A layered keyboard layout designed to augment your keyboard's capabilities without altering or interfering with its default behaviour, so you can remain productive as you learn to use it.
Kenkyo (謙虚) is the Japanese term for humility or modesty.
- Available to any keyboard, by using software rather than firmware.
- Intuitive and easy to learn.
- Requires only 31 keys.
- Your hands don't need to leave the center of the keyboard.
- Allows you to touch-type 100% of the time.
- Makes key combinations more comfortable and ergonomic.
- Reduces hand movement and strain.
- Helps transitioning to smaller keyboards.
Install the keyboard customisation software of your choice from the list below and place the corresponding configuration file, provided by this repository, in the recommended location.
The componets described below assume a physical QWERTY keyboard, independently of the keyboard language and layout settings of your system.
This layout implements a few chords, also known as combos or key combinations, which are common to all layers with the exception of Extend:
W+E:EscI+O:BackSpaceX+C:Tab,+.:Enter
Blue keys represent changes to the default layer. Orange indicates which keys can activate the current layer while held.
Bear in mind that layer and modifier keys will activate only if another key is tapped immediately after. Otherwise, the expected repeat or long-press action will be respected (although a slight delay may be perceived).
The default layer of this layout makes use of Home Row Modifiers (see patterns):
- Hold
A,S,DandFforMeta,Alt,ShiftandControlrespectively. - Hold
J,K,Land;forControl,Shift,AltandMetarespectively.
The
Metakey is also known asWin,Command,SuperorGui. TheAltkey is referred to asOptionon MacOS.
The bottom row contains layer keys to quickly access funciton, number and symbol keys as well as the Control and AltGr modifiers to make some key combinations more convenient:
- Hold
Z,CandVforControl,AltGrandFumbolrespectively. - Hold
M,.and/forFumbol,AltGrandControlrespectively.
The spacebar is also a layer key and behaves as an entry point to the following layers, defaulting to the Extend layer described below.
While holding the spacebar the navigation and editing keys will become accessible under the fingers of your right hand. With your left hand you will be able to access the modifier and media keys. The Shift and Fumbol keys can be used to switch to the corresponding layer, which will remain active until you release the spacebar.
As explained above, this layer can be accessed either by holding the layer keys from the main layer or by holding the spacebar and, once on the Extend layer, pressing the Fumbol layer switch key.
On this layer the number keys have been distributed along the home (middle) row. The top row consists of function keys from 1 to 10. For completeness, F11 and F12 are located at the center of the bottom row. The bottom row contains symbols that would otherwise require you to move your hand away from the center of the keyboard to reach them. Finally, the home and bottom row modifiers are placed to match those of the main layer.
The first key to the left of the bottom row is bound to what is referred to as the ISO or 102nd key, which may emit different key codes depending on your keyboard language and layout settings.
To provide a starting point for the keyboard customisation journey of those who seek to increase their productivity, and/or improve the ergonomy of their workflows, without having to spend too much money on expensive hardware or too much time doing research.
- Seamlessness: A user that is unaware of the presence of this layout should not be able to tell it is there.
- Progressiveness: A new user of the layout should be able to adopt the layout gradually and always have the option to fall back to pre-existing habits if necessary.
- Composability: The layout should be built on well known patterns that can be applied together or individually.
- Efficiency: The layout should endeavour to strike a balance between the effort required for its use (i.e. hand motion) and that required to learn it (i.e., complexity).