END – my last keyboard format

Keyboard Builders’ Digest /

END – my last keyboard format

Peter needed to seek out “the perfect” alphanumeric format for English, German and extra European languages – and ended up with anymak:END.

Peter Paul
Printed March 5, 2025

After ditching a customized Colemak-like format, Peter needed to seek out “the perfect” alphanumeric format for English, German and extra European languages like Dutch and French. Primarily based on AdNW’s KOY variant he reached his vacation spot with anymak:END.

Article construction

This text is structured within the following in three primary sections. Be happy to leap to the part which is related or attention-grabbing for you.

• My means from Qwerty to Colemak to END tells my story why I used to be not glad with present layouts and why for me a Colemak-like format is just not the candy spot.
• Growing or customizing a format with decide provides perception within the thought course of and instruments I used to develop / adapt my format.
• What makes anymak:END particular? exhibits the anymak:END layers, why and the way they work and exhibits graphics and numerical evaluations for 13 European languages. Final not least a brief comparability of anymak:END to Colemak and QWERTY is offered as nicely.
• A tiny bonus chapter lists some applications to enhance your keyboard format, which extremely enhance the effectivity of your keyboard / pc utilization.

Intro

This final article within the sequence introduces the anymak:END keyboard format. It has a number of distinctive advantages. First it utterly avoids uncomfortable key positions. Second it may be used with the identical fingering on each customary and columnar staggered ergonomic keyboards. And at last, it’s a multi-language format particularly optimized for English, German and Dutch. It has additionally been examined to work nice with associated European languages comparable to French, Spanish or many Nordic languages. My instance implementation in Kanata already contains diacritics for the three primary languages, French and Spanish. For different languages these can simply be added as wanted.

The Anymak format idea may be seen as a sequence of attainable steps you may take to enhance typing consolation.

The steps are largely impartial from one another, and you’ll select which one you need to implement. However ranging from the underside up, you’ll get probably the most profit from the least variety of adjustments wanted. See the first and second a part of this sequence for extra particulars. You may select which of these steps you need to apply, add them one after the other or implement them without delay. Within the following a fast overview and abstract of the seven steps illustrated above.

The primary two steps do require nearly no adjustment to a regular format however already ship an enormous acquire in typing consolation and choices. Utilizing the SpaceFN idea is a no brainer I believe, and everyone ought to think about using it. Utilizing the CapsLock-key place as a modifier key permits including additional symbols or characters like umlauts or different native characters. The third step, utilizing bottom-row mods to entry the modifier keys Win (OS, Alt and Ctrl, is actually handy and for smaller ergo keyboards nearly a necessity. In my expertise this doesn’t include the timing issues you typically would possibly expertise with home-row-mods, whereas being virtually as helpful. The fourth step is to maneuver the shift-key to the simple to achieve pinky place. It is a huge win for consolation as nicely. This may be achieved by both doubling the important thing to operate each for character output (faucet) and Shift (held) — and even higher through the use of Shift as a one-shot key, which doesn’t have to be held. The fifth step is to make use of the important thing symmetrical to the CapsLock-key place as a layer swap as nicely. That’s the ‘-key place on a QWERTY-keyboard or the ä-key place on a German QWERTZ keyboard. The latter would require the primary notable change in shifting the umlaut key to a brand new place. That would merely be to assign the umlauts on the newly created image layer, on the corresponding keys from the bottom layer (aeiou). These 4 to five steps I name Spacemak. They don’t require important adjustments to the alphanumeric format used.

Lastly, to get probably the most snug typing expertise, right here you enter “Anymak-land”, you’ll use one-shot layer keys for Shift and the image layer. This requires shifting the characters you “misplaced” (/, ?, ‘ and ” on a QWERTY format) to a brand new place within the image layer. Additionally, you will want to maneuver the character on the B-key place (QWERTY format) to a brand new place, to guarantee you should utilize the identical snug finger positions on customary and ergo keyboards. The necessity and profit for this variation is defined and properly illustrated within the second article.

I derived an alphanumeric format to fulfill these wants. As a result of it marks the ultimate vacation spot of my keyboard format journey and in addition pinpointing to the three languages it was developed for, I name that format END: E for English, N for Nederlands (Dutch) and D for Deutsch (German). END can be a viable alternative once you write French, Spanish, Danish, Swedish, or related languages. If you find yourself utilizing solely English, otherwise you use a mixture of Japanese languages and English it may be price to create a brand new format. Additionally, when you’re pleased along with your format alternative and need to proceed utilizing Colemak, Dvorak, Graphite, or another format that is attainable (see additionally half 2). Beneath you will see tips about how one can optimize an present format to suit into the Anymak idea. However the identical rules and instruments can be used when you’ve got different wants or needs you need to optimize a format for.

For probably the most a part of my stay I’ve been utilizing QWERTZ, the German variant of QWERTY. I used to be touch-typing at a pace of about 80 to 90 wpm for actual world textual content. Round 2010 I received taken with different keyboard layouts however determined that switching is just not price it for me and carried out an emblem and navigation layer DeutschlandPlus. Over time I stored coming again to the thought if it could be good to make use of an optimized format, after I had seen a comparability of somebody typing with QWERTZ and Neo.

Growing a Colemak-like format

Nonetheless, I used to be not keen to ditch my QWERTY abilities utterly. I believed it could be attainable to change just a few keys and nonetheless get many of the advantages of an optimized format. Round 2022 I used to be Minimak however discovered that altering 8 keys will enhance the typing consolation a bit, however not by that a lot. My subsequent step was to take a look at Colemak. I appreciated the design rules, however when taking a better look, it was obvious that Colemak works moderately nicely for English, however not for different languages. The Colemak format is just not sturdy in that sense, however very vulnerable to variations within the languages (corpus) which is used. It additionally lacks a passable answer to entry German umlauts, or the diacritics wanted for Dutch. Utilizing AltGr is just not a wise choice in my view (see the primary two articles of this sequence).

So, I developed my very own format independently from Colemak. I arrived at a format which appears much like Colemak and had nearly related efficiency for English, after I checked it with this easy Format Tester, whereas on the similar time being rather more sturdy for use with different languages. My purpose to discover a format which ought to work for me was reached.

Studying and ditching my customized format

Then I began to study my customized format. For just a few days I attempted the Tarmak-approach to study my new format, which simply adjustments just a few keys at a time after which extra keys in following steps. However I rapidly realized that the necessity to re-learn just a few keys a number of occasions within the course of was too disturbing for me. Then I modified my follow routine. I continued to make use of QWERTZ for my every day duties. In my free time I practiced my customized format on keybr.com. That labored fairly nicely and after about two months of every day follow of solely quarter-hour on most days, my pace had reached between 40 to 50 wpm. I felt that was quick sufficient to permit me to change to make use of my new format for my every day duties. The primary week or two was a bit exhausting, however I received by means of. After round a month my pace and accuracy had improved. I used to be then reaching round 50 to 60 wpm. That was after I realized two issues. Typing felt smoother and fewer cumbersome, as a result of I didn’t must have my hand and fingers leaping all around the keyboard. That was successful. However I additionally observed that this was very true for the left hand, which felt nice. On the opposite aspect, the appropriate hand was nonetheless fairly busy, as a result of many phrases nonetheless wanted to be typed primarily with one hand. The distinction between typing consolation for the left and proper hand was important. The best-hand aspect typically felt cumbersome to make use of and never as snug because the left hand. Beneath I’ll present why Colemak or related layouts endure from that downside.

I used to be dissatisfied. Had I invested on a regular basis to create a brand new format and to study it, simply to be considerably extra snug? I wanted to comprehend that my typing consolation had certainly elevated, however that utilizing a Colemak-like method is not going to convey me into typing-comfort-heaven. I used to be bummed and determined to not cease right here. A lot later I discovered a terrific analysis what number of keys you will have to change from QWERTY to realize extra consolation. After 15 keys the enhancements get fewer. However based mostly on my private expertise I concluded that, at the least for me, it is smart to both stick with QWERTY / QWERTZ or to not prohibit a keyboard format optimization, as a result of you’ll solely get to date, when setting too many limitations for a possible new format.

From AdNW over KOY to END

I already had looked for different different layouts up to now and knew that Neo is outdated and never price studying. One offspring from the Neo mission is AdNW, which accurately stands for “coming from the Neo world”. The 2 primary forces behind AdNW and KOY, Andreas Wettstein and Ulf Bro, comply with the design rules of Dvoraks patent. The final conclusion Dvorak has drawn nonetheless stand true as we speak. Regardless of variations in preferences from totally different folks, one can state keyboard format design rules which everyone can agree on.

• Utilizing alternating palms is nice, as a result of it provides the opposite hand time to get into place.
• It may be snug to sort bigrams and trigrams on the identical hand when you may “roll” your hand over the keyboard. Most discover inward rolls preferable.
• Some fingers are stronger or extra versatile than others — they need to do extra work than different fingers.
• Assign probably the most used characters and features to the keys that are most snug and straightforward to achieve.
• Bigrams which have to be typed with the identical finger ought to be minimized, particularly the necessity to leap from high to backside or vice versa.
• A scissor the place two adjoining fingers have to be used for a key sequence ought to be minimized. It issues which finger is up and which is down.

This checklist is just not full however exhibits some related factors about what to contemplate when to seek for an optimum format. This and extra are defined on the AdNW web site, which sadly is just accessible in German. However you may learn the Google translated model, which is kind of usable, I believe.

Andreas developed his program optimizer to seek for the “finest” format, based mostly on these design rules and further necessities. It is very important notice that no excellent format can exist. You’ll at all times discover phrases that are tougher to sort than others. The “finest” format very a lot will depend on the textual content corpus which is used. And naturally, the extra variation the textual content has, the upper the prospect that some phrases might be much less snug to sort. When making a format for a number of languages you will have to make a bit extra compromises, due to this fact. However allow us to not neglect that tens of millions of individuals use QWERTY with out actual issues and an optimized format will nonetheless be significantly better than that. Even when a format can by no means be excellent, it is possible for you to to come back near an optimum. Different optimized layouts that are related shut will exist, however they are going to have totally different trade-offs and sure not be considerably higher. Subsequently, it’s a good educational train to hunt for the right format. However for sensible use you may simply choose one optimized format and be pleased.

Why did I not simply use AdNW or among the variants then? Fairly easy. Not all different layouts are equally good. Additionally, an present different format might not suit your private wants or needs. This was the case for me. Not one of the present recommendations took all of the parameters under consideration which I deemed necessary:

• Most different layouts don’t contemplate the shift key place in any respect, or not sufficient. Nearly all optimization software program choices simply shuffle across the alpha-keys, however don’t query the place the Shift or different layer switch-keys ought to be positioned. This leaves a good portion of the attainable optimizations unused!
• I needed a format which can be utilized in precisely the identical means on a regular and a break up ergo keyboard (see additionally half 2 of this text sequence).
• Not a showstopper as such, however I desire a barely adjusted weighting of the keys than the weighting AdNW applies. For instance, I discover the E-key place (high row middle-finger in QWERTY notation) simpler to achieve than the G-key (index finger on the house row – finger stretched to the appropriate). I desire a key weighting nearer to “Tastengewichtung” of the VOU-Format.
• Lastly, AdNW is developed for Englisch and German, however not for Dutch. So, some bigrams should not snug to sort and the format doesn’t provide all of the diacritics I wanted.

I took a have a look at a number of format analyzers and determined to make use of ‘decide’ from Andreas Wettstein (Supply code and documentation can be found right here: English, German). My alternative was based mostly on the truth that AdNW and its variants had confirmed to be nice sensible layouts for folks needing a format to work with German and English they usually had been developed with ‘decide’. Additionally, the analyzer ‘decide’ presents a number of options which I’ve not discovered elsewhere. Particularly helpful are:

• Prolonged documentation accessible in German and English
• Risk to customise the optimization parameters. All important parameters may be adjusted, comparable to: key association, finger project of keys, lifeless keys.
• Risk of trying to find utterly new layouts
• Risk to limit optimization to particular key positions and characters — that is extremely helpful when making an attempt to optimize present layouts
• Risk to grade given layouts
• An especially helpful visible graphic illustration of the format, which illustrates which paths fingers must journey and the frequency of these motions

Optimizing a multilingual format

Within the following I’ll give an outline of the overall method I took. In a comparable means you may fine-tune your individual format, when the anymak:END format doesn’t suit your private wants. I can’t give a step-by-step information right here however level out the important thing steps. For additional info learn the documentation of ‘decide’ or ask within the AdNW mailing checklist once you get caught. In my Anymak Github repo you additionally discover a transient description of the instructions I used to check 27 layouts for 13 languages for this text. I present the analysis outcomes, together with the enter information, which let you recreate my outcomes or adapt the config information to your private wants.

The comparisons need to be seen within the context of checking the overall suitability of a format for multi-language use. They do principally ignore diacritics. The intention is to present a sign if a base format may be suited to be tailored (by including the wanted diacritics) for use with a particular language. For additional and detailed analysis of those layouts the inclusion of the diacritics is critical in fact. Then these full layouts have to be evaluated with the assistance of an accordingly configured analyzer and / or by sensible analysis. Within the context of creating anymak:END I simply needed to see how sturdy a given format is for use for various languages.

The next screenshot provides a primary concept how totally different layouts examine for English.

Earlier than I define the optimization steps a phrase of warning. Don’t attempt to rely an excessive amount of on the software program. It’s an immense assist and also you positively mustn’t attempt to optimize a format with out software program help, as a result of you’ll by no means have the ability to take all of the related parameters under consideration . However on the opposite aspect don’t get hung-up to focus an excessive amount of on the numbers for same-finger-bigrams and different parameters. With out conducting psychophysical experiments to find out how a particular finger motion may be rated in numbers and the way totally different parameters are associated, one could make a primary guess about easy methods to probably fee the totally different properties. However it could be ridiculous to depend on these solely. To my information the psychophysical experiments wanted haven’t been performed but. This may require a analysis mission to be arrange, the place folks with totally different keyboard expertise would want to take part. Does it imply the software program analysis is now ineffective? No, under no circumstances. Simply remember that there’s a important quantity of uncertainty within the numbers any format optimizer will report back to you!

My suggestion is to begin with a weighting scheme, so the analyzer has a primary concept easy methods to fee the efforts for various fingers. However when evaluating the quantity output, I counsel trying on the totally different metrics individually and never making an attempt to mix them to 1 single quantity. It’s completely probably to objectively describe remoted parameters of a given format and examine these. For instance, a decrease variety of same-finger-bigrams is healthier, a better quantity of hand alteration is healthier, a excessive ratio of inward to outward rolls is preferable and so forth. However once you optimize for one parameter others will worsen. At a given level it’s essential to attempt layouts and see what feels finest — as lengthy there isn’t a basis in easy methods to correlate totally different metrics, this step can’t be skipped and will weigh greater than the numbers an analyzer provides. The graphical output of ‘decide’ may be useful right here additionally, as a result of to some extent it lets you see how a format will really feel.

Optimization steps

1. Outline what key association you need to use and which finger to make use of for every key. Additionally outline the important thing weighting. These and the used characters have to be outlined in a config file, which ‘decide’ will use. Whenever you need to comply with my method I took for anymak:END you should utilize my ‘decide’ configuration file on Github as a place to begin.

2. Compile the supply code for the needed variety of keys. On Home windows I used to be lastly profitable in utilizing the MingW g++ compiler (I present the binaries on Github).

Aspect notice: needing to compile totally different variations for a special variety of keys is a serious draw back of ‘decide’ in my view. It might be a lot simpler if one executable could be offered and the variety of keys might be configured within the config file as nicely. Perhaps Andreas or another person can present that someday, which might make this system extra accessible. 🙂

3. Collect the textual content corpus to base your optimization on. That may be completed with a key logger or you should utilize present databases. From these it’s essential to create frequency information (see the ‘decide’ documentation). I used the database from College Leipzig to create the Dutch and most language information and used the English and German information that are already supplied with ‘decide’. You may both optimize totally different languages individually or give a weighting to mix a number of. In my case I used an equal weighting of a 3rd for English, German and Dutch.

As well as, I used the important thing logger output to manually optimize punctuation and had a have a look at probably the most used numbers as nicely. Ultimately I stored the quantity row and didn’t discover it price altering that.

Typically a fast look about character frequencies may be attention-grabbing, for instance to rapidly double test for additional languages, with out wanting them to incorporate within the optimization run. STT Media has a set of character, bigram and trigram frequency tables for a lot of languages and presents free software program to create personal tables as nicely.

4. Both let ‘decide’ seek for a brand new format on your textual content corpus or use an present format and prohibit ‘decide’ to optimize solely chosen characters / key positions. I attempted each approaches, however discovered the higher method for my particular targets to begin with the KOY format and adapting that in accordance with my necessities. I did that by manually altering characters (primarily swapping the internal index finger ones), but in addition through the use of ‘decide’ to seek for alternate options for the related chosen keys and characters. I at all times double checked every output numerically. However as necessary, I additionally tried to jot down pattern textual content with a brand new iterated format suggestion.

5. After I selected a particular format variation, I began to make use of that however stored pondering and making an attempt different variations over time. Ultimately it took perhaps a yr, the place principally smaller iterations have been made. One main change in between was after I determined to maneuver the Shift keys to a extra snug place and skip the B-key place on the usual keyboard (see second article).

6. Notice that you will want a special config file describing the important thing association for keyboards with a special variety of keys. In my case I’ve one config file for the standard keyboard format. A second config file describes the important thing association used for Anymak. This additionally takes the totally different Shift-key place under consideration. It’s attainable to create config-files for any sort of key association. So, one may additionally create one for a columnar staggered format. Due to the shut relationship between a regular keyboard and an ergo keyboard (see half 2 of the article) I didn’t discover it worthwhile to create totally different config information, when Anymak is used on a regular or ergo keyboard. The variations would solely be seen in small weighting (and due to this fact effort numbers), however don’t change the place a particular character might be positioned. Hand alternation, rolls, single-finger bigrams and extra all keep the identical.

Aspect notice — coping with unsupported options of the optimizer

When making a config file and defining the important thing association you probably will run into the state of affairs that the optimizer doesn’t enable to explain each single side of your format, comparable to further layers and extra. You must determine if that could be a essential characteristic it’s essential to describe your format correct sufficient. Or perhaps you may work round analyzer limitations in a wise method. In my case I used to be ready to make use of the optimizer, even when not all of the options I might need can be found:

1. ‘decide’ doesn’t contemplate layers apart from the bottom and shift layer. So, I used to be not in a position to simulate the German and Dutch diacritics (umlauts and trema), which I notice on the image layer. I labored round that through the use of a diaresis key on the appropriate hand on the place the place the image layer key’s (‘-key place on QWERTY). In follow I entry symbols and the umlauts with the image layer key on the left or proper aspect. Relying on the encompassing textual content I take advantage of totally different sides to enter the image layer — related like selecting which Shift key to press, relying on the encompassing textual content. So, the reported finger paths of ‘decide’ are typically not used, however a hand alteration is feasible. Meaning the precise format is a tad higher than the simulation stories. The affect of the umlauts on the analysis is just not that giant though, as a result of comparatively low frequency anyway. It was simple sufficient to manually optimize the three umlauts and ß-character, by checking through which bigrams they seem principally.

2. The beautiful low frequency of umlauts additionally allowed me to place umlauts on in any other case pure English layouts, like Colemak or Graphite. This was a fast repair which allowed me to simulate different frequent layouts additionally with German, with out the optimizer tripping over lacking keys. The small inaccuracy when keys like hyphen or / are remapped to place umlauts on for the simulation solely is often not related, when evaluating the general efficiency of various layouts. For probably the most correct comparability you’ll use the precise format in fact. However that may require totally different config information to be arrange.

3. ‘decide’ doesn’t help one-shot shift, so the shift collisions (similar finger presses shift after which a personality key following) reported are much less important in follow. Once more, the format is a tad higher than the numbers inform.

4. ‘decide’ doesn’t help key-combos or tap-dance keys (like long-hold). As a result of anymak:END doesn’t depend on these for important features (textual content enter), this lack was not an issue for me.

5. When evaluating present layouts, I used the ortholinear or angle-mod model when accessible. All layouts have been evaluated with that fingering. As a result of I used to be solely within the broad comparability, I neglect the (principally) small inaccuracy (backside left hand), when a format is optimized for the standard fingering as a substitute. However that allowed me to shove all layouts in a single analysis file.

Evaluating graphical and numerical output of ‘decide’

The optimizer can output a numerical analysis however also can generate a graphical output. The mix of each could be very useful to grasp the robust and weak factors of a format.

The graphical output may be extraordinarily useful once you take the time to grasp all the main points it exhibits. The AdNW web site explains easy methods to interpret the graphical and numerical analysis output. The English and German documentation equipped with ‘decide’ additionally has some info on easy methods to interpret the outcomes. It’s extremely advised to learn the documentation on the AdNW web site to get many of the analysis outcomes.

The numerical output of ‘decide’ may be labeled with German or English. Right here an instance with English labels:

To my information anymak:END is exclusive in that means, that it was developed to have simple to achieve layer keys for a shift and an emblem layer, which work with precisely the identical finger positions on a regular and ergo keyboard. See the earlier article, the place I clarify the Anymak layer idea. Typing with such an optimized format would require the hand to leap round a lot much less. You get an excellent impression watching the video examples of QWERTZ vs AdNW at ~80 WPM and 142 WPM mit dem Ok.O,Y Format.

anymak:END presents an excellent steadiness between totally different necessities for an excellent format, comparable to excessive hand alternation, many inward rolls, only a few scissors, not too many similar finger bigrams and so forth. Final not least anymak:END works very nicely with a number of languages.

anymak:END layers

Right here is an outline of the three primary layers I take advantage of. Further layers like a mouse or quantity layer for instance may be added as you want.

+

The anymak base layer homes the END character format. Umlauts or different diacritics should not realized on the bottom layer. They’re accessed on the image layer. Both with a devoted key or through lifeless keys.

It took a variety of thought, analyzing and sensible testing to reach at this alphanumeric format to work nicely for all three languages. If you find yourself utilizing English, German or Dutch you shouldn’t fiddle with the format. The one keys which you would possibly contemplate to alter is swapping m and w. The analyzers will inform you that you’ll get slightly bit decrease same-finger bigrams (SFBs) that means. I’ve chosen the m-key to be on the stronger center finger and examined the related bigrams and principally desire this alternative. However relying on the language used and private choice you may swap these two keys. Additionally, P and B might be swapped btw. The apostrophe on the bottom layer is a pleasant addition, particularly for English. That key might be used for a devoted é-key or one other native character, lifeless key, or image you want typically. Perhaps you need to put the hyphen in that place? I personally use the hyphen within the quantity row or on the image layer (it’s accessible in two spots). Or you should utilize that key-position for a repeat-key (which I by no means tried myself btw). The opposite keys on the bottom layer shouldn’t be modified.

An necessary, and for many different layouts usually not seen alternative, is placing Shift and the keys to entry the image / diacritics layer on simple to achieve positions in the primary 3×6 key block. Each Shift and the image layer keys can be found symmetrically on the left and proper aspect. That is necessary to permit a excessive quantity of hand alternations. I discover Shift slightly bit extra snug to achieve than the image layer key, which is nice, due to the numerous capital phrases it’s important to sort in German.

For comfort, one key’s assigned to ESC. This enables one-handed operation when utilizing the mouse with the appropriate hand. One other candidate for that key might be to place Enter there. Or you would maintain the default Tab-function. All three of those features are additionally accessible on the navigation layer as nicely. Even when I’ve ESC on my base layer, I usually entry the ESC key on the navigation layer, as a result of it’s extra handy (see under).

Modifier keys are realized as bottom-row mods, through holding down the related keys (see illustration above). That is described intimately within the earlier article.

The image layer has all brackets, some math, and different symbols. But it surely additionally homes particular characters for native languages and diacritics. The positions proven right here work nicely for me, however you may and will be at liberty to adapt them to your wants and tailor the image layer because it is smart on your private most used symbols and international characters. In distinction to the bottom layer, which you doubtless mustn’t change, the “finest” image layer could be very a lot relying on the (programming) languages you employ. Do you favor a quantity layer? Which additional languages do it’s essential to cowl? These preferences and desires will decide what’s the finest image layer for you. Some positions on the image layer proven for instance above are free and can be utilized on your native characters or additional lifeless keys you would possibly want.

For simpler reference, the graphic above additionally exhibits the shift-layer on the quantity row, which has some symbols and lifeless keys. Most are positioned in the usual place. + and = are swapped, to permit simpler zoom-in and out operate.

The image layer additionally contains diacritics wanted for German and Dutch on optimized key positions. Notice that many of the umlauts should not positioned on the corresponding key from the bottom format. Placing them in that place wouldn’t be optimum for the typing move. Since you solely want just a few umlaut keys they don’t seem to be exhausting to recollect and you’ll study the place rapidly. The areas chosen to be sure that the keys are simple to entry within the context they seem. Relying on the characters earlier than an umlaut you may additionally select to entry the image layer through the left or proper image layer key. For many phrases you’ll doubtless use the appropriate image key, leading to a pleasant hand alternation. However for some phrases it’s simpler to make use of the left-hand image key to enter the layer. For instance, for a phrase like “für” it’s simpler to sort the ü-character as an inward-roll on the left hand. For different phrases like “Küfer” it’s simpler to make use of the appropriate layer swap after which press the index-finger-key (could be i on the bottom layer) to create the ü-character. The ë and that i trema characters typically utilized in Dutch are additionally carried out as a devoted key on the image layer, even when they don’t seem to be separate characters just like the umlauts. The accent aigu is comparatively frequent (for instance for é) and is straightforward to comprehend (o-key in QWERTY notation, c-key in END notation).

Further accents wanted for French and Spanish can be found as nicely. However personally, neither French nor Spanish are my primary languages. I want the associated characters solely very occasionally. Subsequently they don’t get a chief place. In case you need to primarily sort English and a kind of two languages you would possibly profit from re-arranging the associated accent keys.  Within the graphic above some keys are donated with a ‘d’. That exhibits that this key acts as a lifeless key. Some characters can be found as a lifeless key and as a personality key. For instance, ^ has two positions, one to make use of as the facility image and in one other location for use as a lifeless key for characters comparable to â.

Within the format overview you see {that a} single key can have double duties. I typically use the layer keys for Shift and symbols as a personality key on one other layer. For instance, the appropriate image layer key (apostrophe ‘-key in QWERTY) acts as a personality key, when you’re already within the image layer. I’ve assigned the [*] image to it, to enhance the mathematics symbols on this layer. You may both use the left-hand layer swap after which sort the important thing on the appropriate aspect. That’s what you usually ought to do. However technically it additionally works to press the appropriate image layer key twice.

The primary faucet will enter the layer, the second faucet will fireplace the [*] character.

The navigation layer is usually self-explaining. I’ve been utilizing that setup now for a very long time and it has confirmed to be very helpful and really simple to make use of. I’ve described the navigation layer already detailed within the earlier article.

As well as, I need to level out that there are various good particulars on this navigation layer you won’t spot at first sight. For instance when utilizing Alt-Tab and letting go the Alt-tab-key, however nonetheless holding the area key held (to remain on the nav layer), will can help you press the Shut-Tab-key to shut a window from the window overview. You can too navigate within the window overview and so forth.

Shift is on the market on the navigation layer as a held layer swap, so you should utilize keyboard shortcuts on the nav layer together with Shift. For instance, for marking the earlier phrase you’ll maintain down the space-key to enter the nav-layer, then as well as maintain the left Shift-key held down (which is straightforward to do on the similar time) after which press the important thing for Ctrl-LeftArrow. No worries, it sounds extra difficult than it’s in actual life with slightly little bit of follow. 🙂

I’m very proud of the navigation and shortcut layer. However be at liberty to arrange the navigation layer in accordance with your wants and desires. For instance, some desire the arrow-cluster to be in inverted T-form, whereas others like me have grown to love the Vim-style place.

anymak:END efficiency comparability

Within the following you discover numerical and graphical evaluations of anymak:END for English, German and Dutch and extra languages. For reference I examine the format to Colemak, Graphite and QWERTY.

Normal remarks on the analysis numbers and graphics

The analysis graphics give a good suggestion how a format will really feel in sensible use. They present the finger paths of all bigrams. In the event you skipped part 2 of this text, you would possibly leap again and simply learn the final part, with a brief introduction easy methods to interpret the graphics and numerical analysis.

Notice you can solely immediately examine layouts created for a similar key association. The anymak:END-layout makes use of a special key association with much less keys, in comparison with a regular keyboard format. Whenever you examine a regular key format (Colemak, QWERTY and all of the others) to the Anymak-layout you will see that anymak:END will typically have barely worse efficiency for some parameters, particularly single-finger-bigrams. That is to be anticipated due much less keys being accessible. This doesn’t imply the whole format could be inferior. It is crucial to not fixate an excessive amount of on a single efficiency parameter. As an alternative, an excellent, balanced format might want to contemplate a number of parameters. It’s my impression that single-finger-bigrams are sometimes overrated when evaluating different keyboard layouts.

An instance. Within the layouts I evaluated for an English corpus Canary had solely 0.9 % SFBs. anymak:END alternatively has 1.7 % SFBs. You may see that as a nasty end result, nearly twice as many. Does it make sense to say nearly twice as many SFBs? Or does it make extra sense to check to QWERTY (6.6 % SFBs)? And you’ll state that Canary has 14 % SFBs and anymak:END 26 % SFBs compared to QWERTY. That exhibits that each are already a major enchancment of it!

Allow us to have a look at seesaws now. On the opposite aspect Canary has 7.2 % seesaws, whereas anymak:END solely has 2.6 %. Right here Canary has nearly 3 times as many. Now the query is what’s extra necessary, SFBs or seesaws? We simply have no idea. 

What we additionally don’t see in these numbers is what sort of seesaws and SFBs we get with every format through which frequency. Some seesaws are worse than others for positive. Additionally, SFBs may be fairly totally different in how annoying they’re. A same-finger bigram on a much less exact and weaker finger (perhaps the pinky) might be rather more disturbing than one on the index or center finger. Concerning the potential typing pace there may be additionally a distinction through which course an SFB happens. anymak:END has typically slightly bit greater SFBs than different layouts, however most of these are what I contemplate to be a “good” SFB. Meaning finger actions which aren’t that disturbing and don’t price that a lot additional time both. Let me clarify: When an SFB is from the highest row to the house row, you’ll lose much less time than the opposite means round, as a result of the finger must make the transfer again to the house row anyway. An instance is ED or RF (in QWERTY).

A parameter like hand alternation may be in contrast immediately between totally different layouts, no matter what number of keys they use. Extra hand alternation is usually higher.

What concerning the distinction in how a format feels, how simple a key’s to achieve? These two are associated, however not the identical. On a regular keyboard the highest left row will at all times really feel a bit awkward, due to the stagger. But the gap is brief and, in that sense, simple to achieve. You may attempt to categorical these findings within the weightings for a given key. However what are the values which actually replicate and correlate linear (in the perfect case) with our notion? Once more, we have no idea. So these values are only a guess. A useful one, however nothing extra. As a result of anymak:END utterly avoids probably the most uncomfortable key positions the calculated effort is considerably decrease than for the usual layouts. For English that’s an effort of 314 compared to 500 for the perfect customary layouts in that side (Engram) as much as 756 for QWERTY. My typing expertise over time with each QWERTZ and now anymak:END is that there’s a actual consolation acquire with the brand new Anymak-concept. However how far do these numbers inform us that?

The graphical analysis is a good further software to attempt to higher and faster grasp the perceived efficiency, when it comes to consolation, of a format. You may immediately see when a graphic appears crowded, which bigrams are most frequent and spot instantly if there are ugly two-row jumps or scissors. You additionally see which rows are used closely. Probably most individuals desire to us the house row most, then the highest row and the underside row least. However there are layouts like Handsdown Neu which favor the house and backside row. Perhaps on your particular keyboard that’s preferrable? The graphics assist to rapidly perceive a format higher on this and different regards.

However taking all of the above-mentioned factors under consideration I believe it ought to grow to be clear that any analysis outcomes ought to and may solely be seen as a information to guage totally different parameters towards one another. To lastly determine which format is healthier in every day use on your particular wants and preferences would require you to attempt the layouts ultimately.

Numerical evaluations — anymak:END vs others

Nonetheless, with that disclaimer out of the best way allow us to take a look at some parameters for some frequent layouts for just a few languages. The formatting in inexperienced for good and pink for unhealthy is robotically adjusted to every column of the desk. The colour doesn’t essentially replicate the sensible significance of a parameter however simply serves as a relative reference level contained in the comparability group. Nonetheless, it ought to give us an concept which layouts are “worthy” to contemplate for additional analysis and sensible testing.

English

For English we see that anymak:END, AdNW, Arms Down neu and KOY are fairly balanced. Graphite can be fairly good however has a bit decrease variety of inward rolls. As mentioned earlier than anymak:END has a considerably decrease effort than all different layouts, however slightly bit greater same-finger bigrams (SFBs). I discover it attention-grabbing that Colemak appears not that balanced, even for English. Middlemak NH, which makes use of an identical design philosophy appears extra attention-grabbing to me. Neo and Famous carry out not ok IMO, contemplating they declare to be developed for English and German. QWERTY simply sucks mainly however has probably the most inward rolls. So, in case you are searching for a roll-friendly format you would possibly stick with it. 😉 Simply kidding. That exhibits that trying solely at a single parameter is not going to be useful find a format which feels snug and good.

German

The whole set of evaluations, alongside the related documentation, is on the market within the Anymak Github repo.

Is it price studying anymak:END?

Must you study an optimized format normally? The reply to that query largely will depend on your private begin state of affairs and your targets. Whenever you sort quicker than 70 wpm I believe normally it isn’t price studying another format, when your purpose is to realize pace. To extend typing consolation, it may be worthwhile though. However remember that you will want many hours and typing coaching to regain your previous pace and even get quicker. I didn’t follow that a lot after I switched to the brand new format and estimate that it’ll take two or three years to be again at full pace with no or little devoted follow. Whenever you enter the time of every day follow you may regain your previous pace faster for positive, however even than it can take probably half a yr. If you find yourself assured with QWERTY it can take a very long time, until you acquire the identical confidence in your new format. After about 1 1/2 years I typed with out actual issues within the new format, however nonetheless not as easy as after a long time of QWERTY follow.

What are the professionals and cons of anymak:END?

I believe by now what the professionals of anymak:END are. I believe it’s a nice choice, for anyone who has related needs to what I had, when designing the format. Resembling not overusing the thumbs, making an attempt to keep away from uncomfortable key positions, utilizing each a laptop computer and break up columnar staggered keyboard repeatedly. Or typing in English and a number of further languages like German, French or others. I don’t suppose the format has actually important downsides and I contemplate it to be well-rounded and balanced. It may be even attention-grabbing for English solely audio system for that purpose. However perhaps you’re looking only for one thing else. You would possibly desire to have umlauts immediately in your base layer and don’t thoughts the much less snug finger actions that this may lead to. Otherwise you need to use a letter on a thumb key. Or you’ve got different needs not lined by the Anymak idea. All legitimate causes not to decide on it.

In fact, utilizing any different format has some downsides. You’ve got to concentrate on these as nicely. Do you employ different folks’s computer systems extensively? Do you employ applications which rely closely on keyboard shortcuts you can not or don’t need to remap?

However summing it up: I personally suppose the largest draw back of another format is the educational curve. It simply takes follow! On the opposite aspect utilizing the SpaceFN idea to entry a navigation and shortcut layer has virtually no unfavorable elements, I believe. Additionally including (at the least a one-hand) image layer with a held CapsLock-key (QWERTY notation) will nearly at all times be price it. Whenever you determine to not study another format, attempt to use these two choices for positive!

What about ergonomics?

A last phrase relating to ergonomics. I don’t imagine that both a special keyboard or format will remedy well being issues you may need along with your palms. It’s attainable to make use of a regular keyboard with QWERTY in an ergonomic means, which is not going to trigger hand issues usually. Get your keyboard (very) near the sting of the desk, discover a good hand place and sort with floating palms. That’s the key in my expertise. Does that imply columnar stagger keyboards should not price it? No, completely not. It’s nicer to sort on a symmetrical keyboard. Additionally utilizing an optimized format is good. Completely price it in my view, however neither are a requirement to make use of a keyboard in an ergonomic means!

Do I remorse altering the swap?

I personally am proud of the swap. For one I like to have the ability to use the laptop computer keyboard and my Lily58 with precisely the identical and comfy finger actions. A second motivation for this mission was as a part of a self-experiment for me. I needed to find out how I can enhance my studying expertise, which I can then apply when practising different abilities, comparable to a musical instrument. 🙂

• Clipboard supervisor – Clipangel
• Textual content clips, together with time and date stamps and extra (Win, Linux, macOS) – Espanso, to be used in Home windows with Kanata use this construct
• Systemwide immediate search – Every thing Not textual content associated, however I take advantage of it so typically that it received a chief key on my navigation layer.

This text was typed on my Lily58, nonetheless trying to find a set of good, sculpted keycaps to enhance the keyboard 🙂

	Peter Paul
Deal with	rpnfan
Location	as a German residing within the Netherlands between Gouda and Rotterdam
Description	one way or the other, I turned a “keyboard freak” over time, most likely spending an excessive amount of time on discovering the right keyboard configuration 😉
Joined (the pastime)	round 2000, creating my alphanumeric layouts since 2022.
Area of interest	keyboard methods for me and probably you?
Fav. swap	Kailh Deep Sea Silent Professional Field: Tactile Whale (alpha-keys) and Linear Islet (mod and shift-keys)
Fav. keycap profile	OEM / Cherry, however trying to find the right sculpted profile (present contenders I wish to attempt: CLP, DES…)
Different hobbies	music, DIY-loudspeakers, driving bicycle and a little bit of woodworking
Hyperlinks	github.com/rpnfan, youtube, keyboard.hashnode.dev

Printed on Wed fifth Mar 2025. Featured in KBD #188.

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