NOTE: Project still in development!!!!
A keyboard and trackball in one, for efficient computer usage.
Like the PS-OHK, the PS-KTC attempts to provide an efficiently laid out keyboard which doesn't require moving your hands back and forth from the mouse.
Unlike the PS-OHK, it accomplishes this while allowing for typing quickly via using both hands. This is done by placing a trackball in the middle of the keyboard!
Like the PS-OHK, the PS-KTC uses a custom keyboard layout designed around placing commonly used characters right on the home row followed by similar sounds being near each other. It also aims to be roughly a 100% keyboard, although a few shortcuts are taken.
Layout:
F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12
Hm End PgU PgD
3# 8*
2@ 9(
F 4% 7& L
D U
Esc 1! I K 5% 6^ P R 0)
T O
Tab C V A Y LClk RClk H E J M
X W
Sft S [{ G ,< Scrl .> B ]} N `~
;: Whl '"
CLk Z \| Ins BSp Del ----- /? Q
/Track\
=+ Up Ctl Sp Win | Ball | -_
\ /
Lft Dwn Rt Alt Ret Cmp -----
Where the home row is S, T, I, A, Space, Trackball, E, R, O, N
There are 82 keys here. Why not 100? Well, there are few reasons:
- Due to the every key being available and close to a finger in this arrangement, there is no need for the 10 num-pad digits nor the Num Lock nor the num-pad duplicates of /, *, -, +, Return, and ./Delete. That's 100 - 10 - 7 = 83
- No Print Screen, Scroll Lock, or Pause because, let's be real, the vast majority of people, myself included, do not need these keys. Maybe Print Screen, but Super + Shift + S is a great key combo for screenshot, so Print Screen is not needed. That's 83 - 3 = 80 keys
- Mouse clicks as keys. 82 (middle click = left + right)
If you go with the recommended JLCPCB, Tindie, and Amazon links, the cost is roughly broken down like so
| Part | Cost (w/ shipping) |
|---|---|
| PCBs | $101.01 |
| Motion Sensor | $39.98 |
| Rotary Encoder + Wires | $44.20 |
| Total | $185.19 |