Behind the Scenes of Issue 58

Quick news, TheBoard December competition, a telnet based literary magazine, etc.

Sorry, I'm a little late, this editorial is still in progress… It may change in the next few hours. :D

Quick news

Some general news which didn't make it to this issue but are worth mentioning:

• r/mk passed the 1M member mark – Is that good or bad news?
• KiCAD 6.0 released

TheBoard December competition

Do you want to win a Keeb.io kit of your choice? Hear me out:

1. Dress up your keyboard for Christmas.
2. Take a photo of it.
3. Resize the photo to reasonable dimensions/filesize.
4. Send it to TheBoard podcast (the.board.podcast at gmail dot com).

That's it. And don't forget to check the next episode for the winners.

Don from TheBoard is a nice guy just like Danny from Keeb.io. Don has been running his show for more than 5 years now (omg) and he hosts a competition each month. With a huge chance to win because of the few entries.

Sure, this is not a low effort giveaway – not the "upvote and comment anything" type –, usually you have to listen half an hour into an episode to figure out the details but this time you can spare this effort because I've just summed up what to do.

So send your pimped up keyboard and win something nice.

Btw, just in a few months I won tree times the first prize (my choice of Keeb.io kit) and once the second prize (sticker and magnet pack) and for this month I'm out of the game so you have better chance. ;)

ADM-5 and New Session - a telnet-based literary magazine

Do you feel you're a total freak for hyperfocusing on everything keyboard-related? Well, writing on keyboards week after week is probably even more freakish. However, not nearly as freakish as editing a literary magazine in 2021 – which is accessible only via telnet.

Depending on your age you might have to look up what telnet is and how to enable it in your operating system. To say the truth, I can't remember if I've ever used it.

So I looked up "enable telnet in windows" and a few minutes later I read this zine connected to issue2.anewsession.com.

Give it a try.

Mailbox

I've just received a package from Talpkeyboard's Yousuke. It's already too dark here for a good photo but I'll post the goodies I received later:

I asked for four spring-loaded pin headers, instead Yousuke stuffed in the parcel some extra PCBs as a surprise… :D Thanks!

---

Well, that's it for now I think.

Thanks for reading. Keep learning and building – and check the posts in this issue! Cheers, Tamás

Orbitouch keyless keyboard review

Chyrosran22 reviews the keyless orbiTouch device – and is not really impressed.

According to the official website, OrbiTouch Keyless Keyboard was developed to help persons with injuries or disabilities type painlessly. "It is currently the only ergonomic keyboard to use domes instead of keys to type and mouse."

Speaking of pain, this product is probably ONLY for people with disabilities. At least that's what Chyrosran's reaction suggests:

To sum up his opinion:

What pee-brained moronic dickweed farmer thought that this was even a remotely acceptable idea? – Chyrosran22.

Well, it wasn't a farmer but Dr. Peter McAlindon, a doctoral student in Industrial Engineering at the University of Central Florida, who developed this technology after he started to experience repetitive stress injury in his hands due to long hours of typing papers.

Using comprehensive research, Dr. McAlindon was able to design a keyboard that minimized hand and wrist motion, thereby alleviating pain and allowing for more productive use (source).

OrbiTouch has won a number of industry awards praising design and ease of use. Even someone in the comment section below Chyrosran's video points out that, although the build quality is indeed atrocious for something with a $400 price tag, it helps people with disabilities:

One of my coworkers has a daughter I believe with cerebral palsy and she doesn't have any ability to do fine motor movements so she can't use a mouse and relies on this keyboard. […] He's told me that his daughter who went through college with them, but went through six or seven of them in the process. […] She was able to get to around 12 [WPM] – ireakhavok.

I have to add that there were some people without any disabilities who were apparently more successful with getting accustomed to the orbiTouch compared to Chyrosran:

SP Star Sacramento switch

ThereminGoat reviews the SP Star Sacramento switches.

In addition to reviewing the linear Sacramento switches, ThereminGoat also introduces SP Star Studios and their whole line-up.

On one hand, SP Star has been one of my more enjoyed factories based on their early and Intermediary Period releases as they were extremely strong performing switches for the price point and relative obscurity they offered. On the other hand, I don’t entirely think the SP Star Sacramentos, or really any of the other dozen releases it feels like they have had in the past few months are quite up to that same level of detail – ThereminGoat.

Read the full article here.

The cat project

The cat is a gamepad or a shortcut-tool by Ape_Devil – with STLs and building documentation.

The cat is a 3D-printed open-source gamepad or shortcut tool based on Arduino code.

Project page: https://www.lynx-workshop.com/

Currently, there are two versions available:

• the cat-joystick (source) and
• the cat-25-buttons version (source).

Kleks keyboard

The Kleks is a low-pro monoblock split by Radomir Dopieralski with extreme pinky offset.

This low-profile monoblock split with extreme pinky stagger and strange but cool-looking circular routing is Radomir's (aka deshipu) next keyboard project after the Kamina.

It was brought to my attention by Kristina's column at Hackaday (Keebin' with Kristina) and the project page is hosted on Hackaday too.

Ever since I've built the Kamina keyboard I have been very happy with it. I use it everyday for work and leisure, and it has improved my typing habits and lessened wrist pains. Encouraged by this, I also made some tries to use a two-part ergonomic split keyboards, such as Chocolad keyboard – but somehow I feel that I really prefer single-piece keyboards – they are easier to place on the desk. So now I want to make a keyboard that combines the advantages of the hardcore ergonomic designs, with my own preferences – deshipu.

Project page: https://hackaday.io/project/182998-kleks-keyboard

Gerbers: https://hackaday.io/project/182998-kleks-keyboard#menu-files

The keyboard doesn't simply features CircuitPython but also deshipu's uKeeb, a minimalistic USB keyboard library for CircuitPython:

I took the opportunity with this new keyboard and worked a bit on my uKeeb CircuitPython library. With the custom HID descriptors we can have an NKRO keyboard, but there is a small problem: the bitmap device that this uses won't work in BIOS or with legacy KVM devices, as those expect a BOOT device. Fortunately there is a way around that: when the host expects a BOOT device, it must send you a special message telling you that, so we can switch to that protocol when needed. The support for receiving that message was recently added to CircuitPython in version 7.1.0, so we can now add the NKRO code to the library by default – deshipu.

RP2040 Stamp

The RP2040 Stamp is a RP2040-based controller with LiPo charger and Neopixel – breaking out all GPIO pins.

The RP2040 Stamp is a hand-solderable SMD/TH module by Solder Party / arturo182 that integrates the Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU with 8MB of FLASH, an LDO, LiPo charge management (including a charge LED), a reset button, and a Neopixel. It breaks out all the GPIOs as well as USB, SWD, BOOTSEL, RST, and the voltage pins.

Dimensions: 25x25mm or 1x1 inch. Castellated edges with 2mm pitch.

Quite pricey thought ($12), at least compared to the Pi Pico or even an Adafruit KB2040 Keeboar. Of course you have to incorporate shipping fees (plus VAT and customs) when comparing offers, so it may turn out you end up with spending less depending on your location.

Anyway, check this cool flashing + testing jig:

Remember my flashing+testing POP jig?

The board that it's testing, the RP2040 Stamp, is now available!https://t.co/A8rxZNrPsP pic.twitter.com/dLqVFNdb8Q

— arturo182 (@arturo182) December 21, 2021

Force-curve measuring machine

A DIY keyswitch force-curve measuring machine by romly to be presented at Comiket C99.

A dedicated DIY force curve measuring machine designed and 3D printed by Romly.

The rig features a stepper motor, a load cell, OLED display and 7 buttons to operate the device and SD card to store the data.

Here is the full article in Japanese. (I have to say Google Translate is pretty useless this time.)

• It has a load cell in the moving part.
• Measures the force during the release phase too.
• The measurement data is saved in a CSV file onto the SD card.
• The zero position (measurement start) is determined automatically.
• Measurement intervals between 0.01-1mm.

Unfortunately, it's not open-source, take it as inspiration.

#自作フォースカーブ測定器 名付けて #軸の秤 が動いてるところ。やっぱりOLEDディスプレイ最高過ぎる。M5stack卒業した甲斐がある。はー1bitしかない解像度も低い最高。それに測定値もこれなら十分ちゃんと測れていると思う。#軸の本 #自作キーボード #MechanicalKeyboard #Arduino pic.twitter.com/td7PlI6gPK

— Romly@C99 2日目 東テ-37a (@Romly) December 7, 2020

Keycap bleach/fading test

Results of an experiment investigating the effect of sunlight on an anodized keycap's color – committed by flehrad.

Anodized metals in the full sun will definitely fade, but how much will they fade through a window and flyscreen?

Even though this experiment seems to be a follow-up to last week's anodized aluminum discoloration post – Don even refers to that post in the video –, he set up this trial three months ago! He must be a freakin' oracle.

So a bit of an experiment that took 3 months led to this video. How much sun fade happens in full spring morning sunlight? I put my Mountain Keyboards keycap to the test by sitting it against my balcony window for 3 months – flehrad.

To say the truth, I can't really see any difference at this point that I couldn't explain with the lighting and reflections, but the experiment continues!

Sweep case

An open-source 3D-printed case for the Sweep keyboard, designed by Knifa.

This is a 3D-printed case for the Sweep 2.x by @davidphilipbarr, intended to be printed in a soft TPU. It features cutouts for the switch pins and solder joints so the board can sit completely flush.

The case was built around the Sweep 2.1 specifically, but it may also fit the Sweep 2.

I designed this case to help it sit flush afterwards. […] It's printed in a soft flexible rubber so it also acts as a bit of a cushion – Knifa.

STLs available on Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5171857

Zeal Clickiez

Zeal's new clicky switch features a secondary spring leaf which can turn the switch into a tactile or linear.

Our long awaited premium clicky switch is finally here! After years of development and countless rounds of prototyping, samples, and delays, what better gift is there than to release the Clickiez on Christmas day? (source)

I don't usually feature group buys or preorders but this switch is somewhat special:

Clickiez are the world's first 3-in-1 MX switch that can transform into three different MX style switches via a non permanent mod to the leaf.

Featuring a patent pending multi mode click leaf design, this switch can be transformed from clicky to tactile and linear switch modes by simply moving the secondary switch leaf within the housing.

This mod requires opening the switch housing and we have to wait a few days for a demonstration video.

Until then, here is a short sound test:

And the price? Well, they are expensive…

Clickiez [Pre-order] product page.

Touchboard

The Touchboard is an all-in-one human input device concept by the German Butterfly Company.

Well, usually I'm sick of buzzwords and the general marketing bullshit, so reading "The most advanced all-in-one human input device in the world!" at the top of a website without any photos of a real product should have completely turned me off to featuring this project.

Still, I thought this concept deserved a mention and it turned out to be a good decision: I managed to source some photos of a working prototype.

First things first, check the official Touchboard website and watch the teaser:

The bottom line of the Touchboard philosophy: accessibility to all relevant controls of your frontmost desktop application at your fingertips.

More specifically:

There are plenty of input devices, like orthogonal keyboards, MIDI instruments or even Apple's touch bar, but these only solve some of the many interaction problems of the modern desktop workflows. We combined all the best ideas and cutting-edge technologies in just one single device (patent pending) that follows a simple philosophy: accessibility to all relevant controls of your frontmost desktop application at your fingertips. Besides typing, executing shortcuts and controlling the cursor, our interface also allows novel interactions the world has never seen before. All of this without the need to move within or between devices (source).

I was quite disappointed to read all the bombastic taglines without seeing the actual product, so – to make sure – I wanted to confirm that this is only a concept at the moment.

I reached out to the Touchboard team, and Philip, responsible for marketing, was kind enough to send me a bunch of photos of a working prototype. I've included some of those.

All in all, I have mixed feelings about the physical layout. Apparently, it's a step back from ergo splits with regards to, well, ergonomics. But on the other hand, it also opens up several new opportunities.

Hardcore keyboard enthusiasts use a plethora of logical layers intensively but the live indication would make layers accessible to a much wider audience. And that's just the first thing that comes to mind.

In addition, I'm sold on the combination of patterns in relief and homing dashes on a touch screen. :D

I'll try to keep an eye on the Touchboard project and wish the dev team good luck with turning this great concept and promising prototype into a kick-ass product.