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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. :)




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