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Show HN: Bayleaf – Building a low-profile wireless split keyboard

graz.io

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Re: Show HN: Bayleaf – Building a low-profile wireless split keyboard

#161

Post by the_gipsy »

jackpeterfletch wrote: post #149
speff wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pain indeed. I tried an ortho layout a few weeks ago on a split Corne and developed really bad wrist pain. No idea why, but it went away after reverting to a stagger and giving that hand a break

I’m personally not convinced by the theory of ortho. It seems to stem from the idea that stagger is a hangover from the typewriter, in which it was required to make room for the mechanics, and that if we didn’t need to make them like that, we wouldn’t have. Hence the keys should be lined up so your fingers just move up and down. However I think this has 2 problems. 1) Most ortho keyboards have 5 columns for 4 fingers…

AFAIK your technique is very weird. Traditionally, every key has an assigned finger.

Re: Show HN: Bayleaf – Building a low-profile wireless split keyboard

#162

Post by __MatrixMan__ »

volemo wrote: post #96
__MatrixMan__ wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. It looks like with this it would be near impossible to press the lower left/right keys with my palm, which is something that helps take the load off my pinkies. It does look like a fun project though.

Sorry for uninvited advice, but you really shouldn't be using the keys in the corners for common actions (so common that you have a need to take the load off you pinkies). Utilise the CapsLock [1, 2]. (This key is so misbalanced in terms of prime key estate to utility ratio!) Better yet, try using home row modifiers [3]. [1]: https://wiki.c2.com/?RemapCapsLock [2]: https://www.reddit.com/r/vim/comments/1442ads/mappin…

Mostly the offenders are enter and -=[];'./_+{}:">?. My solution was to move \)}>][https://configure.zsa.io/planck-ez/layouts/RgRVl/latest/1

So I guess that means that the position formerly occupied by caps lock is now... 'a'? I haven't bothered to configure a caps lock. Haven't needed it.

Bonus, this is all handled in the keyboard firmware so I don't have to bother reconfiguring the OS. I just plug in the keyboard wherever and I'm all set.

So while I like your advice... I may be too far gone to take it. I can still type on a normal keyboard with their silly staggered rows to prevent typewriter jams, but I don't think I'll ever go back to feeling like it's a good idea to do so.

Re: Show HN: Bayleaf – Building a low-profile wireless split keyboard

#163

Post by happens »

Awesome! Looks like it accompanied an apple trackpad, super sleek.

I'm also using nice!nanos in my projects, and they're great little devices. At this point I'd love there to be a good alternative using a dongle, though... I have a desktop PC that I want to use them with, and since they can't connect via Bluetooth at boot time, I always have to connect them to select a boot option and unlock my ZFS drive.

Having an affordable or open source controller that can do split as well as nice!nanos, but also switch between Bluetooth and a dongle is like the holy grail to me. I'd instantly buy 10.

Re: Show HN: Bayleaf – Building a low-profile wireless split keyboard

#164

Post by jazzabeanie »

w10-1 wrote: post #74

For next iteration, consider integrating trackpads? Moving to the mouse and back is pain enough that people go all-in on keyboard-only interfaces. I velcroed a trackpad to the middle of a Kinesis Advantage. Now I use either hand for the mouse, and even stretch a finger or thumb to the pad without leaving the keys. The movement is little different from using the keyboard. But for split keyboard, you'd need one trackpa…

I want a trackpads integrated into the keys. Under the J key a trackpad with low sensitifity, and under the K key a trackpad with high sensitivity.

Re: Show HN: Bayleaf – Building a low-profile wireless split keyboard

#165

Post by tortilla »

UI_at_80x24 wrote: post #30

OP, congrats on the product and effort. _NOTHING_ beats prototyping and building. For other split-mechanical keyboards check out: ZSA Voyager Moergo Glove 80

I have the voyager and I'm really very happy with it. No wrist pain when I'm typing a lot.

https://imgur.com/pklEZSh

Ambients Silent Choc Switches (20g Linear), keycaps from worklouder (Pure)

Re: Show HN: Bayleaf – Building a low-profile wireless split keyboard

#167

Post by K7PJP »

tquinn wrote: post #115

My ideal keyboard would be taking a Magic keyboard (in black or space gray) and splitting it into two. This is the closest I have seen. I'm too committed to a standard layout to go ortho linear at this point, but I admit it looks the most sleek and modern for sure.

> My ideal keyboard would be taking a Magic keyboard (in black or space gray) and splitting it into two.

Me, too. I feel there's a lot of us who want precisely this. I want every key that's on the Magic Keyboard. I already have a number of other Karabiner bindings, like the Hyper key, so I'm adding "layers" that way.

Re: Show HN: Bayleaf – Building a low-profile wireless split keyboard

#169

Post by jwr »

crazygringo wrote: post #134
luqtas wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

keyboard upward or downward angulation depends on your wrist support, arm position/chair height... what's optimal and generic to suggest because how our upper extremity muscles are, (at least for mouse but i think it can work for keyboards too) [0] is having it sides angled from 20° up to 30°, subjective exprience also plays a role you can easily find MX switches that have equal or +- 0.5mm travel lenght as low-profi…

> keyboard upward or downward angulation depends on... It doesn't. But to clarify: it should always be downwards relative to your forearm . And your forearm should be generally be about horizontal (or a little bit downwards is OK too). A keyboard that is angled upwards puts constant strain on the top of your wrist. There are no circumstances where this is a good thing (assuming you don't have injury/disability that r…

Correct. So many people get this wrong, and there are so many misconceptions around, that there is actual market pressure to deliver upwards-tilting keyboards and wrist pads.

If you want to get your keyboard and desk ergonomics correct, look at pianists. They have it nailed down. Elbows at right angle, no wrist supports, sitting straight. And guess what, the piano keyboards are not upwards-tilting! Unfortunately, most of our desks are too high relative to the chairs we sit in.

Re: Show HN: Bayleaf – Building a low-profile wireless split keyboard

#170

Post by nacs »

ddejohn wrote: post #123

The link when you mention Mikefive's post only goes to the subreddit, not a specific post. Searching for "Mikefive" on reddit yielded a lot of results. I'd love to see the specific post you were referring to. Beautiful keyboard. Sent from my Allium58 Low Profile :D

It's this one https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/1cfg3vr/...
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