Re: Custom Keyboards

Here's my perfect keyboard:  Ergonomic, like the first MS Natural
keyboards, but with a cursor device between the hands.  Either
operated with the thumbs, like the RollerMouse [1], or a joystick,
like the ThinkPad and other computers had (or still have?)

[1] http://www.contourdesign.com/rollermouse/rmpro-sm.jpg
[2] http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/sj/384/zhai4.jpg

I'm getting really tired of moving my arm a foot to the right to use
the mouse.  That surely wastes at least as much time and effort as the
Qwerty layout.

I asked the makers of RollerMouse about this a few years ago.  They
replied that it would take $150,000 to make the first one. That seems
*way* high, but of course I'm not in the business.  I would pay a few
hundred to buy two:  One as a proof of concept, and one more with
improvements.

Steven

--- In [email protected], "dmwhetstone" <dmwhetstone@...>
wrote:
>
> 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/
> >
>