Utility Keyboard
A keyboard built specifically to it's owner for maximum comfort and utility, with special buttons added for easy copy, pasting, and more to come. (Maybe its very own app!!!)
Created by
wjschaible
Tier 3
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wjschaible
added to the journal ago
Keyboard Layout, beginnings of wirings, MicroController
COMPLETELY Finalized design of keyboard. I removed a couple of keys and moved stuff around a lot (I am super indecisive) but landed on this final design. I chose to add the extra macro keys on the side because I want to be able to display the Microcontroller but did not want it to be weirdly shaped because of that. For this reason I chose to add some extra macro keys I can program to for games and stuff later. Also looked into what microcontroller to use and decided to use the nicenano and also started looking into batteries that might work and how to intergrate them as I want this keyboard to work wired and wireless. My next job is wiring all the switches I placed down and also figure out how I am going to light them, as I have the general gist of it but I need a definitive answer. I have also started to use a stopwatch when working to always know how long it to me so I can reflect the correct numbers. I am using a second sheet for the matrix to prevent crowding, and all of this has been great fun so far. Great way to learn something while on vacation.
wjschaible
added to the journal ago
Keyboard layout set and onto PCB
Designed my layout for my new keyboard - using a 75% layout but with the addition on a macro center on the side for easy access to my most common uses - pause, skip forward, skip backwards, open apps, mute/deafen, LEDs toggle, cut, copy and paste. In addition I added a macro to alt F4 because I think it would be really funny to have my friends plug in my keyboard to try and then press the macro to just close stuff xD. In addition I left space for a small oled screen and rotary encoder - I have put buttons there to represent them for the screenshot but they will be removed when I actually make the other parts of the keyboard. The rotary encoder will function as a volume knob and the press function will mute the audio. The oled screen I am excited for because I would love to do a variety of things with it, but my current plan is for it to display something like the time or volume or at least some sort of cute GIF. Still working on planning that one. With that the planning phase is complete and I am onto the PCB schematics and design. Wish me luck. This took me way longer than I would like to admit.
wjschaible
started Utility Keyboard ago
12/24/2025 9 AM - Keyboard layout set and onto PCB
Designed my layout for my new keyboard - using a 75% layout but with the addition on a macro center on the side for easy access to my most common uses - pause, skip forward, skip backwards, open apps, mute/deafen, LEDs toggle, cut, copy and paste. In addition I added a macro to alt F4 because I think it would be really funny to have my friends plug in my keyboard to try and then press the macro to just close stuff xD. In addition I left space for a small oled screen and rotary encoder - I have put buttons there to represent them for the screenshot but they will be removed when I actually make the other parts of the keyboard. The rotary encoder will function as a volume knob and the press function will mute the audio. The oled screen I am excited for because I would love to do a variety of things with it, but my current plan is for it to display something like the time or volume or at least some sort of cute GIF. Still working on planning that one. With that the planning phase is complete and I am onto the PCB schematics and design. Wish me luck. This took me way longer than I would like to admit.
12/24/2025 4 PM - Keyboard Layout, beginnings of wirings, MicroController
COMPLETELY Finalized design of keyboard. I removed a couple of keys and moved stuff around a lot (I am super indecisive) but landed on this final design. I chose to add the extra macro keys on the side because I want to be able to display the Microcontroller but did not want it to be weirdly shaped because of that. For this reason I chose to add some extra macro keys I can program to for games and stuff later. Also looked into what microcontroller to use and decided to use the nicenano and also started looking into batteries that might work and how to intergrate them as I want this keyboard to work wired and wireless. My next job is wiring all the switches I placed down and also figure out how I am going to light them, as I have the general gist of it but I need a definitive answer. I have also started to use a stopwatch when working to always know how long it to me so I can reflect the correct numbers. I am using a second sheet for the matrix to prevent crowding, and all of this has been great fun so far. Great way to learn something while on vacation.