, not trying to badmouth this keyboard, but if it had the very important keys that people use all the time, it might actually work.

[–] Chraccoon@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I actually bought myself an ergonomic keyboard months ago that does support tilting it in the other direction, with a curved wrist rest to help.
It works quite well, but I also like the concept of the one I built.
I's like to tilt it to make it more comfortable, if it turns out I like using it.
From what I understand, you can have all the keys you need on a keyboard like that, but it requires muscle memory of key combinations, and I do not know yet if that's for me. I'd have liked to start on a board with more keys, but it's expensive just to see if it suits me or not.
I can also see it being useful in VR while playing games like Elite Dangerous, to have one half per arm on a chair with a HOTAS setup.
It's definitely a niche thing.

edit: just read your other comments and I think you should chill a bit. I see these things as specialized and personalized computer input interfaces. People are different and input methods should be too. It might not fit your bill, but it might for some people here or maybe they like experimenting to find what works for them.
I don't want this to become a VI vs Emacs flame war analogy.

[–] Hazdaz@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have no idea where you think I wasn't being "chill". In fact I was reading your reply and was going to offer up suggestions in designing a tilt mechanism to get it to tilt away from you since that is just the kind of stuff I do for a living.

[–] Chraccoon@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

The part with the pickup trucks... idk.
I will not be able to design an intricate tilt mechanism in the short term, I have almost no CAD software knowledge... Thanks though.
I was planning on 'baking' the tilt into the case model or glue little feet.