Nazo
Member
So I got curious to see if I could find a really cheap keyboard with the Dvorak layout -- something I could easily carry around in my car or whatever and use when diagnosing and repairing others' computers without having to change their keyboard layout in software. Not only is this inconvenient in general (especially since I must remember to change it back or problems ensue) but there are some things where it can be a real pain to try to change the layout such as special boot tools (partition managers just for instance.) Keyboards like the TypeMatrix (which I love at home) are just too expensive for such a purpose. In my searching around, I've run across a number of projects to build new keyboards from scratch (ErgoDox in particular really impressed me) as well as a few that take one very specific model of an old keyboard or part of a PC (such as the Apple IIc/e hardware.) Building from scratch is too expensive and kind of defeats the purpose (well, I guess if I could afford it I could just keep the TypeMatrix as the portable one, but if I could afford that I would have gotten another TypeMatrix already instead of searching all of this.) Those specific model ones obviously don't apply to just taking some generic keyboard and using it though either. Unfortunately, I can't use the build from scratch ideas because they use specific resistors or etc for their design which obviously won't match up even if it is resistance based (honestly I'm not 100% sure exactly what method these with the sheets use? I'm inclined to say that it is resistance based, but not 100% sure.) Still, obviously this is 100% within the realm of the Teensy's capabilities.
Actually, I saw one of those flexible keyboards that can be rolled up on clearance for dirt cheap locally ($4.98, so even if I hate it or destroy it in the process I'm not going to be upset) and cut out the PCB just to see if it's at all possible. The design is a very simple one and, in fact, it turns out that they made the sheets connect in via a slide in type connector, so it wouldn't even require desoldering or anything. I actually don't think I could imagine anything easier to do this with assuming I can actually do it. I've attached an image of the keyboard with the PCB exposed. I'll have to add a glue or something to protect the sheets later, but I'm not terribly worried about keeping it spill resistant or anything.
There is another problem though. I don't really know any programming at all. I was hoping I could just upload code from an existing project, but, like I said, so far all I've seen use either very specific models or build one from scratch and thus already know exactly what to expect from the hardware. Is there anything generic out there that can be very easily adapted to work with a more generic keyboard? I also have no clue how I would actually connect it to the Teensy (I'm thinking Teensy 2.0 makes the most sense. It's cheap, already being used for these sorts of projects, and it's nice and small too.) I'm no stranger to soldering, but not electronics savvy enough to have done much with these sorts of direct interface devices. (Mostly I've just put together basic things like CMoys where everything was basically already provided and I've modified the living daylights out of various things such as connecting an optical DAC to CMoy and powering both via lithium ion batteries for instance.)
Actually, I saw one of those flexible keyboards that can be rolled up on clearance for dirt cheap locally ($4.98, so even if I hate it or destroy it in the process I'm not going to be upset) and cut out the PCB just to see if it's at all possible. The design is a very simple one and, in fact, it turns out that they made the sheets connect in via a slide in type connector, so it wouldn't even require desoldering or anything. I actually don't think I could imagine anything easier to do this with assuming I can actually do it. I've attached an image of the keyboard with the PCB exposed. I'll have to add a glue or something to protect the sheets later, but I'm not terribly worried about keeping it spill resistant or anything.
There is another problem though. I don't really know any programming at all. I was hoping I could just upload code from an existing project, but, like I said, so far all I've seen use either very specific models or build one from scratch and thus already know exactly what to expect from the hardware. Is there anything generic out there that can be very easily adapted to work with a more generic keyboard? I also have no clue how I would actually connect it to the Teensy (I'm thinking Teensy 2.0 makes the most sense. It's cheap, already being used for these sorts of projects, and it's nice and small too.) I'm no stranger to soldering, but not electronics savvy enough to have done much with these sorts of direct interface devices. (Mostly I've just put together basic things like CMoys where everything was basically already provided and I've modified the living daylights out of various things such as connecting an optical DAC to CMoy and powering both via lithium ion batteries for instance.)
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