Building Your Own Extra-Large Keyboard

Ant writes "ModAsylum.com has an article on how to make your own extra-large homemade keyboard." Or, if you're handy with tweezers, extra-small.

Comments

Final pic

[Anonymous Coward]

If you don't want to wade through 9 pages with two sentences in each and sometimes even a picture, this is the last page with the picture of the finished keyboard: http://www.modasylum.com/guides.php?guide=37&page= 10

Re:Final pic

[mirko]

And as this still imply being limited by MySQL connections being maxed out, here's the link to the picture in itself.

Interesting note.

[Anonymous Coward]

Even the best keyboards are at about 85% of the size of optimum because they were modelled after typewriter keyboards to make it easier for typists to adapt.

The first typewriters actually had properly sized keys, but they discovered that an unfortunate degree of jamming would occur as efficient typists would outpace the little hammers with the letters on them! Rather than trying to use some revolutionary alloy in the hammers to decrease their weight, it was determined that a cheaper solution was needed for mass-production -- and they settled on shrinking the keys, which slowed down even the best typists to an acceptable 50-60WPM (although later models did decrease hammer timing.)

So today we are left with an antiqutitated model, and as with dvorak key layouts larger keys provide a technically better alternative that is unfortunately incompatible with what most current typists are comfortable and efficient with.

Re:Interesting note.

[Moraelin]

As far as I know (or "the way I heard that legend") the problem QWERTY "solved" wasn't that of speed. It was one of physical proximity. If you haven't owned one of those old purely-mechanical typewriters, basically:

1. The mechanism was basically based on thin metal levers, with a key at one end and a small metal hammer with an embossed letter on it at the other end. You pressed the key, the little hammer was pushed towards the paper. (You had to actually hit the keys pretty hard, too, especially when you wanted 2 carbon copies.)

2. Because it was a mechanical contraption, rather than wires, the whole mechanism was arranged in the only way that was easy to make and robust to operate: with as little overlap as possible. I.e., for keys that were physically near each other (e.g., A and Q, or A and S), the hammers would also be near each other.

3. Unfortunately, due to the very construction, the closer two hammers were, the easier it was to jam the typewriter if you pressed both at the same time. E.g., if you pressed Q and W at the same time, the machine would pretty much always jam, whereas pressing Q and P at the same time would almost never jam.

So the problem was basically not how fast you typed, but whether you pressed two adjacent keys at the same time. E.g., if you typed "assassin", and starting pressing the S before the A was released, or viceversa, you'd have a good probability to jam the thing.

I.e., again, QWERTY was not supposed to slow people down, per se, but rather simply to reduce the probability that two consecutively used hammers would be phyisically near each other. That was the problem: the hammers, not the keys, not the typist speed as such. However, due to the purely mechanical (and somewhat primitive) relationship between keys and hammers, the easiest way to solve that was to rearrange the keys too.

Think "side-effect", rather than "goal."

The "goal" for the key layout itself was actually the opposite: to convince that time's PHBs that the new layout _doesn't_ slow people down too much. Or at least less than stopping to unjam the typewriter did.

Hence the "QWERTYUIOP" row. The rigged tech demo involved was basically "look! I can type TYPEWRITER quickly! It must be an optimal layout!" So all the keys in that word had to be on the same row. Even at the expense of being less effective at preventing jams.

Just, you know, in case you thought idiotic technical decisions being taken by complete incompetents required computers. There you go. A business decision, which was sold based on a rigged and non-representative tech demo. And we're still stuck with it :)

Text of the first couple of pages.

[Anonymous Coward]

The site seems almost to be slashdotted, so here is the text of the first pages... from a Karmawhoring Anonymous Coward ;-)

Today: Building your own X-Large Keyboard

by

Since the modding world interested me, I always wanted to create real objects that aren't using premodded stuff. Not to say that I got my own opinion about that kind of stuff =P. Anyway, many modders have always wanted to create an object then others never think about. In that same way, I decided for myself to make a one of a kind keyboard that would be unique. There are certainly others reasons why I created it, like for helping people who need it for any physicals problems that require big-key keyboards for helping them with access to computers. After having created it and having many comments about it, I decided to write a little guide about how it works and how it is possible to build your own. I hope that it will give you ideas about creating your project using PS/2 or other interface via a controller. If you have any comments or question feel free to ask me.

DISCLAIMER

This guide is presented for informational purposes only. By reading this and attempting any of the modifications/instructions within, you agree that the author, Modasylum.com, its staff, and affiliates are released from any liability from any damages resulting from said modifications/instructions performed.

Material :

* Plexiglas sheets (6mm thick for the keys, 4mm for the top and back sheets, 2mm for the inside sheets)
* Wires (suggested 2 colors, 24agm, 200 feet)
* Old Keyboard controller (USB, PS/2 or DIN)
* 12, 3 inches bolts
* 96 nuts (same size as the bolts)
* Thin metal sheet (1 foot square)
* Wood rod (1/4 inch thick)
* Epoxy glue
* Plexiglas glue
* Tiny wood screws or micro electronics switches
* Memory foam
* Polishing kit (for plexi)
* Letters stickers
* Different pieces of wood and metal (optional for making templates)

Tools:

* Table saw
* Drill press
* Solder gun
* 1/4" drilling bits (flat end)
* 1 1/4" hole saw (depends on the key size)
* Everyday tools (screw drivers, bits, etc.)
* Clamps

How it works

The main part of a keyboard is the controller that links the keys to the computer. Every controller has different interfaces (USB, PS/2, DIN, etc.) and input pin orders (those that are connected to the keys). Basically, all keys are little push switches that are linked between two input pins; when the switch is activated, the controller sends an encoded signal to the computer. With that information we know that's it's possible to make a keyboard out of switch linked to the PCB. The concept for the project will be to fabricate them in manner that when a key is pressed, there is a contact made between the two inputs pins. For our project, we'll need to have the chart of which pins correspond to which letter or keys on our keyboard. I suggest using the two plastic sheets that are in your keyboard and check where all contacts are going and write it on paper for future use. Here are those for my controller, but I highly suggest you check yours because they could be different from one keyboard to another.

The plans

Before beginning the construction on a project like this one, it's important to make some drawings and be sure that everything will fit perfectly. The concept is really simple: two rods are attached under a Plexiglas square (top of the key). Those rods pass through two thin sheets of Plexiglas and a little piece of metal is attached under the base of the rods so that an electric contact can be made when the key is pressed. Another sheet of plexi will be under the metal pieces with tiny electronic switches or screws on it. When the key is pressed, the pieces of metal will make a contact between two screws, or press the micro switch (depends on your preference and budget).

Or you can buy one

[PhilHibbs]

from Bigkeys

Re:Modern crappy keyboards

[Anonymous Coward]

Three words: IBM Model M.

The finished Pic

[Anonymous Coward]

no broken sql required

http://modasylum.com/articles/lyo/plexi_keyboard/b ig/final.jpg

shame its not a qwertyuiop based keyboard

Re:Nope - doesn't work for me

[lachlan76]

The link was to review 37, the article is about guide 37. The link should be to guides.php?guide=37 not reviews.php?review=37

Re:Too late... site already smoking in the dust..

[AVee]

Thank you for linking.

Re:yea

[Epistax]

One handed keyboards
One handed keyboards
One handed keyboards

Re:yea

[Underholdning]

Here's a nifty one-handed keyboard

Re:How about small keyboards?

[Luyseyal]

Looked at Fentek mini's? I use this one... although this one and this one look pretty swank, too.

-l

Source for IBM Model M keyboards --

[oneiros27]

They're still being made, with a little variation (you can get the original, in black, with 104 keys, with a trackball built in,122 key models, wireless, with mag stripe reader, etc. )

I have no experience with the company, I just know they exist. [I still have a couple more original Model Ms in storage.

Re:Want a power button on my keyboard!

[smellystudent]

1 - map the sleep button on the keyboard to power off in your keyboard drive.

2 - enable "wake on keyboard" in your BIOS.

It's back online

[Anonymous Coward]

the article is back online.. With a temp fix that doesnt' hose up mysql... meh..

Re:Modern crappy keyboards

[Deagol]

Found them!

If anyone cares, Creative Vision Technologies, Inc. (CVT) has the Northgate keyboard clones. They can be found here. There's also a fairly current review of them at PC World.