A $14 “ergo” keyboard from surplus parts

Luc 11 years ago |

Well that's literally a hack.

On OS X though, https://pqrs.org/osx/karabiner/ will, among many other features, share the state of modifier keys between keyboards. That way you don't need to get out the hack saw.

melling 11 years ago |

I'm not sure how much keeping your wrists straight helps with RSI. When people thought it carpel tunnel syndrome the idea was to keep your wrists straight. The real problem seems to be the cheap rubber dome or scissor switches that only activate when you bottom out the keys.

lfowles 11 years ago | |

I did a radical switch to an Alphagrip keyboard, which is still membrane switches (as far as I can tell). No more random twinges of pain. The primary difference is that I no longer wrest my wrists on anything (even a gel type pad), but it could also be that I don't use as much force to activate the keys when my fingers are already there.

melling 11 years ago | | |

This "game controller"?

http://www.amazon.com/iGrip-Ergonomic-Keyboard-by-AlphaGrip/...

How effective are you with it? Looks like a bit of a learning curve.

lfowles 11 years ago | | |

Yep, that's the one! I can get around ~60wpm (100wpm on a qwerty keyboard) with normal text and passable at programming. Took about a month of daily typing lessons to get that fast and I still need a regular keyboard around for annoying key combos.

noir_lord 11 years ago | |

Varies from person to person.

In my case switching from a regular mechanical to a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 at home and work completely relieved all the issues I was having with wrists and forearm pain.

Easily the best 100 quid I ever spent (for the pair).

tlarkworthy 11 years ago |

A more expensive but less error prone and a better looking solution would be extending the link between this split keyboard http://www.amazon.com/Kinesis-Freestyle-Solo-Ergonomic-Keybo... I am frustrated with mine that I can't place the halves wider and was considering something similar.

jonhohle 11 years ago | |

The Matias Ergo Pro uses a standard TRRS connector between its two halves. You can buy essentially any length on <insert your favorite commodity cable dealer here>.

fsiefken 11 years ago |

Is there someone who sells assembled open hardware ergodox or variant keyboards already? You can DIY but my time is limited. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ5qWBOG8Oo

muaddirac 11 years ago | |

Massdrop.com often has a pre-built option for their ergodox sales. (You do pay a premium for that service, though)

thelambentonion 11 years ago | | |

There's currently an Indiegogo campaign going on for pre-assembled Ergodoxes [1]. I'm not really comfortable with early-stage hardware crowdfunding, so I'll still be sourcing and building my own.

[1] https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ergodox-ez-an-incredible-...

p932 11 years ago |

Datahand are also an alternative to traditional keyboards: http://octopup.org/computer/datahand

extra88 11 years ago | |

You can't buy one new anymore, you might be able to find one on eBay or something.

muaddirac 11 years ago | | |

I'm a little late to jump in but I've been watching this project with interest over the past couple of years:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41422.25

It's not complete yet, but most of the pieces are there.

cardiffspaceman 11 years ago |

I was thinking "ergo" was like, I have hands, "ergo" I have a keyboard. And now I feel silly.

lowmagnet 11 years ago |

This would be a good way to mount an ergodox.

dot 11 years ago |

$100 says we'll see this on Kickstarter within the month.

foone 11 years ago | |

Seems unlikely. This page is at least 16 years old.

elinchrome 11 years ago |

This guy is a bit much between the hair, the kneeling chair, and the custom keyboard. And yet the world is undoubtedly better off for having people like him around, tinkering.

Hooray!

joshu 11 years ago | |

You are taking potshots at the way he looks? Congrats, you are a bullying asshole.