Another happy Svalboard user is crushing it on day 1! I’m really amazed at how quickly most folks are adapting, users of split ergo boards seem to be getting the hang in a week or so, and transitioning to full-time use after 2-3 weeks!...
Did you know the original Datahand prototypes included the ability to slide for mousing? Just learned that recently from the original inventor! It’s a little weird, I think the modern alternatives are probably better, but he has a working version of it somewhere.
Fair enough! Svalboard isn’t really suited for folks with generalized fine-motor problems in the fingers. But I can heartily recommend using Tobii gaze trackers to simplify and speed up your mousing – really amazing tech and not that expensive. Check out Talon too, for voice+gaze combinations that will blow your mind.
I call this one Daisy ;) This set went to a user in Alabama. Units also shipped to Poland and Eureka CA. So hype for more feedback from early users! Current build queue is a couple weeks long, feel free to jump in if you want one!...
We have a longtime DH user on the Discord who spent the past year on charachorder. He’s giving it up – reliability is awful with their poorly thought out hardware, the sticks fail super fast – I think he went through like half a dozen units in a year :wide-eyes:
He liked it otherwise, but found the speed promises didn’t really hold true, especially as a SWE. DH/Svalboard/lal typing is truly superb.
Thanks, and fingers crossed! I’m trying out some SLA prototyping houses to see how modest volume runs could go, but of course that will take some time to sample and sort out all the kinks when handing off fab & assembly of the mechanicals to someone other than myself.
Cool! Join the discord and ping @_claussen I’ll keep you posted on the kit situation. Waiting on a new finger cluster PCBA rev to improve some assembly yield issues from the factory.
I can guarantee you that Svalboard will last as long as you want to type, with anything that breaks also being easily replaceable. The lack of springs and electromechanical contacts is incredible for long term reliability – my Datahand rigs are 20+ years old and all still basically work perfectly aside from one which I stupidly broke some keys on during travel, and some grunginess in one or two mechanisms probably due to dirt intrusion.
But with Svalboard the keys just drop right in and pull right out (in the right orientation), there’s no mechanism to assemble – so cleaning is as easy as popping the key out and blowing out the keywell with compressed air. And you can replace individual key clusters and PCBAs individually if needed. And print your own keys, etc. Suuuuuper maintainable. 😀 Tearing down an original Datahand for cleaning is a lot more involved and annoying, and can only be done to a limited extent.
I’d love to see some macropad users play with Svalboard. If you want to order one, I’ll sell you a half for half price 😆 but obviously I’d prefer to build you a full rig 😜
Svalboard, 41wpm on day 1? Wowza! [vendor]-ish (lemmy.world)
Another happy Svalboard user is crushing it on day 1! I’m really amazed at how quickly most folks are adapting, users of split ergo boards seem to be getting the hang in a week or so, and transitioning to full-time use after 2-3 weeks!...
Three more Svalboards went into the world this week! (lemmy.world)
I call this one Daisy ;) This set went to a user in Alabama. Units also shipped to Poland and Eureka CA. So hype for more feedback from early users! Current build queue is a couple weeks long, feel free to jump in if you want one!...