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433% Keyboard

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Re: 433% Keyboard

#61

Post by jrockway »

na85 wrote: post #46

So can you just bind arbitrary keys to arbitrary characters? Aren't there a limited number of codes (scan codes?) that the keyboard will send out?

There are a limited number of scancodes; defined by the USB standard. The annoying thing for keyboards is that the OS controls what scancode maps to what character and that makes it impossible to have certain keys.

For example, you can't have an ! key. That is always Shift+1 (with a US layout, that is). QMK and other firmwares will let you make an ! key, but it's implemented by pressing shift, then pressing 1. So you could never make a keyboard shortcut that is Shift+! even though you can press that on your keyboard. The OS wouldn't be able to tell the difference between than and Shift+1. As a corollary, you couldn't rebind your keyboard such that Shift+1 outputs @ instead of !.

It's really just a classic case of bad abstraction. All the keyboard hardware does is scan rows and see which columns are also active. That gives you a grid position like (1,2) for "w". It is then forced to translate that to a scancode that it sends to the computer. The computer then sees that scancode and translates it to a letter. Obviously, things would be easier to program if the keyboard just emitted characters, or the OS just read key matrix grid positions. (In the first case, your X key would always be X, no matter what. Annoying for laptop users that want to use Dvorak, of course. In the second case, things like QMK wouldn't need to exist, you could just write a normal program running on your computer to add layers, shifting, tap dances, etc.)

The end result is that everything sucks. Isn't it always?

Re: 433% Keyboard

#62

Post by KajMagnus »

gpm wrote: post #55
codetrotter wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might even be able to fit a whole octet of programmers around a keyboard of that size. All working together casting arcane spells with the aid of the keyboard. Dialects of programming languages so old and obscure that even Cthulhu himself would flinch at the sight upon such seeing.

This sounds like something that would fit right in in the average movie about programmers.

Or a movie about Special Agents, pair programming they do too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8qgehH3kEQ

Re: 433% Keyboard

#63

Post by mey »

ardy42 wrote: post #16

All of the images are now offline (some google drive traffic limit?), but the internet archive managed to capture one : https://web.archive.org/web/20200916174120/https://relivesig... The image itself: https://web.archive.org/web/20200916210058/https://doc-14-a0...

I like that there is still an elgato stream deck above the keyboard because there isn't enough inputs to map.

Re: 433% Keyboard

#64

Post by jcrawfordor »

I regularly use what I call a "140% keyboard" which has a total of 140 keys. This is the regular 104-key layout with added keys in various places such as between the alphanumeric and F key section, filling the gaps between cursor keys and the block above it, etc. The keyboard has on-board macro programming and multi-layer logic.

I use it for things like having keys which jump directly to specific windows, keys which open various terminal types, and even macros for some common commands (Git operations for example).

I don't know that there's any good reason why this isn't more popular other than fashion, which means that an industry has not really built up around plus-sized keyboards like it has around smaller ones. My example was purchased used and was formerly used at a telephone operator's workstation, based on the key legends. There is a fairly robust used market for plus-sized keyboards originally used for specialty applications, mostly POS and dispatchers/radio operators, from companies like PrehKeyTec and Cherry (of the switches). Unfortunately they mostly cost $500+ new and still often demand over $100 used. The majority of these keyboards feature on-board macro programming, but are intended to be programmed in bulk by the vendor of some turnkey solution so the programming tools are a bit awkward (for me, use a GUI keymap editor, export a file, use a command line tool to flash the generated file to the keyboard - I think it actually just produces a full firmware image each time).

The only real disadvantage I would report is that the PrehKeyTecs are made with dome switches that feel decidedly mushy when they're old (and my used model is probably around a decade old). The Cherries use mechanical switches, of course, but tend to be more expensive and aren't made in as interesting of configurations IMO.

Re: 433% Keyboard

#65

Post by swsieber »

While were on the topic of keyboards, does anyone know of a good nkro keyboard that's small? I want something to lay on top of my dell xps 13 while I use it that's nkro.

Re: 433% Keyboard

#67

Post by SuperPaintMan »

thkoli wrote: post #12
c0nsumer wrote: post #3

This is pretty interesting, but it'd be great if the author explained their reason for building such a large keyboard... even if it's just "for reasons".

this was also posted on r/MechanicalKeyboards and the reason behind it was something like “I made a 128 keys keyboard, someone else made a bigger keyboard so I had to retaliate”

That's exactly why I made Ginny (the small red keyboard in OP)! It's an exercise in insanity, but it does work as a fully functional keyboard powered by ASETNOIP. I could never daily it (too attached to my 36key GergoPlex) but some users are above 130WPM on 10keys!

https://www.gboards.ca/product/ginni

Re: 433% Keyboard

#69

Post by SuperPaintMan »

m463 wrote: post #24

I think a better layout might be like an organist, where you have different levels. sort of like this: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Frederik... And they even have keys (modifier keys?) for their feet. They left that off the table (so to speak) hmm... and maybe some sort of suspension system for your arms, so your arms could float over the keyboard sort of like monitor arms keep your monitor sus…

Check out Tim Tyler's custom microswitch keyboard, it's pretty similar to that!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9yg3s77nAMQ

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