Post a picture of your ideal keyboard layout!

[depletedvespene]

The fix for an uncomfortable Backspace is to put it where it really belongs: right above Return!



The HHKB got this right, and Model F sure can too.

I can't wait until I get my own modded F AT so I can test out my own nutty idea on this area of the keyboard (TIE Enter, 1.5U Backspace key, 2 1U keys above it, that can be repurposed to be F11 and F12).

[cineraphael]

This is my favorite keyboard layout. 122 Key are awesome and I could be a god for using this for gaming lol. I wish more keyboard use this layout.

[darkcruix]

IMG_8029.jpg (139.87 KiB) Viewed 9804 times

I have learned to like the block-nav after some fights. The unlabled keys are Page Up and Page Down (with Home and End in the Fn layer).

[ayehavgunne]

This is a layout I've been thinking about lately. I am a Python programmer so I wanted to make my most used symbols easier to access. I also dislike typing numbers without the numpad. Some keys I *hate* like caps lock and insert so they are gone. I don't use numlock, print screen, scroll lock, pause/break so they are also gone.

I like the arrangement of the home and end keys along with page up and down since they are positioned similar to there actual function. Without the insert key I had an open position but I likes me the delete key so I made it 2u.

http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/# ... 6aec5eb416

[Gampela]

I already posted on previous page what my ideal layout might look like but for some reason I find myself again and again doodling around with Keyboard Layout Editor whenever bored. Let's give this another shot.

• Most of the time my right hand is operating mouse so why not give the left hand more buttons to press.
• More space for the mouse without pushing the alpha keys far to the left from my sitting position
• Navigation cluster is redundant with numpad anyways so why not remove it to get more compact.
• Fn would work as press-and-hold num "lock" so you can switch between navigation and numbers super fast with your left thumb
• Not 100% sure about he mirrored numpad modifiers but this way you can keep the middle finger on homing key (5) and each four fingers have its own button column to operate. Pretty sure you would get used to it fast. An additional backspace for the left hand surely comes handy.
• Function row is still up for a debate. Maybe a standard f-row spacing for those keys. Dedicated media keys also not 100% necessary.
• With minor modifications you could rock a 100% standard keycap set with 100% matching legends with this one.

[PlacaFromHell]

I think I finally got my engame layout.

-Left-handed numpad for a closer mouse,
-No space between keys, making it compact and more practical,
-3101 style enter because it allows back tab and ISO layout,
-Large wheelwriter spacebar because is thought to be a model F and I don't like short spacebars,
-More useful keys (00, cut, copy, paste, back tab, extra backspace and a macro key),
-More intuitive nav cluster.

[depletedvespene]

Where are RCtrl and Ins?

Also, the position of AltGr strikes me as uncomfortable, given that you're using the Spanish (Spain) layout.

You might also want to replace the 00 in the numpad with a comma key. Just sayin'...


Also, I dig that vertical backspace.

[PlacaFromHell]

I don't use RCtrl for some reason, insert even less. I don't really like that much that long spacebar, but there is no middle point with BS keycaps. Maybe would be better remove the code keycap and add a RCtrl and a proper Alt GR, something else to fill.

[depletedvespene]

I don't use RCtrl for some reason, insert even less. I don't really like that much that long spacebar, but there is no middle point with BS keycaps.

You COULD put a 7U space bar and get back the missing stuff elegantly.

[PlacaFromHell]

It may be more practical, but I don't like short spacebars

[depletedvespene]

It may be more practical, but I don't like short spacebars

7u space bars are short now? Ok, but then go 9u, not just 7.25...

[vvp]

Nonsense. Why do you want to WASTE the most valuable keyboard real estate with a big ass space bar? You are CONFUSED with historical heritage of old crapy keyboards!

It is just the location of the middle of the bottom row where your thumbs are naturally positioned. It is the place where your thumbs are the most precise when hitting keys since they are already positioned there and need to move only a little. You want small keys (1u at most 2u) there so that you can press more of them comfortably. That is the ideal place for modifiers in addition to the space key. It is much easier to press the bottom row modifiers with your thumbs than with you pinkies.

If you are already devoting your time to design a new layout then at least do something sensible. Something your hands will thank you for in the log run by not developing disorders from excessive keyboard use ... or developing them later at least. That means left/right split design, multiple thumb keys and a column stagger instead of a row stagger. That is the bare minimum you should consider. Not a big-ass space bar.

If you think a big space bar is good then why don't you want big keys for positions a,s,d,f,j,k,l,; (qwerty layout naming)?

[kbdfr]

Nonsense. […]

If you are already devoting your time to design a new layout then at least do something sensible. Something your hands will thank you for in the log run by not developing disorders from excessive keyboard use ... or developing them later at least. That means left/right split design, multiple thumb keys and a column stagger instead of a row stagger. That is the bare minimum you should consider.[…]

Now THAT is nonsense.
Your proposals would be worth considering only for someone typing all the time, i.e. without a break, which applies almost just to people transcribing existing text either from an audio file or from a paper sheet, and having to do so fast.
As soon as you stop typing, for example to reflect on what you're going to type next (which is by far the most common way keyboards are used), or as a matter of fact to use a mouse, any "ergonomics" consideration becomes practically obsolete or at least minor..

[Findecanor]

Speaking of a long Space Bar... I have been thinking now and then of whether it would be worthwhile to make a replacement Amiga keyboard with Cherry MX switches.
The original's Space bar is 9u — which could be divided up into 2.75-6.25 (or even 1-7-1) for which it would be easier to source keycaps.

amiga2.jpg (74.83 KiB) Viewed 9413 times

[depletedvespene]

Speaking of the Space Bar, I have been thinking now and then of various layout options for a replacement Amiga keyboard. The original's Space bar is 9u — which could be divided up into 2.75-6.25 or 1-7-1.
amiga2.jpg

Actually, I have been thinking about a split space bar myself, with a basic concept different to what seems to be popular these days: two equal-length split space bars, that are located symmetrically to the homing keys (F and J, usually). I'll make a separate post in this in another thread.

[Gampela]

Speaking of a split spacebar, this is what I've been toying around in my mind for a while now:



The idea being that the navigation keys would be ambidextrous. The split-spacebar builds that I've seen on Internet usually have some variation of 2.75u - 1.25u - 2.25u split being made out of the spacebar which feels kinda arbitrary and doesn't look very good. This one is more symmetrical and so IMO more pleasing to the eye. While I haven't built one yet it SHOULD be doable with the common dz60 PCB.

Some other variants of this perhaps to be done in HHKB style, though for these you would need to design your own PCB:

[Findecanor]

While I haven't built one yet it SHOULD be doable with the common dz60 PCB.

I can confirm that it fits. I have a kb with DZ60 and that config on my workbench now.

[Gampela]

While I haven't built one yet it SHOULD be doable with the common dz60 PCB.

I can confirm that it fits. I have a kb with DZ60 and that config on my workbench now.

Thanks, that's good to know! Are you using this plate? https://kbdfans.cn/collections/keyboard ... inum-plate

[vvp]

@Gampela:
Nice, splitting a big space bar into 3 keys is a progress in the good direction
Also if you want to put navigation keys to a layer on the home keys then consider using a vim(*) style navigation instead of inverted T. It is better, you do not need to move fingers to a different key when altering between up/down keys.
(*) left side: A-left, S-down, D-up, F-right
right side: J-left, K-down, L-up, ;-right

@kbdfr:
Well, if you use keyboard a little then I can agree that ergonomics is not important. But it is nice to have ergonomic keyboard since it is more comfortable. People who touch type (almost half of the deskthority users) do not need to hunt modifier keys with pinkies.
And when one is not touch typing at all then:

• Why do you have big space bar and not a big keycap for letter E? Or Enter, BackSpace, Tab or even Arrows?
• Why do you use a huge Tipro keyboard with somewhere around 200 keys and only 4u space bar? Moreover, most of them are 1u only. Between , you could split your space bar in 4 keys; it will give you more keys to trigger macros
  

[PlacaFromHell]

Nonsense. Why do you want to WASTE the most valuable keyboard real estate with a big ass space bar? You are CONFUSED with historical heritage of old crapy keyboards!

It is just the location of the middle of the bottom row where your thumbs are naturally positioned. It is the place where your thumbs are the most precise when hitting keys since they are already positioned there and need to move only a little. You want small keys (1u at most 2u) there so that you can press more of them comfortably. That is the ideal place for modifiers in addition to the space key. It is much easier to press the bottom row modifiers with your thumbs than with you pinkies.

If you are already devoting your time to design a new layout then at least do something sensible. Something your hands will thank you for in the log run by not developing disorders from excessive keyboard use ... or developing them later at least. That means left/right split design, multiple thumb keys and a column stagger instead of a row stagger. That is the bare minimum you should consider. Not a big-ass space bar.

If you think a big space bar is good then why don't you want big keys for positions a,s,d,f,j,k,l,; (qwerty layout naming)?

Spacebar is probably the most recurrent key in the entire keyboard (at least for me). Although I am quite orthodox to type, I tend to smash the it with whatever I have more close or just hit it with my palm. So what I need is a heavy and big spacebar. My problem with short spacebars comes when I have to avoid keys to smash it, because I end pressing whatever is closer. My favorite one is the spacebar in my XT keyboard with linear space invaders, to get an idea.
And for last, kids like you with their planck keyboards and their split ergo-stuff should be burning in hell

[davkol]

LPT: don't type like a brute… if you _are_ a brute, don't be a brute

[Myoth]

Ideal layout you say ?

P2030231 by Myoth, sur Flickr

[depletedvespene]

Ideal layout you say ?

P2030231 by Myoth, sur Flickr

Ma', look, an ANSI keyboard. See that, over there, in the lower left? That's why in my national layouts I always add that bit of ANSI shielding.

[PlacaFromHell]

LPT: don't type like a brute… if you _are_ a brute, don't be a brute

If you like tiny keyboards so much, why don't you use a TV remote control as your numpad? Or just get a Logitech K600, your lady fingers will be grateful with you

[vvp]

@PlacaFromHell:
You are the first one I heard about who is smashing space bars with a palm. Anyway, if you really do that then your argument is valid and you need a big space bar. But maybe you can consider a more efficient way of typing. You would not need a big space bar then.

Calling me a kid feels good. It means I'm still in a good shape.
I would love to be a kid. Especially when my joints start to creak. It would be very good to keep the knowledge I have and just get a young body.

[troldrik]

Been playing around with this idea. Started designing the PCB, but never finished it got dissuaded by the lack of good sources of ALPS stemmed keycaps, and the difficulty and expense of a decent solid custom case. Started with a ISO 105, added a 15 key programable key cluster on the left. Added few tweaks like compose key and equals sign on the numpad.

[kbdfr]

[…]
@kbdfr:
Well, if you use keyboard a little then I can agree that ergonomics is not important. But it is nice to have ergonomic keyboard since it is more comfortable. People who touch type (almost half of the deskthority users) do not need to hunt modifier keys with pinkies.
And when one is not touch typing at all then:

• Why do you have big space bar and not a big keycap for letter E? Or Enter, BackSpace, Tab or even Arrows?
• Why do you use a huge Tipro keyboard with somewhere around 200 keys and only 4u space bar? Moreover, most of them are 1u only. Between , you could split your space bar in 4 keys; it will give you more keys to trigger macros
  

Sorry to disappoint you, but I do touch type, and have been doing so for over 40 years, and I certainly do not, as you put it, hunt modifier keys with pinkies, but hit them blind. Including of course my 1u Backspace - big enough for a real pro
I use that huge Tipro because being a text and not a computer professional, I simply don't build keyboards, but rather resort to an existing and (at least for my purpose) ideal solution: a keyboard which by design is entirely (and easily!) programmable and allows physical extensions..

The 4u spacebar is just there, I would also take a 2u or 3u, but it's simply not that important to me.
What is important to me is that I have a keyboard with a nearly standard layout + 3 rows of directly accessible programmable keys just above it, and then on each side 64 additional keys, a few of them I admittedly hardly use (that's the 3 utmost right columns).

Now to what you call ergonomic, which for you appears to mean the least possible hand or finger stretching or movement (which basically is a ridiculous idea if you have to reach out for a mouse - which I don’t, I have a RollerMouse).
For me ergonomics is about performing in the simpliest way. That's why I have a bunch of keys programmed to make my life as a professional typist easier:

Spoiler:

a few examples:

• a single keypress to enter both an opening and a closing bracket and then positioning the cursor between them, same applies to specific quotation marks for German and French texts (i.e respectively „“ and «») as I commonly do type (and even touch type) in those two languages
• dedicated keys for characters I use very often, e.g. @, €, #
• right-hand and left-hand Esc and Delete and even Enter
• as my work implies a lot of Internet research, a complete pad for browser functions with dedicated keys for e.g. Open new tab, Close tab, Reopen closed tab, navigation between tabs and so on
• as I occasionally type text from audio files, direct access to functions of the transcription software on single keys
• the F-keys positioned in two columns left of rather than in one row above the alpha keys, which allows for "blind" left-hand combos with Control, Alt and/or Shift. This, by the way, used to be standard keyboard layout before the obviously non-ergonomic change to the one row took place.
• the possibility to program single-press characters when needed (for example when a few years ago I worked on a German text with several thousand pages containing Latin transcriptions of Arabic names with special diacritics, such as Kitāb Maqātil aṭ-Ṭālibiyyīn or Āḏarbayǧan)
• and of course macros used in specific professional programmes I use on a daily basis, for example to directly place the cursor in a specific field of my bookkeeping software

That’s what I call "ergonomic": making typing easier, simpler, globally faster and less prone to errors.
Whether your space bar is 10u, 7.25u, 4u or splitted into two 2u keys is by no means an ergonomic factor per se.

What triggered me to at all write in this thread, by the way, was your condescending tone.

[vvp]

I know you do touch type. We discussed that in the thread about how many keys a keyboard should have. You are the cool guy with a strange love for macros triggered by one key instead of chords of keys and an incredible skill to hit far away keys (which require significant hand move) without looking. Nobody who read that thread can forget you because what you can do is exceptional. You have a very good parietal cortex.

Hunt modifiers with pinkies was misleading. I meant stretch pinkies far away to hit modifiers.

My condescending tone was intentional to stir waters a bit and point out that it is better to have modifiers easily reachable by thumbs than trying to stretch pinkies for them. I wanted people to notice that. For those who are not touch typing, I wanted to point out the illogical argument for big space bars (where small modifiers should be) while at the same time keeping small keys for other very often used keys like letter E, arrow keys, ...

Of course, my reasoning is somewhat weakened by people who hit space bars with palm

[depletedvespene]

Of course, my reasoning is somewhat weakened by people who hit space bars with palm

No worries! They are covered by the new, exciting, Palmer™ keyboard.

Palmer™ keyboard (ISO variant).

Palmer.png (33.27 KiB) Viewed 9195 times

(it even comes with an extra set of titanium stabs, because replacing those if when they break is quite a b*tch!)

[zrrion]

Finally, keys large enough to achieve optimal dick typing!