Selenium33 ================================================================================ A basic [Miryoku](https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku)-like approach to minimize finger movements on any keyboard: - 3 home-row mods per hand for Ctrl, Alt, Super - 3 layer-tap keys under the thumbs: Shift/Backspace, Navigation/Space, Prog/Return ![base, navigation and prog layers on a 33-key keyboard](img/all.svg) A long press on the Return key brings up the Prog layer, where all programming symbols are arranged for comfort. A long press on the Space bar brings up the Navigation layer, with easy one-hand shortcuts (Ctrl-WASZXCV), Vim-like navigation (HJKL) and more… The idea behind these layers is to **bring the characters to the fingers, rather than moving the fingers to the keys**. This approach is what makes those 34-key keyboards so comfortable, and the goal here is to get a comparable experience with any other keyboard — including your laptop’s. Main Benefits -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Shift, Backspace, Return under the thumbs! - all programming symbols are moved to the comfortable 3×10 zone - symmetrical modifiers on the home row - Vim-like navigation in all apps - easier left-hand shortcuts - works with any keyboard Suitable for *all* keyboards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- … well, all keyboards that have at least 3×10 finger keys and 3 thumb keys. So yes, pretty much every computer keyboard out there. Miryoku requires 6 thumb keys, which tends to limit its use to ergonomic keyboards. Selenium works with 3, which means it’s usable with any standard ANSI or ISO keyboard (spacebar + Alt/Cmd keys), even non-programmable ones thanks to [kanata](https://github.com/jtroo/kanata); and it also works with minimalist keyboards like the [Ferris](https://github.com/pierrechevalier83/ferris) (only 4 thumb keys). Of course, Selenium can be implemented in programmable keyboards with QMK, ZMK, Kaleidoscope, etc. No numbers? No problem. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If your keyboard has no number row, we got you covered! From Prog mode, pressing the Num key brings up the NumRow layer: ![NumRow layer on a 33-key keyboard](img/numrow.svg) - all digits are on the home row, in the order you already know - the upper row helps with Shift-digit shortcuts - the lower row has dash, comma, dot and slash signs to help with number / date inputs TODO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The main idea is settled (3 home-row mods + 3 layer-taps), but Selenium is still a work in progress in an early stage. Expect refinements. - NumPad layer - macOS support (KMonad / Karabiner) - sample QMK / ZMK implementations for common keyboards - variants for specific keyboard layouts Why the name? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I believe 34-key keyboards like the [Ferris](https://github.com/pierrechevalier83/ferris) are the end game of ergonomic keyboards, and 34 is selenium’s atomic number. All other keyboards I’ve tried feel like unstable isotopes of the Ferris experience. [Other cultural biases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_(2001_film)) might have been involved as well, though this remains to be proven. :-)