Weird Keyboards, Programmable Keyboards

[1] https://www.openstenoproject.org/plover/

[2] https://www.1upkeyboards.com/shop/controllers/usb-to-usb-con...

I would love to have an overkill-processor-driven all-in-one HID. Like pretty much a SoC just to drive my human-computer interface. I'd be hacking something out but too damn busy at the moment.

Cousin-comment mentioned Plover, this looks really tempting to try out: https://keyholesoftware.com/2017/08/14/stenography/

It is nowhere as elegant as actually replacing the builtin keyboard, it just sits on top of it using magnets. But it is a product that actually exists.

The company is also rather responsive. I once dumped a large cup of soda right onto the keyboard. It was out of warranty but they repaired it for a rather reasonable amount.

More recently, I picked up the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard[1]. It was a bit of a gamble because it's a smaller keyboard making use of layers (mod, mouse, and function). However I adapted to it in pretty short order. On a full keyboard, you do end up moving your hands to the arrow keys or the function keys. On this keyboard, you almost never move your hands. It's got a nice tacticle feel and it's quieter than the model M. With the mouse layer, I can keep my hands on the home row almost as much as with the EnduraPro. There is a bit of awkwardness with the default keymap in vim. The Mod layer's arrow keys almost, but not quite, match up with vim's cursor movement keys, so I sometimes confuse my muscle memory (and vim) when bouncing in and out of insert mode. I should probably remap the arrow keys, but that's really my only complaint about it so far.

[1]: https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/

I do have UHK's trackpoint and key cluster addons on preorder, just waiting on them to ship.

I think you’re referring to the DataHand: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataHand

https://www.tapwithus.com/

I have always noticed that I used only my left thumb for space on a regular 104 keyboard. So my right thumb was mostly useless. With a thumb cluster on either side I am forced to use both thumbs. I even assign keys I use a lot to the thumb cluster, especially the layer modifier. I am fairly adept at the split layout now, and refuse to use a 104 keyboard anymore.

I should probably try with sculpted keycaps instead of the DSA I've right now (i.e. all keys with the same profile).

I'm happy with the Ergodox, but if I ever need to replace it, I'll be looking at something with a reduced key set such as the Gergo.

The other 3 aren't really reachable in a typing "stance" but can be used for functionality that is unrelated to typing but is useful to have dedicated keys for; for instance, I have one that is set to Win + Shift + Q which closes the currently active window in my i3wm setup, and a couple others I use for setting and going to code bookmarks in PyCharm.

Here's my current layout: https://configure.ergodox-ez.com/ergodox-ez/layouts/7JV4o/la...

The outer thumbs work great for things like shift and delete. My right outer thumb is right shift. When I need to shift something on my left side, my right hand is always free to make that slight adjustment. It feels much better than having put all that on my weakest finger, the pinky.

The outer outer keys are absolutely not meant to be reachable. They’re macro keys for me (global microphone mute switch).

The bottom-outer keys tend to be really awkward to use also.

I tried the Kinesis A. 2 before this and prefer ErgoDox but miss the curved keywells to reduce travel and really want more keys as I feel resistant to the layers thing. The Dactyl was attractive but I haven't had capacity for this kind of project for some time.

I've mostly adapted to the ErgoDox thumb cluster at this point, but prefer to do longer bouts of typing or coding on the Kinesis. The ErgoDex is more versatile but less comfortable.

The Keyboardio is a similar idea, with the drawback IMO that its not ortholinear, but it has a better thumb cluster.

The Dactyl Manuform is another great option. The shape of it makes it easier to reach all 6 thumb cluster keys.

I’d love something like a StreamDeck but I only use Windows for gaming and have transitioned away from Mac entirely.

Really old-school weirdo's were not happy with switching the position of the Control/Caps key (Control-C was so much easier on a VT100).

[0] https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?t=17462

I think the "tenkeyless" layout is great: it's "full keyboard" size including the separated arrows block and correctly spaced F keys, it's just missing the numpad section that I rarely use.

It's also the "chiclet" style keys like a laptop keyboard, but with "low profile" switches that I'm hoping will feel good but be less painful than full-on cherry/gaming switches. I grew up on Model-M's, I used to love hammering away, but I guess I'm one of the weirdos that grew to love the feel of chiclet, where I can tell if I've pressed a key but don't need to press it so hard. But most chiclet keyboards are too low-quality with not quite enough travel. Balancing act.

Few tips you may find useful,

- Practice with it daily. My typing on it the first week was really bad, but with a couple hours a day my WPM went up and now with alphanumerics it's quick. I also do "learn to type" websites to use the lessons to cover the entire board and force myself to do things I'm not doing as frequently day-to-day.

- Print out a copy of the keyboard layout (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRS_TOYuIQQ/XhRERox3moI/AAAAAAABE...) and annotate it as you make changes to the QMK layout. I keep it on the desk and use it for reference when learning where the characters are and frequently update it when I change it to better suit my personal layout. There's also http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/ to generate one.

- Use lighter switches if you can. They work better for chording, and take some getting use too, but your typing speed will increase and they work out much better on a smaller board like this.

The only negative I have with the board, since it's so low-profile and light is that it will move a bit and sometimes the board will rock. You can get the gHeavy case for this, but it's quite expensive. I'm waiting for the day that the GergoPlex sleeve is available which should help with the overall stability of the board, https://www.hidtech.ca/?product=gergoplex-sleeve.

I’m considering a kinesis advantage 2 but at 400 eur + import taxes (I’m in Switzerland), it’s a fair sum to put in a keyboard I won’t be able to return.

Why do you say the weight was a problem? Doesn’t it stay in your desk and doesn’t move around at all? Anything else you think is worth knowing about the keyboard?

Personally I'd get a Kinesis Advantage with a footswitch. Use one half of they keyboard as is, and the footswitch to change the layout.

One cheap alternative is to learn how to type with one hand on a standard qwerty. Biggest benefit would be it being available everywhere.

But sure, having some default-value returned by the keyboard would be sweet, but probabvly also more problematic than helpful.

I don't really use layers outside 0-1 normally, which is why I moved the layer1 modifier to the RHS thumb for easier access.

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