1y ago

Three more Svalboards went into the world this week!

I call this one Daisy ;) This set went to a user in Alabama. Units also shipped to Poland and Eureka CA. So hype for more feedback from early users! Current build queue is a couple weeks long, feel free to jump in if you want one!

Svalboard is my Datahand style small-volume production keyboard -- I build every one by hand here in Pacifica, CA.

Learn more at [www.svalboard.com] and come check out the Datahand/Svalboard/lalboard discord https://discord.gg/kqNhKjxca where we geek out about this stuff!

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31 comments

You guys really hate traditional typing methods, eh?
- When traditional methods literally cripple you... yeah. This isn't a hobby thing, it's more like a survival tool/prosthesis -- RSI is way more prevalent than a lot of folks realize, and for people who make a living typing, it's worth a lot of adaptation. I wish nobody needed my weird keyboards, but damn there are a lot of us RSI cripples out here! The weird-keeb enthusiasts are just a niche submarket in that context. :)
- Once you try a different keyboard, and like it, you wonder what else you've been missing out on.
  
  I wish I could but man, I can't even get used to a Xbox style controller for gaming, much less a different keyboard layout. More power to ya tho. I may not understand it, but the boards y'all pump out are novel.
  
  Most of the weird-looking keyboards have the same QWERTY layout. If you can touch type, they don't take long to get used to. I personally don't get the people that change their keyboards to DVORAK or COLEMAK (Not sure why I shout those names, just the way I tend to write them). More power to them, but I think if I changed the layouts like that it would take me months to get back up to speed.
  
  If you don't have RSI or fatigue issues, then yeah, QWERTY's fine. I've been using QWERTY on Datahand for years. But the increase in comfort going to Dvorak/Colemak is huge, reducing the frequency of the worst movements. Dvorak basically fixed my dad's RSI issues and he made the change at like age 65!
  
  I tried out Colemak for a couple months about 10-15 years ago. I just could not get my stupid head to wrap around it. Knock on wood I haven't had any pain issues, but I've been using an ergodox since I got one of those group buy ones that I had to solder together. I actually bought a stenography keyboard recently. I'm trying to spend a little bit each day learning it, but I expect that to take years.
  
  I use Colemak. The issue is not learning the layout really, although it does take some time. The issue is now your QWERTY ability is gone so you look like a caveman any time you have to type on a device that isn't yours. It took me just as much time to forget Colemak and go back to QWERTY.
  However, I recently decided to learn Colemak while switching back to QWERTY intermittently to be able to use both. I guess I still have the muscle memory since I'm learning it much quicker this time, but my QWERTY is still perfectly fine.
  tl;dr work is boring so im melting my brain with multiple keyboard layouts lol
  
  I got a Sofle V2 and committed to using Colemak DHm on it. Typing's a bit awkward but relatively fluid on both keyboards, since split keyboard muscle memory is slightly different.
  Not very good at mod layering myself, but it's been a pretty fun time. Only kind of sucks when my split is plugged in and I boot up a game and my character just backs off a cliff cuz it's not WASD.
  
  For me swapping to Colemak was mostly comfort as you move your fingers way less. Plus I never actually learned how to touch type on QWERTY anyway, so if I was going to have to learn why not something that’s just better hahaha. If I was comfortable on QWERTY and could touch type I probably wouldn’t have swapped.
  
  @sinfreefor00days YMMV, but it only took me a month to get back to my previous speed when switching to Dvorak. Years later, I can still type QWERTY. A bit slower, but not unreasonable.
  The difference in comfort is so stark I could never go back.
  
  what kind of controller are you used to? NES original, or? :D
  
  Haha, I grew up on the Gameboy Advanced, so pretty close! But most of my gaming happens with a good old mouse and keyboard.
- This looks like it's great for a disabled person: you can do the entire keyboard without moving anything other than your fingers, while your hand rests on a nice platform built to support it without fatigue. If it's something you need, it looks really nice!
- Yep.

31 comments