I want to preface this by saying being a keyboard guy is not cool, my wife has made that abundantly clear, and yet I'm writing this anyway. The only thing less cool would be to actually read this post.
[Final keyboard]
Thoccy
The keyboard on my laptop does a fine job, if I want to look professional, I plug in my little dongle and use a standard bluetooth keyboard. It was only mid Youtube binge that I came across the world of ergo keyboards and in particular the Corne. The idea planted itself, and I couldn't shake it.
Enter the Corne
The Corne keyboard— is a 42-key split ergonomic board that turns the heads of the nerdiest people you know. The appeal wasn't just in the aesthetics though; it was about rethinking the entire relationship between hands and keys.
The split design allows your shoulders to rest in a natural position. The columnar layout aligns with how fingers actually move. With only 42 keys, every key needs to earn its place—forcing you to think critically about what you actually need within immediate reach.
The ergonomic benefits are immediate:
- Reduced shoulder tension from a natural arm position
- Less finger stretching and twisting
- Customizable key layouts that adapt to your workflow
- Portable size that travels easily
But the real magic is in the layers—hold a key and transform the entire keyboard. Numbers, symbols, navigation, and macros all accessible without moving your hands from home position. I'd have to finally learn to touch type like a real hacker man.
The Build: 3D Printing and KLP Lame
I lied, this whole process was about aesthetics and the basic bitch case wasn't going to cut it for a stylish design engineer like me. I 3D printed a matte green case and attached some foam for soundproofing and brass for decoration and weight. However, when i switched keycaps 2 weeks later, this blocky design wouldn't cut it - so 16 versions and 7 prints later, we're pretty close to a final design. Matte black PLA and stainless steel trim.
[Iterations]
The KLP Lame keycaps deserved special attention. These ergonomic caps were also 3D printed, each one designed for maximum finger comfort while maintaining the board's sleek silhouette. Twilight Ambient silent low-profile choc switches - sounds like a jumble of made up words, feels like typing on air.
[KLP keycaps image ]
The hands-on process:
- Soldering switches to the PCB with methodical precision
- Programming the firmware to match my workflow
- Iterating on layer layouts through trial and error
- Fine-tuning the typing experience over weeks of use
I designed, printed and assembled this bad boy - its still not cool but its special to me.
Inputs
Stepping back from the technical details, keyboards are our interface with the digital world. Every command, word or thought I want to pass to the computer passes through my keyboard. How much can you reduce the friction between you and the computer? Does this let you stay in your flow state for longer?