# The Keyboard Rabbit Hole ## Preamble I received a tablet for Christmas that could act as a mini-computer. I thought I could get a small keyboard to pair with it to be a productivity machine at home and on the go. I didn't think too much about it and was focused primarely on colors and the fact that the keys were angled slightly inward for ergonomics. At the same time (weeks leading up to Christmas), we constructed a home office in a spare room. This setup would also need a keyboard so I started taking the keyboard hunt more seriously... ## Everyone's First Keyboard ![[fullsize_keyboard.png]] | Section | Description | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Alphas | Alphabet Characters | | Modifiers | Ctrl, Alt, Windows, Shift, Caps Locks<br>Keys that modify the next key input<br> | | Whitespace | esc, tab, space, enter, backspace | | Numrow | Number and Symbol row above the Aphas | | Function Row | Function keys vobe numrow<br>Doubles as a media row for modern layouts | | Symbols | Other symbols mostly to the right of the Alphas and Numpad with the tidle off to the left. | | Nav Cluster | Collection of 9 navigation keys to the right off the main key-section | | Arrow Keys | Below Home Cluster | | Numpad | Far right of the keyboard | After doing (not enough) looking around, I was convinced that I needed the full-sized keyboard since it had all of the physical keys I could need (numpad, insert, delete). The Numpad, Nav Cluster, and Function Row are genuinely useful at work and I felt that if I had a home office, I would struggle to be as productive. [This Video](https://youtu.be/DWYxofVGIB0?si=z7Id2Nt4wnnmN2JB) is an introduction to what keyboards lie beyond the 100%. The main complaint about this layout is that it is bad for mouse ergonomics and not portable *“you probably got this as your first keyboard because you feel like your compensating if you go for less”* ## Better Mouse Ergonomics ![[tkl_keyboard.png]] | Sections Removed | Alternative | | ---------------- | ----------- | | Numpad | Use Numrow | The second most popular size of keyboard is the Tenkeyless (well really it's 17 less keys) which removes the numpad. This keyboard only loses some redundant buttons while significantly improving mouse ergonomics. The utility of the numpad should not be waved away however. It is more comfortable and quicker to use a grid for bursts of numbers rather than the Numrow. I didn't realize how much I relied on the numpad for Excel until it was taken away. ## Bring Back The Numpad - Introduction to Layers ![[75_keyboard.png]] | Sections Altered | Description | | ---------------- | --------------- | | Nav Cluster | Removed top row | The Nav Cluster contains a few anitect keys that are not even found on many modern full-sized keyboards. - *Print Screen* -> Use the Snipping or Screenshot tool - *Scroll Lock* -> What does this even do? (turns arrow keys into window scrolling) - *Pause* -> This one is even less used (use to pause displays so the operator could read the terminal screen) We can reintroduce the numpad with this layer by using a layer. *Shift* is a layer key that does nothing on it's own but transforms the Alphas into capital letters when pressed in combination. Using QMK software found on any decent mechanical keyboard, we can add a layer using *Space.* This introduces the idea of Mod-tap where a key is one action when pressed and another when held. *Space* will still type *Space* when tapped, but when held, it will transform the following: ![[75_layer_1.png]] ## Extend Layering to Greater Improve Ergonomics ![[60_keyboard.png]] | Sections Altered | Description | | ---------------- | --------------------- | | Function Row | Layered in the Numrow | | Nav Cluster | Layered in Alphas | | Arrow Keys | Layered in Alphas | | Symbols | ~ layered | The 75% keyboard proved that we don't need a physical key to maintain functionality. If anything, layers are actually more usefil because we can key our hands on the alphas rather than having to jump all around the keyboard. We can jump all the way down to the 60% keyboard (skipping over the 65% which keeps the Arrow Keys and some Nav Cluster). The Function row is now layered under the Numrow using the *Fn* to enter the layer. Many keyboards have a Media Row on the Function key which we do lose access to at this step. The Arrow Keys and Nav Cluster are added to the Numpad layer (by holding *Space*) and mapped as: ![[60_layer_1.png]] All keys are now closer and quicker to press that the traditional placements. ## Homerow Mods ![[40_keyboard.png]] | Sections Altered | Description | | ---------------- | ------------------- | | Numrow | Layered into Alphas | | Symbols | Layered into Alphas | More layers means we can make a Sympad layer under the Numpad layer. By holding *Fn*, the entire left side of the keyboard becomes scattered with symbols. Shifting the keys to be ortholinear and then staggered with finger length makes the numpad intuitive again. ![[40_layers.png]] The modifier keys (*Windows, Alt, Ctrl, Shift*) are extremely useful keys buy yet they are used exclusively by on finger, and its the weakest. We can move these modifiers onto the homerow by using the Mod-Tap behavior again. ![[40_ortholinear_keyboard.png]] This is a gamechanger once implemented. No more finger contortions to do shortcuts so to copy and paste. On non-homerow keyboards I find myself typing dc or dv because I am used to D transforming into *Ctrl*. It's interesting to me that this is probably the most useful keyboard mod, yet the Modifier keys maintain all the way down to 40% keyboards. ## Split Ortholinear Keyboards ![[40_split_keyboard.png]] The previous keyboards were all making meaningful steps in poductivity and ergonomicse, but started to develop issues itself such as the staggered numpad and sympad making touch typing unintuitive. Furthermore the staggered nature of the keyboard is an artifact of how typewriters needed to mechanically lay out their keys so the levers wouldn't get stuck. The keyboard can also be split so that the halves of the board can be separated to shoulder distance to reduce the hunched affect from forcing our hands together at the middle of the keyboard ## Endgame - Remove Modifiers ![[36_key_keyboard.png]] We've already shown that the modifiers are better on the homerow so we might as well remove those keys entirely. There is no longer the Numpad, Symbol Cluster, or Modifier Clusters. With the split keyboard we now see how powerful the thumbs are and yet they have been relegated to a single key in all previous layouts, the spacebar. Each spacebar can be broken into two or three keys which brings other heavily used keys into a much better position. The *esc*, *space*, *tab*, *enter*, *delete*, and *backspace* are now all on the thumb cluster which means the hands no longer need to constantly jump around makes the strongest fingers more useful. As for layers we can use the Mod-tap behavior in the following way: - *esc*: media controls - *space*: navigation controls - *tab*: mouse controls - *enter*: Sympad - *delete*: Numpad - *backspace*: Function pad ![[endgame_layers.png]] For more detail behind the philosophy of this layout, I recommend reading the git repo for the [Miryoku Layout](https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku/tree/master/docs/reference) For a great video on layering: https://youtu.be/8wZ8FRwOzhU?si=RGRrV_3k8l1xfbKM ## Away Form QWERTY The astute among you might have noticed that the letters on the split keyboard where not organized in the traditional arrangement. This is because they are laid out in the Colemak dh layout. When I first started this keyboard journey, I heard inklings of different layouts but it always seemed a bridge too far for me... But since this became a journey of ergonomics, when I bought my first split ortholinear keyboard, I decided to go all the way. The qwerty layout haphazardely came about as typewriters became mainstream. There was no conspricey to make typing harder, it just organically came about. Since it is now the standard, it is very hard if not impossible to change. [This video](https://youtu.be/188fipF-i5I?si=Xaey6fedIjfVKfzE) does a great job of showing the assumed origins and why we can, but won't, do so much better. The qwerty layout sucks objectively (https://cyanophage.github.io/). The most used keys are not on the homerow and there are plenty of same finger bigrams (common letter pairings like *ed*). The amount of new layouts seems overwehming, but the short answer is Colemak dh. It is significantly better than qwerty for ergonomics and effort and is *relatively* easy to learn. Even just swapping *e* with *j* vastly improves ergonomics (see video linked above). ## How are is it to Learn a New Layout? It's not easy. But, it feels really good to flex your brain in this sort of way. Break the muscle memory and force yourself to have to think about every key again. It took me a week or two of about 30 minutes a day to fully memorize the layout and be at around 15 - 30 WPM (words per minute). I got a bit too ambitous and attempted this layout at work. It was debilitatingly slow. I would avoid email and Teams because of how much mental effort it would take to type simple thoughts. I couldn't have a realtime text convstation with someone. I decided to switch back to qwerty for work but the problem was my muscle memory was broken. I spent 20 minutes panicing that I wasn't even able to touch type qwerty anymore. But eventually it "clicked" and it was back to normal. This experiance made me think that a new layout just wasn't worth it. I paused training for a couple of days, but after some thinking, I realized I was just going too fast. As of writing I am only using Colemak dh for when I am working from my office and my WPM is about 45. I've been typing Colemak dh for about 25 days. The WPM training is good benchmark but it decreases significantly when free typing which means it hasn't quite clicked. ## In Sum I highly recommend everyone get a mechanical keyboard that allows for homerow mods and a numpad layer. The reduction of finger contortions and hand movement, along with the ease of learning makes the clear first step. Everyone should also get a split ortholinear keyboard, but it is not a must. Touch typing improves along with the clear ergonomic benefits. Most folks should not worry about switching layouts. It is a lot of work for not too much gain. Furthermore it makes qwerty harder to use, and thats something everyone should be good at. **Source files for keyboard layouts** [[keyboard_layouts.drawio]]