Two crazy ideas - plz welcome this exlurker & help me realiz

[pietergen]

Hi, in my familiy I am the über- geek. See spoiler for what ' they' say

Spoiler:

Isn't using 4 different Linux distros enough? And those crazy tiling window managers? Those terminal applications - back to the eighties as we call them WHY ?? And then the crazy keyboard layouts - and now you're thinking about building a keyboard? You're spending al those countless hours to get, what is it, 0.1 % improvement?? Can't you ever be like, you know, normal people?

But compared to the experts on this forum I'm a very moderate, middle-of-the road guy I'll show my wife & kids this forum when they question my choices !! Now my crazy ideas. Do such devices exist? If so, please point me to the threads.... and do post your opinions & reactions in any case, thank you!

Crazy idea 1: double wireless 2-piece ergo keyboard A two piece keyboard is of course a good idea. What i like less is wires. Fortunately some (ready made or DIY) keyboards start having Bluetooth for connection to the computer. I want to take it one step further: no wires to the computer AND no wire between the 2 parts. So, both parts will need a battery. I imagine 2 bluetooth connections: one between the keyboard parts, and one with the computer. I've dubbed this double wireless. Does it exist? Links? Is it doable?

Crazy idea 2: one of the keyboard pieces is also the " mouse" Sometimes I have/want to use a mouse, despite the tiling wm, keyboard shortcuts, Vimium and so on. And I like the mouse better than trackpads or trackpoints. How about using one of the keyboard parts as a mouse? Maybe make a grip on that part. When you want to mouse, you take the grib in in your hand (mouse function: on), you move the keyboard/ mouse, and when u let go of the grip the mouse function = off, so that small movements of the keyboard won't send mouse commands).

Thanks in advance for all responses

[scottc]

Welcome to delurkthority! Neither of your ideas are too crazy. For part 1, I believe that there's work being done on the ErgoDox split ergonomic keyboard for making it wireless. Cezarek here in the forums makes the parts himself, so that may be your best bet: here.

About #2: There are a load of community firmwares for custom keyboards that let you emulate mouse functions. One that I'm familiar with is TMK: both on the forums and on GitHub.

If you're making customs, you're at the right place. Check around the workshop subforum for loads of awesome threads with instructions. I can recommend any and all of matt3o's.

[Muirium]

Actually, if I'm reading right, #2 is "grab your keyboard and move it around as a mouse" which is admirably strange! Usually, mouse functions built into keyboards are all about keeping things physically still: like using Trackpoints. Perhaps I just need some coffee, but the thought of grabbing (even half) a keyboard and using it as a contoured mouse, moving it around the desk, is both bonkers and delightful!

#1 is definitely under way at Czarek's. He's building quite the ErgoDox empire at the moment, in a good way.

[alinh]

isn't #2 King's Assembly?

[pietergen]

@ alinh: WOW, yes that was what i was thinking Indeed, #2 is King' s Assembly - I never saw that !

[lowpoly]

#2: combimouse.com, tried funding on Indiegogo.

[matt3o]

wow you never stop finding the weirdest projects!