6 ms·

I wonder why the small spacebar never caught on in the mainstream. I know that the goal of a large spacebar is to be able to hit it no matter where your hand is

by snazz 7y ago

I wonder why the small spacebar never caught on in the mainstream. I know that the goal of a large spacebar is to be able to hit it no matter where your hand is on the main part of the keyboard, but it seems like you could cram in a couple more easily-accessible modifier keys if spacebars where just a little shorter.

throwamay1241 7y ago
I wish there were more modifiers. One for navigation, one for wm control, one for app control, one for input manipulation...
- rusk 7y ago
  Me too - I like the idea of super and hyper from those lisp machines in the 70s ... There is some hope. Some programs (emacs at least) let you map the additional windows and apple keys in meaningful ways ...
  - pault 7y ago
    Check out QMK, and any of the many many keyboards that support it. Every single aspect of the keyboard is programmable, down to the LED animations (it also supports super and hyper). Welcome to your new and expensive hobby. :)
    - waldfee 7y ago
      to further clarify the power of qmk: you literally program (parts of the) firmware in c. so you can put modifiers everywhere you want, make layers until you are going crazy, make keys behave differently on press/hold, absolutely everything. and it's firmware you flash, so no matter where you plug it in, it' all there. qmk is just awesome, check it out https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/ https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/
      - bonestamp2 7y ago
        For the those new to the hobby and terminology, a layer is when you hold/lock one key (or a combination of keys) and then all of the other keys do something different than they did before. The keyboard you're using right now probably has a second layer that is activated when you hold SHIFT. When you hold SHIFT, the letter keys will now be capitalized and the numbers will produce symbols. Many programmable keyboards allow you to have more than two layers. For example, I remapped caps lock to activate a third layer, so now my home row and the nearby keys, can act like my arrow keys and common editing keys like home, end, delete, etc. I also mapped media keys to that layer, so "m" is mute and < > are prev/next song. Now I can do pretty much everything without my fingers leaving the home row. This is great for speed and fluidity as a programmer. I can also use a much smaller keyboard for better ergonomics and a more minimalist look. I actually got into mechs for the ergonomics... I was having fatigue in my right (mouse hand) shoulder. Once I moved to a smaller keyboard (tenkeyless) and my shoulder wasn't turned as far out to use the mouse, my shoulder healed within a couple weeks. Now I'm on a 60% keyboard. It took about two months to fully get used to my third layer, but I feel it was well worth it for the improved speed and flow.
      - blacksmith_tb 7y ago
        For those who don't want / need to write it in C directly there's also a handy configurator[1]. 1: https://config.qmk.fm/#/1upkeyboards/1up60hse/LAYOUT_60_ansi https://config.qmk.fm/#/1upkeyboards/1up60hse/LAYOUT_60_ansi
- slightwinder 7y ago
  > I wish there were more modifiers. They exist. They just need to be utilized. > One for navigation, Control-Key > one for wm control Super/Windows-Key, sometimes also called hyper, but not really. > one for app control Alt-Key > one for input manipulation. Shift & Iso3-Key.
CarVac 7y ago
The best thing to do with a split spacebar is to put things like shift there so you never have to reach again. That's why a lot of ergonomic designs have thumb clusters to better make use of an underutilized finger.
- Aromasin 7y ago
  I didn't really think about it until now, but a shift key in the middle of the keyboard would be fantastic idea. It doesn't really make sense to have two separate keys when one could fulfil the same purpose. I only hit the space key on the right side of the bar with my right thumb anyway, so having something for my left thumb to do would be ideal, while also freeing up 2 keys for other common functions.
  - SuperPaintMan 7y ago
    Honestly just having access to a few extra layers and modifiers on the thumbs can greatly reduce the size of a board and improve ergonomics. I can't use boards without thumb clusters anymore! Once you have access to those layers/mods the amount of finger-extension and wrist shifting while typing is extremely reduced. I took this to a logical extreme with Georgi [1], which is surprisingly usable for programming work despite it's size! I would love to see more boards adopt a chorded [2] approach. I spent a bit too much time with the steno crowd and some of their ideas rubbed off. Even applied to a traditional keyboard simple chords can reduce motion and improve speed. On average I don't have to move more then half a key on Georgi and my wrists thank me for it :) [1] https://www.gboards.ca/ https://www.gboards.ca/ [2] http://docs.gboards.ca/ http://docs.gboards.ca/
    - CarVac 7y ago
      I use a Mitosis which has even fewer alpha keys and even more thumb keys: 3x5 alphas and 2x4 thumb.
      - equalunique 7y ago
        A Mitosis is on my "to build" list. It's wireless design has been influential for a microcosm of wireless split designs, so my collection definitley needs it.
SECProto 7y ago
I used a Japanese keyboard for a while at work, and eventually caved and brought in my own american-style keyboard. I simply could not get used to the tiny space bar, and my typing was suffering.

by snazz 7y ago

throwamay1241 7y ago

I wish there were more modifiers. One for navigation, one for wm control, one for app control, one for input manipulation...

rusk 7y ago
Me too - I like the idea of super and hyper from those lisp machines in the 70s ... There is some hope. Some programs (emacs at least) let you map the additional windows and apple keys in meaningful ways ...
- pault 7y ago
  Check out QMK, and any of the many many keyboards that support it. Every single aspect of the keyboard is programmable, down to the LED animations (it also supports super and hyper). Welcome to your new and expensive hobby. :)
  - waldfee 7y ago
    to further clarify the power of qmk: you literally program (parts of the) firmware in c. so you can put modifiers everywhere you want, make layers until you are going crazy, make keys behave differently on press/hold, absolutely everything. and it's firmware you flash, so no matter where you plug it in, it' all there. qmk is just awesome, check it out https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/ https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/
    - bonestamp2 7y ago
      For the those new to the hobby and terminology, a layer is when you hold/lock one key (or a combination of keys) and then all of the other keys do something different than they did before. The keyboard you're using right now probably has a second layer that is activated when you hold SHIFT. When you hold SHIFT, the letter keys will now be capitalized and the numbers will produce symbols. Many programmable keyboards allow you to have more than two layers. For example, I remapped caps lock to activate a third layer, so now my home row and the nearby keys, can act like my arrow keys and common editing keys like home, end, delete, etc. I also mapped media keys to that layer, so "m" is mute and < > are prev/next song. Now I can do pretty much everything without my fingers leaving the home row. This is great for speed and fluidity as a programmer. I can also use a much smaller keyboard for better ergonomics and a more minimalist look. I actually got into mechs for the ergonomics... I was having fatigue in my right (mouse hand) shoulder. Once I moved to a smaller keyboard (tenkeyless) and my shoulder wasn't turned as far out to use the mouse, my shoulder healed within a couple weeks. Now I'm on a 60% keyboard. It took about two months to fully get used to my third layer, but I feel it was well worth it for the improved speed and flow.
    - blacksmith_tb 7y ago
      For those who don't want / need to write it in C directly there's also a handy configurator[1]. 1: https://config.qmk.fm/#/1upkeyboards/1up60hse/LAYOUT_60_ansi https://config.qmk.fm/#/1upkeyboards/1up60hse/LAYOUT_60_ansi
slightwinder 7y ago
> I wish there were more modifiers. They exist. They just need to be utilized. > One for navigation, Control-Key > one for wm control Super/Windows-Key, sometimes also called hyper, but not really. > one for app control Alt-Key > one for input manipulation. Shift & Iso3-Key.

CarVac 7y ago

The best thing to do with a split spacebar is to put things like shift there so you never have to reach again. That's why a lot of ergonomic designs have thumb clusters to better make use of an underutilized finger.

Aromasin 7y ago
I didn't really think about it until now, but a shift key in the middle of the keyboard would be fantastic idea. It doesn't really make sense to have two separate keys when one could fulfil the same purpose. I only hit the space key on the right side of the bar with my right thumb anyway, so having something for my left thumb to do would be ideal, while also freeing up 2 keys for other common functions.
- SuperPaintMan 7y ago
  Honestly just having access to a few extra layers and modifiers on the thumbs can greatly reduce the size of a board and improve ergonomics. I can't use boards without thumb clusters anymore! Once you have access to those layers/mods the amount of finger-extension and wrist shifting while typing is extremely reduced. I took this to a logical extreme with Georgi [1], which is surprisingly usable for programming work despite it's size! I would love to see more boards adopt a chorded [2] approach. I spent a bit too much time with the steno crowd and some of their ideas rubbed off. Even applied to a traditional keyboard simple chords can reduce motion and improve speed. On average I don't have to move more then half a key on Georgi and my wrists thank me for it :) [1] https://www.gboards.ca/ https://www.gboards.ca/ [2] http://docs.gboards.ca/ http://docs.gboards.ca/
  - CarVac 7y ago
    I use a Mitosis which has even fewer alpha keys and even more thumb keys: 3x5 alphas and 2x4 thumb.
    - equalunique 7y ago
      A Mitosis is on my "to build" list. It's wireless design has been influential for a microcosm of wireless split designs, so my collection definitley needs it.

SECProto 7y ago

I used a Japanese keyboard for a while at work, and eventually caved and brought in my own american-style keyboard. I simply could not get used to the tiny space bar, and my typing was suffering.