Unofficial Keyboard Layouts


Something about these 3/4 width keys feels... funny. I may just be too used to the Pandora keyboard and all they similarly need is getting used to. Hmm...
Here's a more Pandora-like variant in which all the keys have the same size, except for space which is 2 wide. It's also staggered using only half-key offsets, like on the Pandora.

http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/layouts/9af77f3bb84b0b5683884ed674853079

layout5.png
 
You Escape/Backtick key - Is Escape (Fn) modified? If so, I'd probably swap that to be the default behaviour and have the backtick as (Fn)+Escape
 
You Escape/Backtick key - Is Escape (Fn) modified? If so, I'd probably swap that to be the default behaviour and have the backtick as (Fn)+Escape
Yes, Esc is Fn modified. This is intentional, even though I admit that Esc is probably more frequently used than backtick. The reason is that I want to avoid accidental presses of Esc. This can be a problem in dpad intensive gaming situations, since pressing Esc will typically exit the game. So it's a feature to make it relatively hard to accidentally press Esc. Most games will just ignore backtick.

Also I think it's better to conform to how it is on normal keyboards: backtick and tilde along with the numbers and symbols, Esc along with the F-keys.
 
Something about these 3/4 width keys feels... funny. I may just be too used to the Pandora keyboard and all they similarly need is getting used to. Hmm...
 Here's a more Pandora-like variant in which all the keys have the same size, except for space which is 2 wide. It's also staggered using only half-key offsets, like on the Pandora.

http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/layouts/9af77f3bb84b0b5683884ed674853079

layout5.png
I like this (I don't look at what the keys mean, I'm remapping them anyway if I don't like the default layout).But please, please, split the space button in two normal sizes buttons. Making it bigger destroys the whole "Remap it like you want" thought. I'm sure dvorak fans are agreeing.

And then something which is just an idea: maybe add half-width keys at the border of the first/third row where there is now nothing? If they are too small for someone that person can just not use them (maybe don't give them default mappings and just leave it to the user), but I think being at the border would make it easier to press smaller buttons and some people are able to type with way smaller keyboards anyway (look at a lot of smart phones with full keyboards, usually they have much smaller keys).

Edit: I didn't manage to actually make a Layout with this website and share it, but I put the stuff from "Raw data" in a spoiler, so if you copy that...

Code:
{backcolor:"#ddddddd"},

[{w:1.5,h:0.75,w2:1,h2:1},"L1\n\n\nRShift",{w:1.5,h:0.75},"L2\n\n\nRMeta",{x:8,w:1.5,h:0.75},"R2\n\n\nRAlt",{w:1.5,h:0.75},"R1\n\n\nRCtrl"],

[{x:3.5,c:"#aa0000",h:0.75},"",{x:0.20000000000000018,c:"#00aa00",h:0.75},"",{x:0.20000000000000018,c:"#0000ff",h:0.75},"",{x:0.20000000000000018,c:"#aaaa00",h:0.75},"",{x:0.1999999999999993,c:"#00aaaa",h:0.75},"",{x:0.1999999999999993,c:"#aa00aa",h:0.75},""],

[{y:-0.5,c:"#cccccc",a:5,f:9,w:3,h:3,w2:1,h2:1},"\n\n\n\n\n\nDPAD",{x:9,a:4,f:3},"Y\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPgUp"],

[{y:-0.8999999999999999,x:11.1,w:0.8,h:0.8,w2:0.5},"\n\n\nIns",{x:1.1999999999999993,w:0.8,h:0.8},"\n\n\n<--"],

[{y:-0.6000000000000001,x:6.25,w:1.5,h:0.75},"START\n\n\nLALT"],

[{y:-0.75,x:3.6,a:5,f:7,w:2,h:2},"\n\n\n\n\n\nLeft nub",{x:2.8000000000000007,w:2,h:2},"\n\n\n\n\n\nRight nub"],

[{y:-0.75,x:11,a:4,f:3},"A\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHome",{x:1},"B\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEnd"],

[{y:-0.625,x:6.25,w:1.5,h:0.75},"SELECT\n\n\nLCTRL"],

[{y:-0.375,x:12},"X\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPgDn"],

[{y:-0.8999999999999999,x:11.1,a:0,w:0.8,h:0.8},"\n\n\nDel",{x:1.1999999999999993,a:4,w:0.8,h:0.8},"\n\n\nKPEnter"],

[{y:-0.8499999999999996,x:6.25,w:1.5,h:0.75},"PYRA\n\n\nMENU"],

[{y:0.25},"~\n`\n\n\n\n\n\nEsc","!\n1\n\n\n\n\n\nF1","@\n2\n\n\n\n\n\nF2","#\n3\n\n\n\n\n\nF3","$\n4\n\n\n\n\n\nF4","%\n5\n\n\n\n\n\nF5","^\n6\n\n\n\n\n\nF6","&\n7\n\n\n\n\n\nF7","*\n8\n\n\n\n\n\nF8","(\n9\n\n\n\n\n\nF9",")\n0\n\n\n\n\n\nF10","_\n-\n\n\n\n\n\nF11","+\n=\n\n\n\n\n\nF12","?\n/"],

[{c:"#99bb77",w:0.5},"",{c:"#cccccc"},"Tab","Q","W","E","R","T","Y","U","I","O","P","{\n[","}\n]",{c:"#99bb77",w:0.5},""],

[{c:"#cccccc"},"LShift\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCaps","|\n\\","A","S","D","F","G","H","J","K","L",":\n;","\"\n'","\n\n\n\n\n\nEnter"],

[{c:"#99bb77",w:0.5},"",{c:"#cccccc"},"Fn","LMeta","Z","X","C","V","B","N","M","<\n,",">\n.","","",{c:"#99bb77",w:0.5},""]
 
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Using half-steps rather than third-steps per line makes the letter part of the keyboard more symmetrical, but I'm not sure I'm a fan.


Although ultimately to me I'm not sure it's that important. I can type more than fast enough on a small keyboard with either one-third step, one-half step, or no step at all about as well - I guess because I can't touch type with my thumbs, and I assume thumbs are a little more touch sensitive and good at finding key tops than fingers are, dunno.


I am more of a fan of having the standard (US keyboard) symbols above the number keys - that's awesome! I do a lot of shell work on the Pandora and it's taken me a long time to get half-adjusted to the symbol locations, whereas I've spent the time to get used to full-sized US keyboards in the past, and to be honest the difference between US and UK/QUERTZ aren't that great.
 
Using half-steps rather than third-steps per line makes the letter part of the keyboard more symmetrical, but I'm not sure I'm a fan.


Although ultimately to me I'm not sure it's that important. I can type more than fast enough on a small keyboard with either one-third step, one-half step, or no step at all about as well - I guess because I can't touch type with my thumbs, and I assume thumbs are a little more touch sensitive and good at finding key tops than fingers are, dunno.


I am more of a fan of having the standard (US keyboard) symbols above the number keys - that's awesome! I do a lot of shell work on the Pandora and it's taken me a long time to get half-adjusted to the symbol locations, whereas I've spent the time to get used to full-sized US keyboards in the past, and to be honest the difference between US and UK/QUERTZ aren't that great.
The pandora keyboard uses half steps. A normal keyboard uses a 1/4 key offset between the QWE and the ASD row, and a 1/2 key offset between ASD and ZXC. It's a bit weird if you think about it, but that's how it is.

Here is another layout that uses normal keyboard offsets again:

http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/layouts/20123976d47ddd7044f2a49ef17f8a12

Its 1 key too wide to use wb keys on the pandora width. 13 max
Why 13 max? The number of keys per row dictates the width of the buttons, but is there any reason why 13 works but 14 doesn't?
 
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Who says each key needs 10.5mm width?
He does calculations based on a switch which he would like to be used for the Pandoras keyboard. But actually it seems doing so would raise the Pandora's price by about $100.
 
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Feel free to use any switches you want, but keep in mind the current keys are 1 cm in between, also on the video of the nub test board there is 12 spots for keys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaGORZQB4kE

Edit: How about moving the metakeys to the in between nubs row, and having catarl and alt to where one expects to find them, namely bottom left and to right of bottom left.

Corner-fn has always been bad imo.

Hitting control and then a F-row lower down doesnt feel right to me.

Splitting the space i also agree with.
 
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Feel free to use any switches you want, but keep in mind the current keys are 1 cm in between, also on the video of the nub test board there is 12 spots for keys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaGORZQB4kE#t=0
It's not primarily because of the switches but because of the principle. Large part count, lot's of manual assembly. Did you actually read any of the posts in your thread?

Edit: Of course nobody of us is a keyboard building specialist. Maybe you know why it's not that expensive after all and just forgot writing it in the other thread.
 
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There are more keys total now anyhow, and we got by on the old layout.  Adding more keys to a fixed width confinement means available switches is restricted accordingly.  The next standard step is 6x6mm, so unless something suitable is sourced it cant be both (good switches in plentiful amount)
 
There are more keys total now anyhow, and we got by on the old layout.  Adding more keys to a fixed width confinement means available switches is restricted accordingly.  The next standard step is 6x6mm, so unless something suitable is sourced it cant be both (good switches in plentiful amount)
I think you first need to give more solid evidence that individual switches are a viable option (instead of a keymat like we have now), before we can let keyboard layout proposals be guided by requirements that follow from that.

As far as I understand, they are not a viable option. It would be too expensive, too error-prone, and it would add too much thickness.
 
Finger width and restricted space still means the number of keys is going to be a compromise, 105 keys isnt going to fit any which way its done.

I favour the keys that are in use the most.  A-Z+øæå space . , enter shift ctrl and alt. If that isnt good the typing experience for just about everyone is going to suffer accordingly.

As for the electrical side of things any option is fine. 

Buckling spring/spring/ switches are rated at 50million+, hall effect sensors to go beyond that, but its still better than domes of any kind. 5 mill guaranteed cycles is the top end for something that will fit. (that i could find)

Its about typespeed and feel, and as such, maybe a luxury, but then again an onscreen keyboard is the extension of skimping on input devices.
 
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Added a second(improbable?) six action button Pyra layout to the first post. B)
 
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I think all combination keys should be in the lower rows. So I don’t like ctrl and alt above the rest of the keys. That is just not comfortable and not intuitive.

Still don’t like the coloured keys too, but I consider it less important than the ctrl / alt position.
 
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