I had an interesting experience the other day. I have been using split keyboards for years, but only recently began using a Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro as my daily driver for work; I am so use to the layout now, that in instances where I have to use a non-split, or even my older splits, my fingers fail me entirely - like my brain forgot how to type, my thumbs eagerly searching for the thumb cluster that isn’t there.
This is one of my worries with adapting to a non standard layout. My work means I’m constantly on different devices and machines so I need to be able to use a normal keyboard and windows. Using Linux is already making the windows part frustrating.
My speed on row-staggered QWERTY non-split keyboards is pretty much the same as before. Maybe it’s because I switch to Colemak a few weeks after switching to split columnar keyboards. I think that they are just separate in my head now. Similar to how learning to use split keyboards didn’t erase my memory of how to ride a bike.
I will say I have it on my radar to build a Ferris Sweep with ZMK and hotswap Choc sockets; between watching Ben Vallack’s excellent videos (thanks Ben!) and watching, “34 Keys is All You Need” - introduced me to the idea of using the Sweep with the Miryoku layout. As someone who spends all day either conducting workshops, interviewing clients where we type a mountain of notes, or turning those interviews and workshops into reports that extend into the multi-dozens of pages it appeals to me as seriously efficient and very travel friendly. Anyone have experience with said combo?
I don’t use the sweep but I actually have plans to build that on next! But I do use 34 keys only and I love it. It is an incredibly comfortable experience and I really can’t imagine going back to non-programmable boards without layers. It does take time to get used to but once you do its kinda game changing.
So, I never learned how to touch type on a standard QWERTY layout. When I got into ergo splits I need to learn how to touch type and decided to take the opportunity to learn an alternative layout. I chose Colemak DH.
Now I have two types of muscle memory. One that’s a janky peck style typing for QWERTY, the other pure touch typing for Colemak split keyboards.
Lol, are you me? Same story.
I am at the beginning of the same journey I think - a big part of why I never learned to touch type was how uncomfortable standard keyboards are. It always felt like trying to get my body to do something really stressful and unnatural, no matter how much I practiced, and I would get a lot of pain when typing.
I’m going whole hog on learning once my new board gets in - fully ergonomic split, column staggered, tenting, most likely Colemak DH, and we’ll see if we can make this ish work!
