A second layer allows a single key to perform two separate actions depending on which layer is active. This is kind of a waste when you think about it! One way to make a programmable keyboard more versatile is to add a second “layer” of key actions. On the average keyboard (and even many programmable keyboards), each physical key can only perform one single action. Multiple Keyboard Layers – One Key… Two Actions To learn more about how software engineers can benefit from a programmable keyboard read our Ergonomics for Developers guide. The best programmable keyboards (like those made by Kinesis) allow users to create multiple layouts which can be used interchangeably depending on the task, application, or user. If you’re a software engineer writing millions of lines of code a year, for your entire career, would you rather have your body adapt to a keyboard designed for a 19 th century typist writing small amounts of prose, or would you rather have a programmable keyboard which you can customize to meet your specific workflow? That’s what we thought! You can even add key actions that don’t even appear on the keyboard like F13 through F24! ![]() ![]() Page Up, Page Down, Home and End) can also be re-positioned for improved access. One common remap is to swap the Escape key, frequently used in coding, with the Caps Lock key, which has very little value to the vast majority of keyboard users. The reason is most software languages require extensive use of the modifier keys, punctuation keys, and function keys, but those keys were positioned on a conventional keyboard decades ago when keyboard users were typing mostly prose. Programmable keyboards recognize this important fact and allow you to electronically move keys from one position to another (Kinesis calls this “remapping” but others refer to this practice as “key binding”) and in many cases interchange the physical keycaps.įor example, an author may be perfectly happy with the standard QWERTY layout, but QWERTY may be wholly inadequate for a software developer who could benefit immensely from a custom keyboard layout. Regardless of which keyboard layout you prefer to use ( Learn more about alternatives to QWERTY), not every key is going to be in the optimal position based on your physiology, typing style, preferences, and specific workflow. Read this guide to learn how a programmable keyboard can help increase your productivity, and even make you more comfortable. Kinesis has a lot of experience making fully-programmable keyboards such as our new Advantage2 and Freestyle Pro keyboards featuring our SmartSet Programming Engine, and our Freestyle Edge RGB gaming keyboard. Programmable keyboards are popular with gamers who use high-powered macros and require extra keys to trigger them, but programmable keyboards are also powerful productivity tools at home or in the office. There are two types of programmable keyboards: those that let you reprogram any key on the keyboard (“fully-programmable”) and those that add extra keys to the keyboard for programming macros. Not all Programmable Keyboards are Created Equal ![]() Choose the right one to increase your comfort and boost your productivity. Programmable keyboards let you assign custom key actions, rearrange keys, record macros, and much more.
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