Re: Custom Keyboards

About a year ago, I started doing just this.  I had an idea, and I wanted to see it happen.  
I've designed the keyboard, had keycaps made (expensive), and written the firmware 
around an Atmel AT90USB chip.  I've built a rudimentary non-working prototype using 
keyswitches scavenged from an old keyboard (Alps blue--best keyswitches ever made, 
IMHO). I've tested the hardware and firmware in another keyboard, so I know that it 
works.  I just haven't yet had the time or money to complete the project.  Building a one-
off keyboard is expensive.  The keycaps alone cost me $500.  I'm hoping at least the 
members of this group won't think me insane for spending that kind of money on 
something like this, as most people would.  I just really want to see one of my ideas 
become a reality for once.

If anyone else is seriously interested in designing their own keyboard, I would love to 
share my ideas and my experience so far.  I also have no problems sharing my firmware 
for anyone who thinks they could use it.  I also plan on retrofitting my Kinesis Contoured 
keyboard with the same internal hardware and firmware.  Even though it's programmable, 
there are some things I cannot do with it that I can with my firmware.

David

--- In [email protected], "Chuck Esterbrook" <Chuck.Esterbrook@...> 
wrote:
>
> > --- In [email protected], "Giles Orr" <gilesorr@> wrote:
> > My idea of the perfect keyboard would be the Model M15 (the Model M
> > with the ability to split) with straight keyboard rows and the Dvorak
> > layout. And perhaps Kinesis scooping. I just said it was my idea of
> > the perfect keyboard - I didn't say it was likely.
> 
> I've been meaning to post about custom keyboards for awhile now and
> Giles thoughts above are the perfect segue.
> 
> Many of us have our own idea of the perfect keyboard. Given one's own
> specs, what would it take to get it made? Can such a task be
> outsourced to one company? How much would it cost? Is there a minimum
> volume? Where would one even start?
> 
> I imagine the answers might vary as a function of the specs and yet
> there is probably much in common even between different designs.
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> -Chuck
> -- 
> Aging: The Disease, The Cure, The Implications
> June 27, 2008 at UCLA
> http://www.mfoundation.org/Aging2008/
> ::
> http://cobra-language.com/
>