Long time lurker, first post. More pics here.
My design has elements we are familiar with: columnar stagger, the Dactyl “scoop” (concave shape), and some splay (columns angled outward). But I’ve added an element I haven’t seen in any keyboard before (though I did get some hints from this community).
Try this: look at your nails with your palm facing toward you (so your fingers will be pointing down toward your wrist). Notice that the tips of your fingers form a curve like a smiley-face. 🙂 That’s the “scoop”.
Now notice the angle of your fingers - they point inward. This is what your fingers do when they are curled over the keyboard (photo). Sculpted boards I’ve seen either have none of this angle, or they follow the concave scooped shape and set it in the opposite direction.
Keen to hear your thoughts, and I’m open to name suggestions!
EDIT: Changed photo
EDIT: Don’t like how loud the hollow body sounds, going to explore a quieter body design.
It’s an interesting design. I wonder if that could work with high profile MX switches and keycaps.
In Dactyls, the reason keys often face inward is as to keep key tops is close to each other as possible. Facing outward would obviously have the opposite effect, but with low profile keys it is less noticeable.
Now, there is one case you really want the keys closer, it is between 2 columns belonging to the same finger.
You’re right, it wouldn’t necessarily work as well with high profile MX switches, unless someone has bigger hands. Having only 2 keys on the inner index column helps to mitigate some of the extra reaching - but, that’s not for everyone. Ideally there would be no inner index column. One day…