![]() Via PS/2 to USB convertors where necessary, or directly into PS/2 ports if available. On PCs at home and work, original IBM Model Ms, UK layout. I am averse to the idea of building my own keyboard.įor mouse i use a Contour Rollermouse Red in front of the keyboard. I used to happily use the SafeType vertical keyboard, but it didn’t include arrow keys they recommended a separate, horizontal keypad, but the frequent wrist rotation between vertical and horizontal caused pain. I also tried the Keyboardio 01 (tented via book stand) but its 64 keys were not nearly enough all that chording/layer-switching slowed me down. I also tried the Kineses Advantage2 (86 keys), but i guess my hands are too small because the thumb clusters were too far away, and it isn’t tented to a high enough angle for me, also it’s extremely bulky. Nice-to-haves that the Freestyle is missing: thumb clusters (like the Kinesis Advantage, except i would like them to be closer), mouse movement layer (like the Keyboardio Model 01), built-in tenting to >= 30 degrees, contoured/sculpted/concave keywells (like the Kinesis Advantage), columnar/ortholinear layout (like the Kinesis Advantage), maybe trackpoint, palm key (like the Keyboardio Model 01). Nice-to-haves that the Freestyle has: 95 keys, mechanical keys, backlight, somewhat portable/compact, softwareless remapping/macros. Main keyboard criteria for me are: split, tentable to between 30 and 50 degrees, >= 72 keys (more keys better though). Kineses Freestyle Edge, split and tented to about 35 degrees by using a book stand. I haven’t found the perfect keyboard and layout yet, so half of these I still violate myself all the time. If you have to have layers (I do myself), use your thumbs to activate them, and try to avoid key chording as much as possible by having one hand hold the modifiers and the other hit the key. This means keyboard layers are bad, because they promote using additional key chords. The guiding principle of your layout should be to minimize key chords.So use your thumbs to hold down modifiers if possible, and have your modifiers on both sides of the keyboard so you can avoid key chording and distribute the work between both thumbs. The thumb is the strongest finger, and holding down modifiers puts the most strain on a finger. Make all of your modifiers accessibly via both thumbs. ![]() Using caps lock for control encourages key chording, which forces your hand into unnatural positions. That’s why the shift key is on both sides of the keyboard. You’re supposed to hold down the modifier with one hand, and press the key with the other. I did this for years, and I used to love it, but it promotes bad keyboard habits. ![]() Do not use the left caps lock for control.The spacebar is by far the most used key, make sure both thumbs can access it. Do not have only one thumb that can access the space key.I’ve never had serious RSI, and I’m not an expert on it, these rules come from me having minor aches and pains and looking at what was causing it and making adjustments until they went away. Here’s a list of things I think most keyboard layouts for “alternative” keyboards get wrong that I’m compiling here because why not. I use an entirely custom layout, that’s based on the Planck layout. I think it could be easily improved by adding one more row to each side which would get rid of all of the awkward key placements (e.g., brackets, backslash) I use an ErgoDox EZ, but I’m not happy with the number of keys. Touch-typing in multiple languages with non latin script characters on a standard keyboard demands so much more energy than on a touch-device. It is a hard problem imho to do it correctly on standard keyboard. Multi-language physical keyboards are still putting on the stress on the user memory where touch based keyboards provides a constant visual aid. My partner touch-type on QWERTY and Bopomofo and could switch from one keymap to the other easily because she learned this way. I hoped to find keyboard with small e-ink keycap that would change based on the keymap selected on my computer and as I mainly use a laptop without external monitor (I was most of the time on-the-go and did not need to use other language than latin script based ones for work), a visual aid on the screen tend to take to much place. I try moving to Colemak/Dvorak/Bépo a few times but did not put the energy necessary to make the switch. Worst also, I am so used to touch-type with AZERTY that most of the time I stick to it or QWERTY on a standard keyboard. I only use multiple languages on my smartphone thanks to the visual aid of the Gboard. ![]() I don’t due to the mental burden of learning multiple keymap to be honest.
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