ErgoMechKeyboards

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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

Rules

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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Some useful links

EMK wiki
Split keyboard compare tool
Compare keycap profiles Looking for another set of keycaps - check this site to compare the different keycap profiles https://www.keycaps.info/
Keymap database A database with all kinds of keymap layouts - some of them fits ergo keyboards - get inspired https://keymapdb.com/

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Arrow key bindings (infosec.pub)

submitted 1 day ago by Tiuku@sopuli.xyz to c/ergomechkeyboards@lemmy.world

23 comments fedilink hide all child comments

How do you like to bind your arrow keys, and why?

Ergo boards don't typically have dedicated arrow clusters, so we're left to bind them on some alternate layers one way or another.

Here are two prevalent layouts, along with some initial thoughts:

Homerow

Binding them linearly to a homerow on some layer.

Pros

Arrows directly underneath your fingertips

Cons

Less intuitive
Pinky may be weaker when going right repeatedly

Pyramid

Bind arrows in a traditional pyramid shape, likely based on a homerow as well.

Pros

Familiar layout
Extra key available for pinky, e.g. a tab might be handy

Cons

Finger movement required for up arrow
Takes space on the row above, which might matter if you'd like to have a full row of other things there

Post pic is original art by the author, public domain, commission queue is already full.

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[–] wjrii@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

The inverted T is god-damned masterpiece, regardless of where it's placed. Your middle finger is already longer than the others and naturally rests closer to the top edge of the down arrow, requiring a minimal amount of movement to get to the up arrow. This is why it outlasted cross-nav and various godawful clusters or shift-pairs like on early 8-bit home computers, and why it never faced a serious challenge from layout-complicating diamond-nav or "does it exactly backwards" T-nav. It's also more intuitive than 4-key linear nav, though fair play to you if your brain can make it work. I do tend to think that some folks make a commitment to staying on the home row that goes way beyond the strict needs of carpal tunnel health, but I'm a row-stagger heathen so take my thoughts for whatever they're worth.

[–] Tiuku@sopuli.xyz 1 points 12 hours ago

Excellent point about the middle finger lenght.