Hardware dvorak.

fossala · 06 Nov 2011, 19:19

I think I have found my favorite keyboard, it's the poker (with clears). Is there anyway with a controller to make it hardware DVORAK?

Minskleip · 06 Nov 2011, 20:13

You can put a Teensy in a box and do usb -> ps2 -> usb with everything you can imagine

The Poker even has nkro with a passive usb -> ps2 converter.

fossala · 06 Nov 2011, 21:51

Is there a guide to that?

Minskleip · 06 Nov 2011, 22:14

I have some troubles interfacing with my computer because there is a cat in the way, so I'll be brief. First you need a passive usb -> ps2 adapter. Then you need a female ps2 connector of some kind. The wires from this you will connect to the Teensy. I found mine in the trash, but you don't need a fancy panel mountable one. Hasu at Geekhack has a good write up on how to connect the ps2 connector to the Teensy, and he has working firmware as well (I use it to write this!). Finally put everything together in a box if you like. I have some photos here somewhere of what mine looks like.

fossala · 06 Nov 2011, 22:21

I have just looked at it and it seems feasible. I was more hoping for something that was kept inside the shell of the poker.

webwit · 06 Nov 2011, 22:25

Someone on kbc china modded a chameleon controller into the poker.

fossala · 06 Nov 2011, 22:29

I have seen some of the Korean and Chinese things. They are amazing, sadly I am no hardware guru.

Minskleip · 06 Nov 2011, 22:31

If there's space enough for a Teensy inside there, I suppose you could disassemble a usb -> ps2 converter and somehow connect the Poker controller directly to the internals of the converter and then to the Teensy, but I don't know how feasible that is

The cool parts with the external converter is that you can remap and program it to do whatever you want (for instance mouse keys), and the Poker would be stock. The converter doesn't have to be much larger than the Teensy itself if you're content with using the same style of ps2 interface as Hasu: |Poker| ---m---|teensy|---> pc where the 'm' is the ps2 plug. That was a crap diagram, but it could just be a 'small blob on the cable'.

fossala · 07 Nov 2011, 00:42

I think I will just make a box. I will try and make it usb to usb with all the ps2 and teensy inside the box. Any ideas where I can pick up a teensy in the uk?

webwit · 07 Nov 2011, 01:06

Why not colemak?

cactux · 07 Nov 2011, 05:25

[Account and posts deleted on request]

fossala · 07 Nov 2011, 08:53

Because I take my keyboard around with me sometimes.

sordna · 07 Nov 2011, 19:06

How about using the QIDO converter instead? It's small enough to keep at the end of your USB cable:
http://www.keyghost.com/qido/

fossala · 07 Nov 2011, 19:16

I have seen that it will cost me $110 including shipping. It's a bit much my keyboard cost less than that.

Input Nirvana · 10 Nov 2011, 08:36

I'm with you on the cost issue.

I was trying (briefly) help organize a group together at Geekhack (others have had similar ideas) about making a compact, super-controller that can plug in between any keyboard and any computer, ps/2-USB, qwerty-dvorak-colemak-pragrammable layer, re-mapping features, macros, cook your food, etc. But I have 2 major problems...first, I'm not a programmer/electrical engineer, so I don't bring much to the table directly to the designing of this to help keep the ball rolling as others drop out or whatever, and second, I've had some extremely drastic changes that I'm trying to get a handle on and cope with other than keyboards (gasp!). I don't anticipate being out of the woods till the first quarter of next year, so I've had to drop everything.

I would strongly suggest more thought go into this direction, as this one item could be the 'catch-all' for every project more than AIKON and similar.

fossala · 10 Nov 2011, 09:23

I saw the thread and would be in for that but it seemed like an idea and nothing more.

Input Nirvana · 10 Nov 2011, 09:39

Yea, just barely got the initial idea and was compiling multiple aspects and people to start making a solid goal. It was one of the first things I had to let go before the onslaught of problems hit me like a ton of bricks. There seemed to be enough people that were motivated, that's why I thought it could be done even though I would not be a major contributor. Another problem I failed to mention, is that I'm not familiar with the intricacies of a project like this...I would need time to get a detailed breakdown of what really needs to happen and what exactly needs to be made. Can't lead and troubleshoot a project when your head is up your ass.

I'm disappointed. I'm hoping someone better qualified would be motivated, it would have a lot of applications.

dsjbirch · 24 Apr 2012, 09:20

I'm interested in this, I can program, but I don't know electronics. Is this project happening anywhere (has it happened)? I'll help try and get it off the ground if input nirvana (or anyone else) is still interested.

fossala · 24 Apr 2012, 09:33

I'm still intreasted but I have no hardware knowlage.

Input Nirvana · 30 May 2012, 17:50

As an FYI, as interested as I am and have shown in the past on this topic, I'm definitely sidelined and wouldn't be able to think about any involvement in any project in the forseeable future. I can only see 90 days ahead of me, and it is 100% survival and trying to stabilize life issues.

I'll monitor this and may be able to throw in something later this year....