Ultimate Hacking Keyboard – Why you need to buy one, Ultimate configurability(crowdsupply.com)
crowdsupply.com
Ultimate Hacking Keyboard – Why you need to buy one, Ultimate configurability
https://www.crowdsupply.com/ugl/ultimate-hacking-keyboard/updates/1911
4 comments
Even though you can use Autohotkey and similar software to remap your layout but it's limited in various aspects so as it turns out hardware-level remapping has no substitute. It's also nice to create keymaps, save it to the onboard EEPROM and be able to move your UHK across different computers without ever dealing with (OS-specific) remapping again.
The staggered columns are indeed offset to create an angle but it's more comfortable to be able to adjust the angle and the distance between the keyboard halves.
The staggered columns are indeed offset to create an angle but it's more comfortable to be able to adjust the angle and the distance between the keyboard halves.
It is still almost always worse. Storing the mapping on a large device doesn't make sense, when you can store a script online or in a small storage device if internet access is a problem somehow, and it works with every computer that has a standard keyboard. Just like the drivers, script has to be written only once, but has the benefit of sharing with any other user for free without requiring special hardware.
The benefit seems to be low level systems where it is hard to script the key mappings (assuming drivers work). But do you really write your code, i.e. spend a significant percentage of time in them, or in moderns OSs?
As for comfort, buy a ergonomic keyboard that is cheaper and static and will force you to adapt the correct posture. Especially if the problem is the small additional angle required to touch type, those keyboard solve it.
The benefit seems to be low level systems where it is hard to script the key mappings (assuming drivers work). But do you really write your code, i.e. spend a significant percentage of time in them, or in moderns OSs?
As for comfort, buy a ergonomic keyboard that is cheaper and static and will force you to adapt the correct posture. Especially if the problem is the small additional angle required to touch type, those keyboard solve it.
"Storing the mapping on a large device doesn't make sense" - I agree about this, the large device being a bulky host computer. Various OSes have various (sometimes quite severe) limitations regarding remapping and the "script" that you mention is also OS-specific which is a pain if you use multiple OSes.
>"Storing the mapping on a large device doesn't make sense" - I agree about this, the large device being a bulky host computer.
Strawman. The large device is the keyboard you need to lug around. Tell me, is your keyboard designed for use with a computer?
>Various OSes have various (sometimes quite severe) limitations regarding remapping and the "script" that you mention is also OS-specific which is a pain if you use multiple OSes.
No. It isn't a pain, it called hacking and you only need to do it once and it is free and shareable. So in this sense only one person has to do it once and it just works for everyone else from then on.
Strawman. The large device is the keyboard you need to lug around. Tell me, is your keyboard designed for use with a computer?
>Various OSes have various (sometimes quite severe) limitations regarding remapping and the "script" that you mention is also OS-specific which is a pain if you use multiple OSes.
No. It isn't a pain, it called hacking and you only need to do it once and it is free and shareable. So in this sense only one person has to do it once and it just works for everyone else from then on.
> Tell me, is your keyboard designed for use with a computer?
Of course it is.
> No. It isn't a pain, it called hacking and you only need to do it once and it is free and shareable.
It's not a pain for some who have the skills and are willing to spend enough time. The big difference is that we enable users to make this work in an intiutive, platform-independent way.
Of course it is.
> No. It isn't a pain, it called hacking and you only need to do it once and it is free and shareable.
It's not a pain for some who have the skills and are willing to spend enough time. The big difference is that we enable users to make this work in an intiutive, platform-independent way.
Update:
The keyboard boasts itself as a the ultimate hacking keyboard, yet the only "hackable" thing that can be done with it is configuring keys and macros, which can already be done for free on any OS and with any standard keyboard. The keyboard doesn't deserve its name in my opinion. It also costs 220$ (200$ as an early bird) .
Rhetorical question: Who will benefit the most from this project?
The keyboard boasts itself as a the ultimate hacking keyboard, yet the only "hackable" thing that can be done with it is configuring keys and macros, which can already be done for free on any OS and with any standard keyboard. The keyboard doesn't deserve its name in my opinion. It also costs 220$ (200$ as an early bird) .
Rhetorical question: Who will benefit the most from this project?
The UHK is hackable from a number of standpoints. You will not only be able to configure it with our cross-platform, open source configurator application, but
* modify the firmware at the source level
* repair it more easily than regular keyboards given its repair friendly design: https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/blog/2015/06/17/ifixit-g...
* mount it onto external objects like an armchair: https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/blog/2015/04/20/introduc...
* We'll open source the electornics, making not only the firmware and host side configurator application hackable but the electronics design, too
* We have yet another one-of-a-kind stretch goal to be announced that will massively add to the above points
* modify the firmware at the source level
* repair it more easily than regular keyboards given its repair friendly design: https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/blog/2015/06/17/ifixit-g...
* mount it onto external objects like an armchair: https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/blog/2015/04/20/introduc...
* We'll open source the electornics, making not only the firmware and host side configurator application hackable but the electronics design, too
* We have yet another one-of-a-kind stretch goal to be announced that will massively add to the above points
I'm using Autohotkey now, but I cannot have same shortcuts when I am using a Android or Apple device. This would negate the need.
Of course you can. Powerful remapping tools exist on both OS X and Android.
You can also access the system's api directly, instead of buying hardware to do that for you under the illusion that you hacked something.
You can also access the system's api directly, instead of buying hardware to do that for you under the illusion that you hacked something.
Please name such tools on OSX and Android that enable to user to create kemaps and layers in a similar fashion and preferably doesn't require the user to root the device.
Accessing the system APIs have no use in alone. The solution should work out of the box without hacking for ages.
Accessing the system APIs have no use in alone. The solution should work out of the box without hacking for ages.
You can find them online. Some might require root some don't. They can also enable complete programmability and deep iteraction with the system if needed, unlike macros.
Using scripts works out of the box without hacking for ages as well. You only need to write the script once, and then share it with the world. This is the point I made in other comments already which you read but ignored the point.
Using scripts works out of the box without hacking for ages as well. You only need to write the script once, and then share it with the world. This is the point I made in other comments already which you read but ignored the point.
Instead of making blanket statements, please name these Android and OSX applications.
I know from experience that scripts do not work out of the box. Often times their syntax is nontrivial. I also know quite few limitations of xmodmap/xev keymaps and autohotkey. Using a configuration application does work out of the box.
I know from experience that scripts do not work out of the box. Often times their syntax is nontrivial. I also know quite few limitations of xmodmap/xev keymaps and autohotkey. Using a configuration application does work out of the box.
Sorry, when I said Apple, I meant iOS.
There is an app that allow for key combo config on Android. I'll edit post when I can recall it.
There is an app that allow for key combo config on Android. I'll edit post when I can recall it.
Also take a look at the ergo dox.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ergodox-ez-an-incredible-...
I played with one of the prototypes. It's quite nice.
I'm not a shill.
I really just want to see this succeed, so that I can get mine :)
I really just want to see this succeed, so that I can get mine :)
Ergonomic aspect is also misguided since touch typing correctly on a standard qwerty keyboard will not bend wrists, so no need to split the keyboard in half. Your hands need to be at an angle to type (look at the keys, columns are offset to create an angle), if they are perpendicular you need to learn touch typing correctly.