The Design
Customizing a 36-key split keyboard can significantly enhance productivity, especially for those who, like myself, require one-handed navigation with a keyboard. With a dedicated layer activated by the left thumb, arrow keys are easily accessible, allowing for seamless navigation in tandem with a mouse. The left-hand keys are optimized for frequent use, ensuring the most commonly used functions are at my fingertips, which reduces the frequency of switching between keyboard and mouse. Additionally, a numpad layer is assigned to the right side, enabling quick number entry.
The right thumb activates a layer for function keys, while another layer, activated by the right hand, is reserved for symbols, streamlining complex inputs. The layout of symbols resembles a traditional keymap. Opposite hands hold the modifier keys—shift, control, alt, and GUI—balancing functionality across the keyboard. This thoughtful layout exemplifies the efficiency of a well-designed custom key map.
Lastly, the key layout is QGMLWY, which has been proven to be more ergonomic than QWERTY.
Design principles
- Keep frequently used keys on the left hand.
- Low learning curve and memorization.
- Use thumb to activate layers.
- Use modifier keys (Shift, Control, Alt, GUI) on opposite hands after a layer is activated.
- Use QGMLWY
- Include a numpad layer on the right hand for entering numbers quickly.
Base Layer
Left Hand Layers
Right Hand Layers
Gaming Layer
ESC 1 2 3 4 5
TAB Q W E R T
⇧A S D F G
CTRL Z X C V B
Keys
⠀ - Hold to activate layer
⠀ - Switch to layer
⠀ - To be update