this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2023
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ErgoMechKeyboards

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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

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Keep it ergo

Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)

i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²

¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid

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Learned a lot, not completely satisfied with the turnout, but I'll have more ammo for the next build.

Nice!Nano V2 using ZMK firmware, BLE, and custom PCB made with ergogen, kicad, and purchased thru JLPCB. Going to print a case and learn the keyboard layout.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (7 children)

As someone from outside the ergonomic keyboard community that just came across this via /everything; I've always wondered how you work around the missing keys in a keyboard like this. Say, you want to type the name "Emmy". What key combination do you press for that, seeing as the e, m and y are missing

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (4 children)

The layout looks Colemak-ish, so I'd expect the E to be the key labeled 5 on the right half.

Smaller keyboards like this use layers to reuse certain keys, rather than adding more. The idea is to minimize finger/hand/arm movement. Things like choosing a more efficient layout (QWERTY is actuality pretty bad in that regard), using home row mods (so the letter keys under your index fingers double as Shift when held, for example), and so on.

It takes some getting used to, but it actually quickly becomes second nature.

[–] iandoug 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Trading physical effort for mental effort.

[–] neonred 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

After getting used to the mental effort is similar to pressing Shift or Ctrl but you get to keep the physical comfort and the reduced travel.

Additionally you are able to press any key without looking or moving and repositioning your hand, be it symbols, numbers, fn-keys, all of them.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

It's a different kind of effort, one that doesn't give you RSI or at least improves your situation. And as explained, that mental effort is temporary, it gets engrained in your muscle memory quite quick.

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