Show HN: I made a split keyboard for large palms

I’m not the one you replied to, but I generally type without using my pinky at all – including pressing Caps Lock (Ctrl) and Enter with my ring fingers. For me, I’ve had bad cases of RSI before, and find it more ergonomic to move my hands a bit more and avoid using the pinky most of the time.

If you are interested you can always try it out on your current kb, right?

> Seniply Yes, the idea is the same. I'm using Base layer + 3 other and using one shot for the function keys. Tap dance wouldn't be a problem either, I just prefer one shot.

> trrs cable Interesting idea. Why would you like to avoid TRRS? What are the issues with it? I am thinking for the next version some BLE between the sides as it has low latency, but it's a mere idea for now and more research is needed. (also it would be for a wireless version as it would need batteries anyway)

It's like anything. You adapt. RSI forced me onto ergonomics so now I have all symbols on a layer. Going back to a normal keyboard now feels weird.

I have layers (most with home row mods) for:

- symbols (with long press-hold to simulate e.g. shift + keys like =, -, etc).

- navigation (vim cursor keys on rh home row, pg up/dn, etc below) & F keys

- numpad

- media & custom app keys (e.g. auto-fill password from my password manager, etc)

I also have long-press to switch window, copy, paste, undo (i.e. holding Z fires cmd-Z), combos for escape and caps.

TBH it's all muscle memory now so they might not be right.

Of course, there's a learning curve, but now I just use 34 keys (2 thumb keys each side, although dedicated shifts would be good instead of shift via home row mods which sometimes misfire).

The main thing is to make up your own keymap that makes sense. Forget trying to learn someone elses.

On a staggered (aka standard) keyboard layout, common programming symbols like !@#$%&*()_{}:”? need Shift anyway. On these keyboard you simply hold Layer button with your thumb instead of Shift.

One advantage is that you can now put the symbols on the home row.

Looks great! I don't understand how you minimal-key-count types manage, but that's a me thing.

I'm taking the wrist pain comment as a jumping off point to remind those of us who type a lot (surely a comfortable majority!) that a major part of ergonomics is technique. Finding the right equipment for you is a part of that (I use an ergo split myself), but no keyboard can compensate for bad technique.

As an example, I always wince when I see a wrist rest involved in a setup. Wrists should not rest! Proper technique keeps the hands floating above the keyboard, with minimal or no wrist flexion (flexion is in toward the inner wrist) or wrist movement. Excursions from the home row should proceed from the elbows, not the wrists. Even a small amount of extension (opposite of flexion) is bad for you, stretching the tendons which are flexing to type keys.

Palms perpendicular with the keyboard, about two inches above it, and be sure that your rest position has no wrist extension! Flat is ideal, a bit of flexion is ok. Good keyboard technique is much the same between the piano and typing keyboards. Palms perpendicular means that if the keyboard surface is tilted toward you, fix that. A single-piece keeb should be level or point slightly toward the screen, and a split should be tented.

It's fine to rest your wrists on something: when you aren't typing. When you are, it is not fine at all. Once serious RSI and tendon inflammation sets in, there's no going back, it's a condition you'll be managing for years, if not the rest of your life.

If you're experiencing any discomfort typing, or after, by all means look into equipment. But also, please, immediately give some focus to your technique. Identify specific keyboard actions that violate the "do not move the hands from the wrist" rule, and focus on not doing them. Backspace is a common offender, to the point where I mapped caps lock to that key in response to shooting pains in my outer right wrist.

To land this back in the thread: laying out all the keys so that no hand (not wrist, hand) movement is necessary, like the keyboard in the Fine Article does, is certainly one way to prevent wrist movement. I think it's super cool that you worked out a spacing which is right for your hands, too. Even a keyboard like this can't help you if you type from a wrist-extended position, but it surely makes it much easier not to do that!

But for those of us with keyboards where you do move your hands, please, for the sake of your future self: move your hands from the elbows, not with wrist bends. It doesn't take long to get the hang of it, and the difference is night and day.