(having split space on each side of the keyboard has been discussed and tried. We weren't able to balance a layout with it)
That is a horrible idea. shifting around the alpha-numeric keys from the standard is a poor idea. If you are talking about being fair to left and right handed people, the only other best solution would have been to split the space bar into two single sized buttons on the left and right. I'm not totally sold on the idea that a right orientated spacebar is a real concern on a keyboard designed to be used with your thumbs.
Well, I also said the splitting them to each side thing. Not that it matters, because I doubt it would change and I'm fine how it is now.
Two buttons on the right, is the same bias towards right as one button for space on the right.
Never said it wasn't. I was specifically talking about the space button.
Its hard to understand what you mean, could you draw it? To me it sounds like you are speaking about the space button onto itself as if it wasnt in a system with the rest. That would be a way to carry over logic from 10-finger boards that dont apply.
The crux here is that using a second button for space on the right, only brings some parts of 10finger looks, but none of the benefit. It removes functionality (dedicated compose), is less efficient (since you cant move to the next button) has worse tactility (unevenly collapsing membrane) and modularity (international layouts, advanced layouts)
You select between the two:
Looks Functionality Efficiency Feel Modularity
10finger-ish Worse Worse Worse Worse
Symmetric Better Better Better Better
Not sure what you mean by "can't move to the next button". I'm pretty sure "feel" was already address by ED and you don't have it in your hand, so Idk how you came to that conclusion. Plus having a bigger key helps to distinguish it from the other keys,so please stop implying/saying it is just for looks.
Only function and modularity. Not everyone uses compose and I don't understand why it needs its own key anyway.
If we really go the one key route, one should be on the other side and both could be blank.
You cant move in a straight line from button space → button because with noncentered doublewide space that makes it button → space → space → button.
You cant make a bar type key without stabilizers, of which there are two types, none of which are to be found in a pyra, look at your desktop keyboard. A lesser way of doing it is to employ more membranes, and/ scissors atop those, but none of that is the case. The only thing you can optimize is the individual membranes and size thereof (which i think isnt the case either) so you are down to an overall change of membranes throughout, that does not a bar key make.
Its not a bar type key in terms of 10-finger boards, it just looks like that, on every level. Function, or feel.
The most effective part is the leftmost button, adding something onto it on the right doesnt help. If you forego efficiency, to learn bad habits and find space, thats all you got, if you cant hit the rest of the keys without looking, feeling the whole doublewide doesn't help you. That is slower.
We shouldnt be left to decide between best feel and best efficiency. Doublewide makes this non-ideal, and singlewide works better for both, at the same time, every time.
You could be helped by doublewide for the first time trying the keyboard in pitch darkness, but then there is the backlight, so even for the premise of typing only space, that doesn't work.
If you don't have dedicated full layout buttons, you need compose even more. Dedicated compose is better than non-dedicated. Even if you never use it, that only means you get a configurable button extra.
