The best thing to do with a split spacebar is to put things like shift there so you never have to reach again.

That's why a lot of ergonomic designs have thumb clusters to better make use of an underutilized finger.

I didn't really think about it until now, but a shift key in the middle of the keyboard would be fantastic idea. It doesn't really make sense to have two separate keys when one could fulfil the same purpose. I only hit the space key on the right side of the bar with my right thumb anyway, so having something for my left thumb to do would be ideal, while also freeing up 2 keys for other common functions.

Honestly just having access to a few extra layers and modifiers on the thumbs can greatly reduce the size of a board and improve ergonomics. I can't use boards without thumb clusters anymore! Once you have access to those layers/mods the amount of finger-extension and wrist shifting while typing is extremely reduced. I took this to a logical extreme with Georgi [1], which is surprisingly usable for programming work despite it's size!

I would love to see more boards adopt a chorded [2] approach. I spent a bit too much time with the steno crowd and some of their ideas rubbed off. Even applied to a traditional keyboard simple chords can reduce motion and improve speed. On average I don't have to move more then half a key on Georgi and my wrists thank me for it :)

[1] https://www.gboards.ca/

[2] http://docs.gboards.ca/

I've been using an ergo infinity for a few years but this is the first time I've seen a "gergo". I just bought one! I like that it gets rid of all the keys I don't use on the ergo. Namely, the num layer and the far reaching thumb cluster keys. Everything else is on a layer anyway.

I use a Mitosis which has even fewer alpha keys and even more thumb keys: 3x5 alphas and 2x4 thumb.

A Mitosis is on my "to build" list. It's wireless design has been influential for a microcosm of wireless split designs, so my collection definitley needs it.

Just as a warning: my wireless Mitosis dropped keystrokes, and I never actually preferred the split, but I liked the layout so much that I eventually made a hand-wired, hard-wired, non-split version.

https://i.imgur.com/q4umLuL.jpg

I remember upvoting that when it was posted... did it go on r/mechanicalkeyboards or r/olkb? I don't recall which one.

Looks like a great board to type on. The Atreus I made in 2016 had clicky Gateron Green switches, and it was great to type on. That was before Box Navies even existed. If they were around back then, I probably would have chosen them. :)

I have a TECK 207 (or 227) that comes with a split spacebar. The firmware it's not super configurable (I would love to put a TMK/QMK firmware) but it has at least a way to create a second layer, so with the left space I have the "inverse T" IJKL cursor keys on "homerow", PgUp/PgDown, Home, End.

I use the program "xcape" [1] to map CapsLock to Esc when no other button is pressed and Ctrl when it is pressed together with another button.

Similarly you could remap the Spacebar to e.g. R_Shift with Xmodmap and let xcape emit a Space when R_Shift (which is now the Space bar) is pressed in isolation.

[1]: https://github.com/alols/xcape

>I didn't really think about it until now, but a shift key in the middle of the keyboard would be fantastic idea. It doesn't really make sense to have two separate keys when one could fulfil the same purpose.

The 42-key Atreus keyboard achieved this for Shift, Control, and Alt. I recommend it as a fantastic ergonomic keyboard for people who enjoy minimalism.

I use a Japanese keyboard and I remap the "無変換" key (normal sized key just to the left of the space) as tab. Then I remap the real Tab key to be Esc and the Caps Lock to be Ctl. It's very handy for using vim keybindings :-)

I wish there were more modifiers. One for navigation, one for wm control, one for app control, one for input manipulation...

> I wish there were more modifiers.

They exist. They just need to be utilized.

> One for navigation,

Control-Key

> one for wm control

Super/Windows-Key, sometimes also called hyper, but not really.

> one for app control

Alt-Key

> one for input manipulation.

Shift & Iso3-Key.

Me too - I like the idea of super and hyper from those lisp machines in the 70s ...

There is some hope. Some programs (emacs at least) let you map the additional windows and apple keys in meaningful ways ...

Check out QMK, and any of the many many keyboards that support it. Every single aspect of the keyboard is programmable, down to the LED animations (it also supports super and hyper). Welcome to your new and expensive hobby. :)

to further clarify the power of qmk: you literally program (parts of the) firmware in c. so you can put modifiers everywhere you want, make layers until you are going crazy, make keys behave differently on press/hold, absolutely everything. and it's firmware you flash, so no matter where you plug it in, it' all there.

qmk is just awesome, check it out https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/

For the those new to the hobby and terminology, a layer is when you hold/lock one key (or a combination of keys) and then all of the other keys do something different than they did before.

The keyboard you're using right now probably has a second layer that is activated when you hold SHIFT. When you hold SHIFT, the letter keys will now be capitalized and the numbers will produce symbols.

Many programmable keyboards allow you to have more than two layers. For example, I remapped caps lock to activate a third layer, so now my home row and the nearby keys, can act like my arrow keys and common editing keys like home, end, delete, etc. I also mapped media keys to that layer, so "m" is mute and < > are prev/next song. Now I can do pretty much everything without my fingers leaving the home row. This is great for speed and fluidity as a programmer. I can also use a much smaller keyboard for better ergonomics and a more minimalist look.

I actually got into mechs for the ergonomics... I was having fatigue in my right (mouse hand) shoulder. Once I moved to a smaller keyboard (tenkeyless) and my shoulder wasn't turned as far out to use the mouse, my shoulder healed within a couple weeks.

Now I'm on a 60% keyboard. It took about two months to fully get used to my third layer, but I feel it was well worth it for the improved speed and flow.

For those who don't want / need to write it in C directly there's also a handy configurator[1].

1: https://config.qmk.fm/#/1upkeyboards/1up60hse/LAYOUT_60_ansi

I used a Japanese keyboard for a while at work, and eventually caved and brought in my own american-style keyboard. I simply could not get used to the tiny space bar, and my typing was suffering.