Colemak is an alternative keyboard layout designed for efficient touch typing in English. It puts frequently used letters under your resting fingers, with the aim of reducing movement while you type. Shai Coleman released it in 2006. You can use it on an ordinary keyboard by changing the layout in software. See the official Colemak introduction and FAQ. What does the Colemak layout look like? ...
Being able to change switches without soldering seems like a natural step forward. That is what makes a hot-swap keyboard appealing. But after several months with my Reviung41, I started wondering how much that flexibility actually helped me in everyday use. I like building my own keyboards. It gives me a lot of joy, and I can make exactly what I want: choose the model, the colors, and the switches, instead of trying to fit my needs around what a manufacturer offers. Trying a hot-swap build felt like another thing worth learning. ...
In my Reviung41 keyboard review I talked about the board: semi-split shape, column stagger, hot-swap build, office portability. This post is the other half of that story. Hardware is useless without a layout you actually trust. So here is my Reviung41 keyboard layout as I use it every day at the office. Same Colemak Mod-DH base I already use on Ferris Sweep and my Dactyl-style board. Same idea I wrote about in 34-Key Ferris Sweep as a Daily Driver: move keys under your fingers, not fingers to the keys. ...
I’m a developer who also codes for fun after work. That sounds nice until you add the hours: often around 10 hours a day at a keyboard. I took care of my back with a decent chair. The problems came from somewhere else. My fingers started to hurt. Writing even a few sentences became uncomfortable. Constant mouse use pushed one shoulder forward. That was the moment I stopped treating hand discomfort as “just tiredness after a long sprint”. ...
Ergonomic keyboards are not only about being “ergonomic” on paper. They are about what is best for you in real daily use. Even the best ergonomic keyboard is useless if it is not used. What if you want a very portable, small, ergonomic keyboard, but you do not want to handle two halves of a split keyboard, cables between them, and the small ritual of positioning everything every time? What if you just want one piece that you can take from desk to desk and use without thinking too much? ...
When ergonomic keyboards are discussed, the conversation often jumps quickly to fully split designs - two independent halves, adjustable distance, tenting, and maximum configurability. These boards make sense: true splits provide the highest degree of geometric freedom. But there is a quieter category in between: semi-split keyboards. They remain a single piece while introducing separation and angling that subtly influences hand positioning and movement patterns. They correct the largest geometric mismatches without adding complexity. ...
When someone asks me: “What’s a good first ergonomic keyboard?”, I usually start with two ideas: a split layout (for wrists and shoulders) an ortholinear grid (to clean up finger travel) That’s exactly why Let’s Split keeps showing up in beginner recommendations - including in my own list in Best Ergonomic Keyboard for Beginners. If you’re building or buying your first keyboard, Let’s Split is one of the boards I keep coming back to. Not because it’s the most exotic - but because it delivers the ergonomic fundamentals with a learning curve that doesn’t punish you, and does not make you throw it away after couple of minutes. But “recommended” and “right for you” are not the same thing. So in this post I’ll review Let’s Split in a practical way: what it does well, where it’s limited, what the build path looks like, and who should skip it. ...
Ferris Sweep Wireless - the title says it all. In this post I’ll share my experience building this tiny keyboard in a wireless version. First things first: I have to thank Mr. Robert - without him this build would not have happened. Mr. Robert, thank you! :) Ferris Sweep Wireless To turn a Ferris Sweep into a wireless keyboard, we need three changes compared to the wired build: Replace the Arduino Pro Micro with a controller that supports Bluetooth Integrate a battery to power the controller Install firmware that supports a Bluetooth workflow Let’s go through each point. ...
As I’ve been building more ergonomic keyboards, I kept getting the same question: “How exactly are your keyboards built?” This post is my answer - a Ferris Sweep build log. I’ll show the process step by step so you can understand what goes into the build and what to watch out for. This build log is based on a Ferris Sweep Compact build - my “take to the office” keyboard: tiny, split, low‑profile, and easy to throw into a backpack. ...
Ferris Sweep Reviewed by EKI (Ergonomic Keyboard Index) This is an extended follow-up to my earlier Ferris Sweep reviews: 30% Keyboard Club – Ferris Sweep Review 34 Keys as a Daily Driver for Developers Those posts focused on hands-on impressions and my developer layout. Since then, I introduced the Ergonomic Keyboard Index (EKI) - a 0–20 scoring framework that lets us compare keyboards at a glance. In this article I apply the EKI to the Ferris Sweep to produce a concise, comparable score. Consider it an “extended review” aligned with the new scoring rules. You can visit EKI to comparison of Ergonomic Keyboard Index all reviewed by me keyboards. ...
Choosing your first ergonomic keyboard is an important step. The right choice can make your work more enjoyable and productive; the wrong one can discourage you from continuing. This guide explains what truly matters, shows how to evaluate options, and recommends beginner‑friendly keyboards that balance comfort with familiarity. Is There a Perfect Ergonomic Keyboard? Short answer: no. There’s no universal ergonomic keyboard that fits everyone. Generally, the more ergonomic a keyboard is, the more it departs from the traditional layout-and the higher the learning curve. Conversely, keyboards that closely resemble standard ones are easier to switch to, but the comfort gains are usually smaller. ...
When exploring ergonomic keyboards, one of the hardest parts is figuring out how good a keyboard really is. Some boards are split, some are columnar, some are portable - but until now, there hasn’t been a simple way to capture all of those features in a single score. That’s why I created the Ergonomic Keyboard Index (EKI): a clear, 20-point scale that measures how ergonomic, practical, and buildable a keyboard is. Instead of long spec sheets or scattered impressions, the EKI gives you a single number that shows at a glance how well a keyboard supports comfort and usability. ...
Wrist rests are one of the most debated accessories in the world of mechanical and ergonomic keyboards. Some people swear by them, claiming they reduce strain and improve comfort. Others argue they create bad habits, pressing your wrists into hard surfaces and potentially leading to injuries. So, what’s the truth? Do you actually need wrist rests for your keyboard setup? The answer, as with many things in ergonomics, is: it depends. ...
In this post, I want to focus on the process of switching from the classic QWERTY layout to Colemak. I’ll describe the attempts and experiences that finally let me move to Colemak while still being able to use a standard QWERTY keyboard when needed. Context I’m a developer who enjoys the craft so much that I also code for fun after work. In short: programming is both my job and my hobby. Unsurprisingly, I spend a lot of time typing - often around 10 hours a day. ...
If you are searching for a split keyboard, you are probably asking one of three questions: What is a split keyboard, and why do people say it is more ergonomic? Which type should you choose: semi-split, one-piece split, or a true split keyboard? Is the comfort improvement worth the learning curve? Short answer: a split keyboard separates the left and right hand zones so your wrists and forearms can stay straighter while typing. For many people who type for hours every day, it is one of the most noticeable ergonomic upgrades you can make. ...
What if we equipped ortholinear keyboards with a mysterious column stagger? To clarify, the previous post about ortholinear keyboards titled Ortholinear Keyboards described keyboards without row stagger. This layout is a step towards ergonomics, as it is more natural and aligned with the anatomy of our hands and fingers. In this post, however, I want to go a step further than ortholinear keyboards and consider how such a keyboard layout can become even friendlier to our hands. We will use an ergonomic keyboard equipped with column stagger. ...
In the post 06. What Are Ergonomic Keyboards?, I explained five ways to improve your typing ergonomics. Today, we’ll dive deeper into one specific type of ergonomic keyboard-the ortholinear keyboard. We’ll explore how it’s built, how it compares to the traditional QWERTY layout, and whether it might be a better option for healthier typing. What Is an Ortholinear Keyboard? An ortholinear keyboard is a type of mechanical keyboard where all the keys are arranged in a straight grid-rows and columns perfectly aligned. Unlike the traditional QWERTY keyboard layout, which uses staggered rows, ortholinear layouts follow a matrix pattern. ...
If you’re choosing your first mechanical keyboard, you’ve probably seen the classic trio: Cherry MX Red, Brown and Blue. But which one actually feels best for typing, coding or gaming - and which should you buy? In this guide, I’ll compare Red vs Brown vs Blue in plain language, show you their specs and sound, and share my real‑world ranking after using all three. By the end, you’ll know exactly which Cherry MX switch fits your hands, your desk… and your neighbors’ ears. ...
What are ergonomic keyboards? What do they look like? And what exactly makes a keyboard “ergonomic”? In this article, we will explore the key design features that define ergonomic keyboards and set them apart from traditional ones. If you’re new to the topic, I highly recommend checking out my earlier article analyzing the QWERTY layout: QWERTY Keyboard and Its Two Flaws. What Are Ergonomic Keyboards? So, what exactly qualifies as an ergonomic keyboard? While there may be a technical definition out there, I’d like to offer my personal perspective: ...
In today’s post, I’ll discuss the major drawbacks of the keyboard layout we use every day. The QWERTY keyboard is familiar to everyone, and it’s the one we’ll be focusing on. If you’ve read the earlier post about typing comfort in Colemak vs QWERTY, this one will go deeper into two key flaws of the QWERTY layout that still impact us today. QWERTY Keyboard and the Typewriter Despite being separated by over a century, typewriters and modern keyboards look surprisingly similar. Two common characteristics stand out: ...
QWERTY vs Colemak In today’s post: QWERTY vs Colemak. We’re going to compare these two popular keyboard layouts to see which one is more comfortable. QWERTY is used by millions as the default keyboard layout. Colemak, on the other hand, belongs to a group of modern, ergonomic alternative layouts. We’ll be comparing them in terms of typing comfort, measured by the distance your fingers need to travel to write a given text. ...
Today we’ll complement the previous post, which described building a 30%-club keyboard – the Ferris Sweep – with its programming aspect. I’ll go over the non-visual part of the keyboard: the layout I’ve been using on my 34-key Ferris Sweep in my daily work as a programmer. Introduction A keyboard layout is the assignment of specific functions to physical keys. This means programming your keyboard to send specific signals when pressing certain keys. ...
30% Keyboard Club – Ferris Sweep Review The previous post focused on unconscious writing habits. In this one, I want to shift attention to minimalist, compact ergonomic keyboards - specifically the so-called 30% keyboards. Using the Ferris Sweep as an example, we’ll explore whether less can truly mean more, and whether such a tiny keyboard is actually useful. ANSI Layout A full ANSI layout includes: Alphanumeric keys - letters and numbers Arrow keys and special function keys Function row Numpad Visually, a full ANSI layout looks like this: ...
Start of typing journey The first computer appeared in our home about 20 years ago. It feels like it was in a completely different era-when the internet was for the privileged few, and hardly anyone had heard of workplace ergonomics. People certainly didn’t care about it, and the time spent in front of a computer was much shorter. The very first crucial skill back then was learning how to type… If you could do that, you were good. But if you could type fast-you were SOMEONE. It was all about having the skill, not how well you did it. And let’s be honest-no one cared about typing style. What mattered was speed and looking at the screen. ...