Niches inside of niches. I’m one of the few who enjoys a split ergo with > 60 keys and low-pro caps that doesn’t want to build it myself. The sofle choc looks promising as does the pinky4[1] if it can be made with all chocs.
From observation - the deeper down the split keyboard rabbit hole you go, the fewer keys there are. They all seem to ditch rotary encoders in favor of more thumb buttons.
I keep forgetting that I have volume mapped to my rotary encoder. I still use it as a button, albeit one that requires comparatively large amounts of force to depress and register as compared to standard switches.
There are paper texture-like screen protectors for iPads and they don't really affect the image. I wonder if the same surface can be used so the keys have better texture for typing.
Maybe, but the iPad does have the benefit of an optically bonded display. If the displays were recessed under the surface, as they were on the Optimus Keyboard, I suspect you'd see more blurring from that kind of matte coating as the light is scattered more.
https://wiki.ai03.com/ is what a lot of people use. Though it's probably easier nowadays to use an RP2040-based ProMicro form factor daughterboard so you only need to handle key placement.
I built this a few years back. I ordered the parts from different vendors, but I got the PCBs from JLPCB.
Still use it daily and love it. A few things broke but it was easily repairable.
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[ 3.4 ms ] story [ 42.8 ms ] threadhttps://github.com/climent/SouffleKeyboard
If you go any further down the ergo rabbit hole you'll probably end up with fewer keys than that though, typically 34-36 in total, e.g:
https://github.com/davidphilipbarr/Sweep
https://github.com/pashutk/chocofi
[1]: https://github.com/tamanishi/Pinky4
From observation - the deeper down the split keyboard rabbit hole you go, the fewer keys there are. They all seem to ditch rotary encoders in favor of more thumb buttons.
And yes, I actually use it.
https://lowprokb.ca/products/ambients-silent-choc-switches
Ended up designing a 64-key one with displays: https://github.com/tzarc/keyboards/tree/main/Djinn -- can't see myself going any fewer than that.
I haven't looked around for a while but I remember seeing several prototypes but not a commercially available one.
It should sell well in some segments.
The Elgato Streamdeck does this but not for keyboard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj7GYU-wedo
I don't see how you could avoid putting smooth glossy plastic on the keys, which feels terrible to type on.
Firmware... QMK: https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/ || https://docs.qmk.fm/porting_your_keyboard_to_qmk
Disclaimer: I'm a QMK Maintainer.
I've gone back to a normal keyboard for now but maybe I'll give this a go at some point.