Aldoo

Facing with the same problem (not exactly: my keyboard have a few more keys than the Corne), it always felt more disruptive to me to interrupt the flow with layer switching than to stretch the pinkies to the outer column (or middle fingers to an extra row) for uncommon characters.

So I used Bépo (and now use Optimot) with very little adptations.

It implies outer column stuff must move either to thumb clusters (for the most used keys) or to layers, to give priority to letters.

A split, 2 hands, keyboard that sometimes can be used one-handedly should not be the same as a one hand keyboard.

Somehow, it should include all the uncompromising layout of a typical split keyboard, plus a set of keys on the left side, replicating the right side keys, but maybe with some adaptations. It could also be just another layer on the left side, but I don’t believe this would cover the need expressed by op.

It could be interesting to develop a project from idea (3).

What shape should have the left hand side for instance, assuming it should have ~40 keys under a single hand?

If you are allowed to configure the keymap on all your host systems, the way to go is to choose a keymap having all required characters (for instance, standard Bépo), install it everywhere, and have your keyboard produce (sequences of) keycodes depending on this.

An alternative would be to input Unicode characters via XCompose under Linux and WinCompose under Windows. The latter claims to be compatible with the former, so it’s worth a try (but you need to be allowed to install WinCompose, of course!)

Other Unicode input methods based on alt+number/ctrl+shift+U+number/… all are OS specific unfortunately.

Edit: btw, PM me if you want my QMK macros for dead key based diacriticized characters.

Considering that you never press enter next to space, there is no same finger bigram involving these two keys, so I believe it makes sense.

Right hand consonants must have been the reason indeed (t, s, r, n, … ). It is counterbalanced by the fact that punctuation is on the vowel side, but I suppose it doesn’t count as much.

I used to have space on the right, but it was pointed to me that, with my layout (for a reason I cannot remember!), space on the left would be more convenient. So I switched.

However the key symmetrical to space is not enter, but backspace, both keys being the most used in my thumb clusters (I used to have both on the same side, and it was quite bad).

Enter is on the left thumb, next to space.

Are these flat-dish keycaps OK for you?

Have you considered other profiles? There are quite a lot of available models you can print (most notably: Chicago Steno, LPX, even clones of commercial ones such as MBK, LDSA or CFX!).

Maybe we both suck with soldering irons?

Concerning choc switches, I believe the main reason I am still using only MX keyboards is the lack of silent choc switches. So yes, current choices really are too basic.

Nonetheless I started a choc keyboard project (currently on standby, hopefully not forever!), and I think I like the 20g gChoc switches I ordered for it (I don’t know if I will be ok with the noise or if I will finish tape modding the whole lot… ).

Wow, I did not expect such a thorough answer!

I still only had the time to skim through it, but I believe it deserves is own post!

Good point about Dactyls.

I would love to be able to use mine without wondering when this or that part will get disconnected and when the board is due for the workbench again…

On the other hand, knowing I can have exactly the layout I need, it would be difficult to accept paying 400 or more for a better built board when you already know it has a suboptimal layout (or features in general).

Speaking of which, a good comparison between KA360 and Glove80 would be interesting…

It’s an interesting design. I wonder if that could work with high profile MX switches and keycaps.

In Dactyls, the reason keys often face inward is as to keep key tops is close to each other as possible. Facing outward would obviously have the opposite effect, but with low profile keys it is less noticeable.

Now, there is one case you really want the keys closer, it is between 2 columns belonging to the same finger.

Convex in the X direction, concave in Y one, it’s a saddle shape, isn’t it?

Edit. Ah no sorry it’s more subtle: there is a stairway effect. The keys face outward, but those in the middle are indeed deeper!

AFAIK, you are not missing anything, although there is some work being done by lowprokb.ca (toward a silent linear choc switch, then maybe later a tactile one).

Also there exist (somewhat tedious) mods to make choc switches silent: tape mod and its variant with dental floss.

Probably you could not do better than actually 3d-printing the stl (or have it printed)…

The starting point is whether you need an ergo keyboard. Is there some specific pain point out fatigue you want to alleviate? Are there some parameters you need to fix first?

The next obligatory step, assuming you need (or want for whatever reason) an ergo keyboard, is a visit here: https://jhelvy.shinyapps.io/splitkbcompare/

Select interesting layouts, print them 1:1 scale and try placing your fingers on the print. Then you will see whether the Moonlander us for you (maybe you need to fold the sheet along the thumb cluster hinge, in the case of this keyboard), or if some other 2d layout is better.

(There will remain the question whether a 3d key well would not work better, à la kinesis advantage/dactyl/glove80/…)

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It’s a pretty new issue. It seems latest Jerboa requires lemmy 0.18 (which surprises me since this server version is just two days old… )

But actually I am posting this comment with Jerboa right now. So the app complains but still works anyway.

It looks like a MoErgo Glove80 to me.

Funny, it reminds me of one I built in 2022: