While browsing the KiCAD store, I had an idea I wanted to share. I think it would be great if the project offered an officially supported keyboard—ideally one that includes features like knobs and other useful extras. This could allow for seamless integration with the software, especially for workflows where physical input devices can enhance productivity.
Not only would this be a great usability improvement, but it could also open up a potential revenue stream to support KiCAD’s development. I know I’d definitely be interested in buying one!
What do you think? Would others be into this kind of hardware support?
A very few thoughts:
Are Apple keyboards compatible with the rest?
How many languages?
How many colours?
How many sizes?
Who is going to design?
Who is going to manufacture, and how many?
Who is going to organize all this?
Who is going to pay for the order?
Who is going to make software compatible with both standard keyboards and this new, “extra features”, keyboard?
This is just my first thoughts. I’m certain there are many more.
Caps are easy. One size, one colour, one logo, low minimum order and easy to repeat order.
“T” shirts are more trouble. Many sizes and maybe gender specific. More storage requirement but still low minimum order and easy to repeat.
Specialised keyboards… wow, how many millions do you have to sink into a low production run?
And nearly all of them seem to reach their funding goal.
I sort of like the macro keyboard below. I think it has an LCD under each key. Quite a long time ago some manufacurer made a “normal” keyboard with an lcd on each key, and the idea was a bit silly, as I (and many others) type blind without even seeing keys. But for a macro keypad it makes a lot of sense to put LCD’s on the keys, so they indicate their function when the function changes (for example between the schematic and PCB editor). https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/848625214/vsd-m18-v3-pro-the-essential-tool-for-modern-multitaskers
And macro keyboard on Kickstarter and Crowdsupply:
Another product I find sort of cute is the “calculator” sold on aliexpress / Ebay / China direct. It’s a matrix of 16 keys in a (clumsy) laser cut acryllic case and with an HD44780 LCD and ATMEGA328. The thing that makes it stand out is that each key has a plastic cap over it and you can put a piece of paper under the caps. The calculator comes with a piece of paper to use it as a calculator (duh), but the whole thing is of course easily re-programmable. This thing does not have a interface to a PC so it would need a hardware change to turn it into a macro keypad.