From Geekhack, repost for better visibility:

natas206 wrote:Hey guys,

We are currently evaluating whether to introduce an ergonomic keyboard specifically designed for the gaming market. We've put together a brief survey (25 questions) and we'd like to get input from you guys specifically on features and specs so that we can design something that really resonates with gamers and keyboard enthusiasts. Our goal is to develop a keyboard that offers class leading performance and customization and allows gamers to play for longer and without pain.

If you're interested in helping us out, please check out the survey here:

http://goo.gl/ih1vJu

As for our ergonomic Advantage keyboard, as many of you know we're stilling working on that as well (see this thread).

Posting to remind myself to do the survey later.

submitted, thanks for the link

Same here, thank you.

Just finished the survey, would be very interested to have an ergonomic type design with full programmability and independent halves, so that you could use one half as a game pad style of thing.

Just finished , filled in loads of stuff, hope it helps them

HzFaq wrote:Posting to remind myself to do the survey later.

This

i had an idea ( and have done this in my PSO gaming pad thing) .

move the higher numbers so you don't have to stretch for them

so

6 7 8 9 0
1 2 3 4 5

It's way more complicated than that.

The default SC control scheme requires easy access to function keys—it wouldn't really work there. AoE2 is different, function keys aren't all that important, and you basically need only numbers (control groups, chat 11) and two rows of alphas. These are only two very common games within the same genre.

Answered, great survey, I'm really looking forward to seeing what they come back with.

Gaming keyboards are usually the worst for gaming, in my personal opinion. They're usually big, bulky, flashy with useless (to me) macro keys and shady software to support all that.

Whenever I hear a brand talking about a gaming product, I cringe a bit. Hopefully it doesn't get too awkward.

Spikebolt wrote:Gaming keyboards are usually the worst for gaming, in my personal opinion. They're usually big, bulky, flashy with useless (to me) macro keys and shady software to support all that.

Haha. Keyboards (or mice) that come with software generally make me cringe too. Generic USB HID sholdn't need "drivers"... And most OSes allow you to set macros out of the box...

davkol wrote:It's way more complicated than that.

Agreed. Battlefield games for example use number keys for gun selection, and function keys for seating position.

strafe wrote:Agreed. Battlefield games for example use number keys for gun selection, and function keys for seating position.

Although I don't play much, games are why I would not consider a keyboard that does not have a dedicated Function key row.

Even Minecraft uses F-keys enough to warrant having them mapped to unique locations. F1 for the HUD, F2 for screenshots, F3 for debug mode, F5 to change the camera perspective, F11 to toggle fullscreen. I don't want to use Fn to reach any of these, especially since it also uses F3 (held like a modifier) plus another key to do some things (for example F3+A to reload all chunks, and F3+H to toggle item names, damage values, etc.). I'm not sure that would even work on boards without dedicated Fn keys. It also calls for modifiers (namely Shift) plus F-keys, which I know do work with Fn layers, but are still a nuisance.

So, did anyone else get an email from Kenesis today about the proposed mechanical gaming version of the freestyle pro?

I'm trying to figure out a way of uploading the pdf, but it looks kind of interesting. Basically, its a split, mechanical version of their freestyle board with rgb backlighting and 3 programmable layouts.

edit - pdf below.

Yep! I did. Seems very interesting. If split ergo layouts are for me, I'll very likely pick one up.

I really like the look of it, 3 configurable layouts each with 2 layers saved to the boards on-board memory is a win right off the bat. I really wish there was actually a picture of the board that isn't a compressed as hell jpg so you can't actually see what the keys on the far right/left are.

Oh, and an ISO version would be nice as well.

Great move! However, I think that the first thing I would do would be to remap the function keys so that F1 is above 2.

Heh.. "Plate-mounted PCB". Is that a gaffe or do they mean it literally?