i wonder if i'm the only person operating the left/down/right cursor keys with my knuckles and also thinking about making a custom fw for my reform keyboard to turn the middle spacebar (which is split into 3 spaces) into a layer change key so i could use hjkl or hujk or so as the cursor keys
but instead something like this would be much more ergonomic (middle space as layer change, hjk... as cursor)
@mntmn The keyboard that I use at home (Keyboardio Model 100) has a palm key that shifts you to a layer where hjkl are arrow keys. It works well I think! This feels similar ergonomically so I bet it'd also be pretty nice
@mntmn
I have been thinking along similar lines. I would really like the layer shift key to work as normal modifier + pressed key combo for any other key combination though.
While I have a few more scancodes that I would want to assign on that layer in the firmware, I am always in need for easily-reachable modifier keys to use in Emacs or as compose keys for other characters that I configure in user land.
I am still just waiting for some spare time to finally hack on my reform keyboards FW
I usually use holding caps to activate my layer for hjkl as arrows.
@mntmn About layer change for cursor keys, there are some existing layouts that already do this using M4 like the Neo2 layout or one of its successors, the Noted layout:
https://dl.neo-layout.org/grafik/bilder-einzeln/flat/neo-4-tkl.path.svg
Maybe existing solutions can be re-used or used for inspiration.