As a touch typist (120-140wpm) that types entirely with muscle memory I notice that sometimes I use my left hand to type a key on the right and my right hand to type a key on the left. It really just depends on what finger is closest compared to the last key that I hit with that finger.
Unfortunately this keyboard would mess me up in that regard when I try to click r,t,g,f,v,b with my left index finger or y,h,n,m,j,u with my right index finger.
Just curious, but is muscle tension always a bad thing? Wouldn't that just exercise your muscles and make them more durable to do the same actions again? I'm sure after 20 years of typing these muscles are probably resistant to this kind of activity.
> Just curious, but is muscle tension always a bad thing?
I was asking myself the same question. According to this article, sitting on a yoga ball at work all day would be bad right? Because you're constantly tensing up your muscles in your lower back and abs?
I know I'm only speaking for myself here but sometimes I upvote articles or links just so that people see it and comment on it. Sometimes I'm more interested in what people have to say about something rather than the content itself.
It would be good if the 5tgb and 6yhn keys were repeated either side for us psuedo-touchtypers. (Hasn't Apple got a software patent for a similar thing?)
Can't you just plug in two USB keyboards, preferably identical, one for each hand? I think its been around a decade since I last tried this stunt. At least you could see if you like it, or not.
Going back further there were PS/2 era combiners to connect two keyboards.
I could almost swear I've seen this done at server racks, so you can plug in both a remote (expensive) KVM and/or a local keyboard right in front of the machine. And a similar splitter for video out (this was definitely analog VGA to give an idea how long ago)
It seems like David thinks that the keyboard itself is pretty lame ("By most objective measures, this keyboard sucks") but the fact that it is split makes it worth it.
Are there any keyboards that are 1) split, 2) good keyboards, and c) aren't ridiculously loud and can be used in public?
(I usually do my work in university libraries, and if the reactions to me using my Model M mechanical keyboard in an office told me anything, it's that a quiet keyboard is probably best.)
The Ergodox [1] might be what you're looking for, although there's a significant amount of assembly required. It's been sold on Massdrop [2] before to reduce the cost of the PCBs (~$200 with the maximum number of people participating). While I don't own one, I've only ever heard good things about them.
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[ 2.8 ms ] story [ 55.9 ms ] threadUnfortunately this keyboard would mess me up in that regard when I try to click r,t,g,f,v,b with my left index finger or y,h,n,m,j,u with my right index finger.
Just curious, but is muscle tension always a bad thing? Wouldn't that just exercise your muscles and make them more durable to do the same actions again? I'm sure after 20 years of typing these muscles are probably resistant to this kind of activity.
Or actually... Could we just use two keyboards?
I was asking myself the same question. According to this article, sitting on a yoga ball at work all day would be bad right? Because you're constantly tensing up your muscles in your lower back and abs?
This explains why some people type with only two fingers: no blood in the other eight.
Thanks.
Some look really nice.
There are a few people working on split mechanical keyboards on geekhack as well.
I just need a good price on MX clears, the case, and the rest of the electronics.
EDIT: Didn't realize that Kinesis only makes a single split model. Sorry! The Advantage stuff still stands.
I've had a freestyle for a couple of years, some of the keys are already malfunctioning
EDIT: also F5
Going back further there were PS/2 era combiners to connect two keyboards.
I could almost swear I've seen this done at server racks, so you can plug in both a remote (expensive) KVM and/or a local keyboard right in front of the machine. And a similar splitter for video out (this was definitely analog VGA to give an idea how long ago)
Are there any keyboards that are 1) split, 2) good keyboards, and c) aren't ridiculously loud and can be used in public?
(I usually do my work in university libraries, and if the reactions to me using my Model M mechanical keyboard in an office told me anything, it's that a quiet keyboard is probably best.)
[1] http://ergodox.org/ [2] http://massdrop.com/
http://matias.ca/halfkeyboard/