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Spock

The Spock keyboard.

Overview

The Spock keyboard is a revolutionary split ergonomic keyboard designed to enhance typing comfort and efficiency. With its ortholinear layout, the Spock aims to offer a more natural hand positioning and reduce strain associated with traditional keyboard designs. The keyboard is fully open-sourced, allowing users and developers to contribute and modify the design to fit personal preferences and needs.

Design and Layout

The Spock keyboard features a split design that promotes ergonomic typing by separating the two halves of the keyboard. Each half is carefully crafted to maintain symmetry, giving users a harmonious and balanced typing experience. The layout consists of 84 keys, organized in a matrix of 5 rows and 6 columns, with a pronounced columnar staggering for improved accessibility. Additionally, each half contains 6 keys specifically designed for the thumbs, facilitating easier reach for modifier keys and enhancing overall usability.

Features

The Spock keyboard is built with several notable features that set it apart from conventional keyboards:

  • Mechanical Switches: It supports Cherry MX switches, offering tactile feedback and longevity that typists appreciate.
  • TRRS Connection: The two halves of the keyboard connect via a TRRS cable, ensuring a stable and reliable connection.
  • Matrix Layout: The ortholinear key arrangement allows for more efficient finger movements, as each key is positioned directly above or below its neighbors, reducing lateral reach.
  • Open Source: The keyboard is licensed under the MIT open-source model, providing full access to its design and firmware for customization.

Buy or Build

Those interested in the Spock keyboard have the option to either buy a pre-assembled unit or build their own from scratch. The open-source nature of the keyboard means that a comprehensive guide is available on the GitHub repository, allowing DIY enthusiasts and keyboard aficionados to craft their ideal version. This flexibility caters to both users who prefer plug-and-play solutions and those who enjoy the process of customization.

Similar Keyboards

If you’re intrigued by the Spock keyboard but want to explore other options, several similar keyboards offer a range of ergonomic benefits and layouts. Notable mentions include:

  • Kinesis Advantage2: Known for its comfort and support, this ergonomic keyboard features concave key wells.
  • ErgoDox EZ: A highly customizable split keyboard that also provides a columnar layout but with additional keys and features.
  • Planck: A compact ortholinear keyboard that is also open-source and designed for portability without sacrificing an ergonomic setup.

For more info look at this URL: https://github.com/wez/SpockKeyboard