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I 3d printed a custom sized keyboard using open source software and hardware designs.
(lemmy.dbzer0.com)
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/45765963
The design is based on the excellent Dactyl keyboard, generated with https://ryanis.cool/cosmos/ and it runs the excellent qmk firmware. It is handwired:
and I have also made a palm support using inkscape and openscad
All printed on a reprap prusa i3 derivative.
This helps me use my computer with less pain, so I want to call out all the wonderful projects and people who contribute to them which made it possible.
Total cost? $60 aud, amortised filament ~15 bucks worth maybe? and a lot of my time haha.
Very cool!
Honest question, does using a keyboard like this make you forget how to use a standard one?
I know op did it for the pain, so it's a moot point. But if I did it just because it's cool, and to avoid injury in the future, would I mess up my normal keyboard abilities?
As someone who runs an ergodox ez with a custom key layout and who goes in to work from time to time using normal QWERTY keyboards (both English and German configuration), you do not lose anything. It's incredibly easy to switch between every config you have.
I also think most people would appreciate a split keyboard setup because it's so much better for posture and health and comfortability. Would highly recommend.
Oh now this is different than I've heard, some others have had issues switching back and forth. So maybe I will give it a try, once I've got qwerty up to a decent speed and I feel comfortable with it.
Right now it's a problem because if I'm in a hurry, I'm tempted to type the old way, or a broken mixture of the two that messes with what I've learned. Not good. Gotta slow down and do it right, bah..
Thanks for the recommendations, I'm gonna put a 3d printed split board on my list of things I'll definitely get to some day and totally won't get pushed off the back of the furthest back burner lol
Lol. For context, it took me maybe two weeks to get back up to full speed on a new typing layout. When I moved to Germany they moved some keys around on standard qwerty and it took me a couple of days.
If you're already touch typing I think most changes are easy to adapt to and don't overwrite previous muscle memory. Your brain is powerful, believe it is and it will work.
That's good to know, thanks! I'm still just learning to touch type. I spent a few decades typing fast enough but always looking at the keys. This year I've started learning touch typing, I'm only a half dozen hours in, so still pretty new.
But when I get good I'll take this into consideration! Thanks!