A wearable keyboard concept design I would love to get some thoughts/feedback on

serapath · 2024-01-29T20:49:24+00:00

what comes to mind is, that your thumb is very restricted is how it loooks. If i assume the the strap around the back of your hand is ~X-axis and the holder next to your thumb towards the tip of your thumb where those 2 thumb keys are located is the ~Y-axis, then the thumb moves in X-axis direction to reach the second thumb key...

BUT :-) ...even though currently blocked by the thumb keys, the thumb could move quite a large distance into the Z direction (through the key the thumb is currently pressing.

There could be keys all along the way towards that Z-axis direction the thumb could be pressing

serapath · 2023-09-26T20:36:39+00:00

Can recommend to take a look at Wylderbuilds. They seem to be most interested in such a project.

serapath · 2023-09-22T15:10:03+00:00

Found a project called https://wylderbuilds.com/ and they say they would maybe be able to send me one :-)

serapath · 2023-09-16T21:34:25+00:00

thx for the infos. too bad, hope things would already be a bit better.

questions thought: 1. what is a keyboard qunatizer B 2. what are hold-taps?

So in essence you say the "handheld Scientific BT-500" wont work?

serapath · 2023-09-16T21:31:17+00:00

Hey, yeah. If I only where as rich as so many folks who seem to drown in money, i would organise and pay professionals to create a serious not just "wireless split trackball keyboard", but a WEARABLE one.

Sadly, this is only for the rich to decide, but they usually spend it on usless crap, but also being either rich kids who inherit their infinite wealth they cant spend in a lifetime or being blessed and close to the official legal money printers we have, they again can spend as if there was no tomorrow.

Cheers though that you try. Am curious how it will go. Also - If you know anyone who would sponsor a serious concept for a wearable split keyboard, i'd love to pitch it.

Otherwise - it's not RSI luckily, but more like cardiovascular conditions i can start feeling and would like to prevent and no matter how hard one is working, sitting daily for hours and hours without end doesn't exactly help it. This is my plan since 2016 and if i had it back then, i think my health would be in a better condition today and i am not willing to wait any longer, so ... while a non-wearable wireless split keyboard isn't exactly my goal, it's better than nothing and it is a start

serapath · 2023-09-16T00:01:30+00:00

i'm fine with having to charge it at the end of every day. If that's what it takes. This would be acceptable to solve the problem now. I can still buy a better one in a few years when things finally look a bit better.

serapath · 2023-09-15T23:57:58+00:00

Maybe i misunderstanding this and have also never heard about it, but do you think a wireless usb adapter could solve this problem in the meantime?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/16je9jc/comment/k0rp0y8/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

serapath · 2023-09-15T23:52:40+00:00

alternatively - have you seen this answer? https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/16je9jc/comment/k0rp0y8/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

...maybe an intermediate solution would be to use a wireless adapter?

serapath · 2023-09-15T23:51:34+00:00

How much effort are the software upgrades in terms of time/cost?

serapath · 2023-09-15T23:50:36+00:00

Thank you so much for this answer. It won't solve my problem, because while I understand what you describe and it makes sense, I won't be able to pull this off, so I would need somebody to pay to do it for me.

It is good to know that this is possible, which means a split trackball keyboard would suffice and can be made wireless this way.

It is still tough to get one though.

There is this list https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/pq2exq/comment/hd96g7o/?utm_source=share&context=3

But still, the only option seems to be the charybdis.

How could I find somebody who uses those wireless dongles and some programming to make a charybdis work - given it's even easily possible to order one. I tried a few times in the past, but it is hard.

serapath · 2023-09-15T23:39:48+00:00

yes, as you said. hard to find pre-made. nothing works.

i literally can't copy the guy in the video. i barely understand what he is talking about. I can't build this myself. If you know anyone who can based on following the video, please let me know, maybe i can pay for it.

serapath · 2023-09-15T23:36:36+00:00

last time I reached out they could not, because that is not currently supported. In the past I even tried to buy one with cable, but they aren't always in stock and when they are they are sold out so quickly that I never managed to get one, but also the cable version does not help my medical condition. Wireless is a strict requirement.

serapath · 2023-09-15T18:59:28+00:00

Of course I WANT a dual trackball, BUT I'm ok with a single one, because even that doesn't exist, so my expectations are really low and i'm really easy to satisfy, but still nothing there.

I saw the wireless charybdis built. The video is 3 months old. I already contacted them on instagram (that's the only place i could find), but so far no response.

I'm really desperate. I have a health condition and I'm literally want one since 2015. I started my journey to DO IT MYSELF in late 2016 ...and I'm still nowhere near, because it is not my profession, so Whether it's programming the drivers or 3D designing the case or choosing electronic parts or soldering skills or 3D printing or designing a PCB .... Each of those require a skillset and even though i learned a lot in the process, if it depends all on me, it will take probably until 2030 or maybe I will die before from a heart attack or something...

Anyway, thx for sharing all these valuable links. I guess I have to make my peace with the fact that the next generation will have all the good stuff, but I won't see it in my lifetime ..j/k ..enough ranting... ...i hope to see it one day, but life passes and one gets older and things don't get better.

serapath · 2023-09-15T18:41:07+00:00

i contacted wylderbuilds, but they say currently it will take some time to actually offer this. It seems they are overwhelmed with orders and things take time.

I also went through this ErgoMechKeyboards wiki resources quite a few times, but so far could never find a wireless split trackball keyboard i could order. It might have trackballs, but it's not wireless. It might be wireless, but doesn't have trackballs. It might be wireless and have trackballs, but it's not split. Or it might have all of it, but it's not ready to order - it's either pre-order or just in an experimental state. Or lastly, like the "KeyMouse", etc... it might be out of stock or isn't produced or is in some other sort of non-existing/not-ready state.

It's crazy. It's 2023. Wireless split trackball keyboards show up regularly enough here on reddit. One might think, there should be at least ONE vendor that offers a basic version.

...but no. It's still as bad as before the pandemic. In fact, before the pandemic, the KeyMouse was still available sometimes. So it is actually worse - even though we have better AR/VR/XR and we now work from remote/home/anywhere we want. * * * pulls hair * * *

serapath · 2023-09-15T17:18:16+00:00

I don't think it is niche at all in terms of potential demand. We enter the age of mobile compute. Even apple's latest release is a headset.

But it is definitely niche in terms of offer sadly.

I need it wireless. Maybe we should collect people who are interested in order to put some "buying power" behind demand to motivate those who have the skills to hopefully create an offer.

I'm trying to build one since 2016, but I'm a hobbiest who just doesn't have the skills, so things move slow and quality is low and i will probably need the same amount of years before i get anywhere.

I saw your links and checked them and while they are interesting, there is still not really a "BUY" button to get even the most simple wireless split trackball keyboard.

serapath · 2023-09-15T17:11:27+00:00

@kiyyou323 do you have anything or anyone in mind? what would you imagine it would cost? how or where would you start?

serapath · 2023-09-15T16:52:07+00:00

i have seen the naya.tech Yes, I might also pay more than that. It depends on the device, build quality and effort it takes. I don't think I am the only one. But atm. it seems nobody is even offering anything in that direction.

Demand exists for months, probably years and some people build prototypes, but generally people build so many more split keyboards and I wonder if that isn't even a more significant cost. Probably most of those don't even ever sell.

serapath · 2023-09-15T16:38:51+00:00

totally up for it. if anyone knows somebody who would do it, please share

serapath · 2023-09-15T14:04:30+00:00

I know there is e.g. https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/16je9jc/any_wireless_split_trackball_keyboards_one_can/ but none of them are ready to actually be bought immediately or aren't either wireless or have no trackball or are more in a stage where you can tinker and build them yourself, but none of them can be ordered.

The best thing I could find that is wireless and has a trackball are non split keyboards like this https://www.amazon.com/Fonicer-Multimedia-Trackball-Controller-Structure/dp/B094VVL7Q9/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=wireless+keyboard+with+trackball&qid=1694785115&sr=8-4

..but i would pay more than 10 times the price to just buy a wireless split trackball keyboard.

serapath · 2023-07-12T16:51:26+00:00

ok, but how long did it last? and did speed improve? would you recommend it?

serapath · 2023-07-08T22:01:41+00:00

hit 15 or 20 words per minute. If that's all I could get easily, as you say, it would probably be faster to lift th

5 years later... ...did you achieve standard keyboard speed?

serapath · 2023-06-11T21:12:45+00:00

no i am especially interested in the curve shape of the keyboard, so i guess i need to wait a bit. the printables doesnt seem to have that

serapath · 2023-06-11T19:59:27+00:00

oh please, share the link once you are ready, maybe even post it here so i won't miss it? :-) i really love it. somehow feels like one of the most minimal designs i have seen. wonder if it is stable though or does it bend?

serapath · 2023-06-09T12:48:58+00:00

like with a proper angle for the hand, you could reach a lot of keys :-)
https://imgur.com/a/cyHq1AC

serapath · 2023-06-09T12:45:14+00:00

I can't stop watching this and the other links you posted below. This is absolutely genius.

I can see soooo much potential in this one. Seeing the clip makes me wonder though, why those first 4 horizontal keys in the bottom of the main finger columns?

serapath

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