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Where should the “6” key be?

ultimatehackingkeyboard.com

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Re: Where should the “6” key be?

#31

Post by akiselev »

mahouse wrote: post #26
jwr wrote: post #4

A side comment, as it's the first time I see the "ultimate hacking keyboard": Whenever I see a keyboard with an "Fn" key, I sigh. This means that the designer of the keyboard thought he knows better which functions I need and took valuable space in the modifier row for a key which I will probably never use. Media control functions? Come on. Most keyboards that have an "Fn" key do not allow you to remap it in any way…

> Whenever I see a keyboard with an "Fn" key, I sigh. This means that the designer of the keyboard thought he knows better which functions I need and took valuable space in the modifier row for a key which I will probably never use. And what tells you they won't make this key configurable? Nothing. > Media control functions? Come on. Most people listen to music, you know. It's certainly not crazy to have them on ever…

The function key is most often (read: always) implemented in hardware so when you hold the button the chip in the keyboard modifies the raw character code sent over USB.

Unless they explicitly programmed the IC for re onfigurability of FN, it will be the same useless button.

Re: Where should the “6” key be?

#33

Post by w0000t »

zdw wrote: post #6

As someone who hits the "b" key with their right hand when typing, I find it encouraging that they're splitting that off to the right side, as the vast majority of "ergonomic" keyboards put it on the left side, as the home row method of typing instruction recommends. (I learned my non-standard method of touch typing playing MUD's via telnet in the mid-nineties)

Actually 'b' is at a completely wrong position( on a ordinary keyboard ). It is inaccessible for both hand, without moving your wrist which causes strain.

I have globally remapped 'b' to the right of 'l'. It feels much better. The old 'b' key is now unused.

Re: Where should the “6” key be?

#34

Post by jodrellblank »

cauterize wrote: post #5

Does anyone else have links to other interesting approaches to keyboards (products or otherwise)?

My favourite approach is the DataHand ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataHand )

Also the chorded keyboard ideas like in Douglas Englebart's famous 1960s computing demo, where he had a chording keyboard in one hand and a mouse in the other ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorded_keyboard ). The modern variant on that has headed towards wearable mobile use with the Twiddler http://twiddler.tekgear.com/

Also, the Buxton collection includes some interesting keyboard designs (including the two above): http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/bibuxton/buxto...

Re: Where should the “6” key be?

#35

Post by robhack »

anon4 wrote: post #11

After investing in a Truly Ergonomic[0] keyboard, I personally don't want ever again to use a keyboard with asymmetrically staggered keys. Having a perfectly mirrored layout is much nicer to use. The 6 on it is on the right, if that matters. [0] That's the brand name, it's not really truly ergonomic, or at least not as designed for ergonomics as a Kinesis. Homepage/store: http://www.trulyergonomic.com

I've been on a TrulyErgonomic for the past 3 years, and on a TypeMatrix before that (using the Bépo layout, a french dvorak), and while I've been happy with both of them, I would advise to check the ErgoDox, Axios, and Keyboardio nowadays before buying one (they are splitted and have more keys on the thumb).

Re: Where should the “6” key be?

#36

Post by melling »

cauterize wrote: post #5

Does anyone else have links to other interesting approaches to keyboards (products or otherwise)?

An introduction to Ergonomic keyboards:

https://h4labs.wordpress.com/2015/07/16/the-model-01-an-heir...

Here are a few dozen of links about keyboards:

http://thespanishsite.com/public_html/org/ergo/keyboards.htm...

Re: Where should the “6” key be?

#38

Post by pluma »

anon4 wrote: post #11

After investing in a Truly Ergonomic[0] keyboard, I personally don't want ever again to use a keyboard with asymmetrically staggered keys. Having a perfectly mirrored layout is much nicer to use. The 6 on it is on the right, if that matters. [0] That's the brand name, it's not really truly ergonomic, or at least not as designed for ergonomics as a Kinesis. Homepage/store: http://www.trulyergonomic.com

I bought a TECK when they first came out. Sadly the layout doesn't lend itself at all for other languages. I tried to reconfigure it[0] for German but I found the experience pretty jarring, especially because I don't have a job where I can always use my own keyboard (and thanks to its weight the TECK is a bit heavy to lug around).

One thing I liked was the separate arrow keys (though the duplicate didn't make much sense). I barely ever need the numpad but I can't live without the arrow keys (I don't even see how anyone who's not a vim user can).

[0]: https://github.com/pluma0/teck#overview

Re: Where should the “6” key be?

#39

Post by bluejekyll »

I love the thought put into this. A few years ago this was exactly what I was looking for, but today I am doing most of my work on my laptop, and even if you plug this in there's a problem, your keymap is lost between the native laptop keyboard and the UHK. To me this says that it's not really a hardware problem, it's something that should be 100% software, and give you an easy way to transfer keymaps from one system to another.

That is, I need a Mac keymap and a Linux keymap, where everything is synced between. Which ironically, is pretty much already possible by customizing the native keyboard layout files.

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