Phopojijo
February 20th, 2010, 11:14 PM
Hey guys,
So I'm going to post a picture of my ideal keyboard...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/Phopojijo/pckeyboards_2075_1033946.jpg
I really like the old clicky keyboards... what can I say? But alas, it won't finish there, of course. It turns out the old IBM Model M buckling-spring keyboards are quite easily modifiable with a bit of technical skills and a lot of patience. You can really make them look however you want. (http://steampunkworkshop.com/images/Kb41.jpg)
Here's my idea:
Case: Out with the old plastic, in with an aluminum -- likely brushed, possibly polished but more likely than not brushed case.
Keys: Remove the caps from every key -- leaving just the buckle-spring mechanism. Attach to that some casing. Place one (or more for larger keys) white (if possible) LED(s) inside the casing. Atop the LED would be a sheet of white plastic to diffuse the LED light and make the entire back of the key appear to glow roughly the same amount. The key label would be atop that to block the light... and the whole lot would shine through 1/4 inch-or-so of glass... somewhat shaped to comfort.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/Phopojijo/explode.jpg
(Side-On Exploded View of Key)
Extras:
1) Switch to interrupt the Windows Key... like Logitech G15's "gaming mode".
2) 2 USB ports.
I'm going to try to make this a summer project either this summer, or the next... or I guess whenever it's warm enough in the garage if I'm not busy.
********
Thoughts?
So I'm going to post a picture of my ideal keyboard...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/Phopojijo/pckeyboards_2075_1033946.jpg
I really like the old clicky keyboards... what can I say? But alas, it won't finish there, of course. It turns out the old IBM Model M buckling-spring keyboards are quite easily modifiable with a bit of technical skills and a lot of patience. You can really make them look however you want. (http://steampunkworkshop.com/images/Kb41.jpg)
Here's my idea:
Case: Out with the old plastic, in with an aluminum -- likely brushed, possibly polished but more likely than not brushed case.
Keys: Remove the caps from every key -- leaving just the buckle-spring mechanism. Attach to that some casing. Place one (or more for larger keys) white (if possible) LED(s) inside the casing. Atop the LED would be a sheet of white plastic to diffuse the LED light and make the entire back of the key appear to glow roughly the same amount. The key label would be atop that to block the light... and the whole lot would shine through 1/4 inch-or-so of glass... somewhat shaped to comfort.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/Phopojijo/explode.jpg
(Side-On Exploded View of Key)
Extras:
1) Switch to interrupt the Windows Key... like Logitech G15's "gaming mode".
2) 2 USB ports.
I'm going to try to make this a summer project either this summer, or the next... or I guess whenever it's warm enough in the garage if I'm not busy.
********
Thoughts?