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.