类型: IC
作者: Suruga Devil
发布时间: 2016-05-29
11:51:13
更新时间: 2016-05-30 04:33:19
原链接:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=82473.0
1. Introduction
Hello all! This is a
project which I have been dreaming about making a reality
for quite some time now. Recently I figured out what I
really wanted from the layout, and six hours in the layout
editor resulted in this. I present to you The Leviathan
Keyboard, a 154-key ANSI compatible keyboard with 50
custom-mappable keys. It has a left-side numpad with two
extra rows and can be mapped to be either a standard
lefty-numpad with extra keys or a mirrored numpad with extra
keys for right-handed users. It has 3 macro clusters and an
extra function row.
I only use these descriptions to give you a rough idea of
how this keyboard could be laid out, but since it will be
fully mappable, you could make it do whatever you’d
like.
2. Why this board was designed
About a year ago, I bought myself a HHKB Pro 2,
seeing its compact design and unique functionality as
something I could use extensively. Through the course of the
past year, I realized that if used as intended, meaning
almost exclusive use in text editors such as Vim, that yes,
this keyboard excels and is probably the best board ever
designed for text-editing work. That’s great and all, but I
use Vim for perhaps an hour a week, tops, so I began to
realize that the major selling point of the HHKB, the
innovative layout, is actually a crippling flaw for the
regular user. Here’s why. In recent times, users have used
their keyboard for navigating a computer’s interface less
and less, and have began to use their mouse as a
navigational tool more and more. The UI of most modern
operating systems reflect that and it is a fact which cannot
be denied. So, hear this:
Minimalist layouts are directly beneficial to a user in
proportion to the amount of time the user keeps
both hands on the keyboard.
This seems obvious once you read it, but I think this
fact seems to slip the mind of most of us. What I realized
was the the HHKB was not as useful to me as many other
keyboards would, since I don’t keep both hands on the
keyboard when I’m navigating UI’s. I’m sure this statement
will cause the elitists to come out of the woodwork and say
that if you can navigate your whole computer while never
touching the mouse then you will be more efficient, and yes,
that statement is true, but the hard reality is that most of
the time when we use our computers, we either aren’t using
applications which allow for that sort of functionality, or
are so used to GUIs that it be immensely aggravating to
learn such a keyboard-reliant system.
So what’s the
solution for someone who only has two hands on the keyboard
when they’re actually typing, like me (and probably a lot of
you)? The solution, of course, is a keyboard in which
the vast majority of functionality can be invoked with
one hand.
I placed the numpad on the left so a user could keep
their hand on the mouse when entering numbers, and added a
2x1 key on the right side of the numpad to make it possible
to press shift and type with the same hand. I added six keys
to the right side to allow mapping of more obscure math
symbols to make inputting complicated strings easier. The
inclusion of a dedicated Delete key on the right side of the
numpad reduces the amount of hand contortion required to
delete text when you make a typo. I added multiple clusters
of unmapped/macro clusters to allow the user to modify
the keyboard to their desires. Want a dedicated key to open
your most-used programs, to have a 1-key save function for
photoshop, or to type your email address with one keystroke?
Done. The second function row can be mapped to output the
same scan codes as the IBM PC-122, for you guys out there
who need hardcore emulation. In order to get enough keycaps
for this board, you will either need to purchase one printed
and one blank ANSI set, or get two blank ANSI sets.
With
all of that being said, the 1-key functionality of this
board does not detract from the streamlined usage of
keyboard-only navigation. All of your regular shortcuts will
still be there. The only difference here is that not only do
you get that extensive two hand functionality, you also get
extensive one hand functionality built in. No matter how you
use this keyboard, the experience will be fast, familiar,
and streamlined.
3. Images and example layouts
Bolded font indicates current layout
design!
Layout 01:
More
Layout with a standard ANSI 104-key keyset and
blanks:
Blank layout:
Example mappings:
Required keys in addition to a standard ANSI 104-key
set:
(Assuming usage of the example mappings as displayed
above)
Plate Diagram:
(NOT FINALIZED!
No padding has been added yet, this is only a quick
reference)
Extended Version:
Just in case
you have a desk that takes up half your room, like I do, and
want more functionality and better looks.
Keyboard Layout Editor Permalinks:
http://goo.gl/e0duAV
http://goo.gl/RiJ66h
http://goo.gl/AXrOKE
http://goo.gl/0X5n6q
Layout 02:
More
Layout 03:
More
**4. Technical details
**
1.5mm aluminum
plate mounted
Cutouts in plate to allow for switch
maintenance
NKRO supported
Fully programmable
Teensy++
2.0 controlled
No LED indicators
Mini-USB
connector on the left side of the top of the enclosure
Costar
and Cherry stabilizer cutouts, Costar Cherry stabilizers
shipped (Costar unavailible ATM)
Switches most likely
NOT included
Cable most likely NOT included
Enclosure
will be slightly angled, not flat with feet or entirely
flat
Enclosure will be constructed of milled aluminum,
depending on cost
Enclosure will be bead-blasted and
anodized, depending on cost
If aluminum is too
expensive, milled Delrin or UHMWPE plastics will be
considered
Due to the unusual length of the board, a
matching wrist wrest may be designed
Large rubber pads
on the bottom of the board
Clean styling, no
spaceship-esq design here.
Questions regarding
design-
-Would you guys be interested in a copper plate
instead of aluminum? It’d be the same cost but would give
the board unique styling. I don’t believe that
air-tarnishing would be a problem, and would eventually give
the board it’s own unique character.
-Aluminum vs
Delrin?
-Color anodization? How much extra would you be
willing to pay above the raw/black price point?
-If
the enclosure ends up being aluminum, would you like a
matching aluminum wrist wrest? Metal’s cold, so I could
probably get Delrin or cork inlays for the top of it. The
problem is that it’d weigh 7 pounds… would that be
kosher?
-Would a USB-A connector be preferred to a
Mini-USB connector? USB-A is the gold standard, is nearly
indestructible, and allows for symmetrical cables. On the
downside you’d likely need to buy a new cable.
5. Logistics
If I could go ahead and order all the parts to build
a prototype of this thing, I would have done so already.
However, am not experienced in either PCB or enclosure
design, and as such I’m stuck here dreaming. The things
which need to be done in order to start up this project are
as follows-
-Finalize plate design
-Design PCB
-Design
enclosure
I will pay to have these pieces designed in
CAD- contact me if you have the skills, the time, and the
portfolio.
Input and suggestions are more than welcome!
Oh, I should note that this board will be produced
regardless of whether or not many people want it. In other
words, this isn’t strictly a group buy, but ideally it would
be, as to keep the costs from touching the stratosphere.