You signed in with another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session.You signed out in another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session.You switched accounts on another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session.Dismiss alert
Copy file name to clipboardExpand all lines: README.md
+51-8Lines changed: 51 additions & 8 deletions
Display the source diff
Display the rich diff
Original file line number
Diff line number
Diff line change
@@ -26,21 +26,59 @@ Read more at [AEKII Wiki](http://deskthority.net/wiki/Apple_Extended_Keyboard_II
26
26
27
27
## Notes
28
28
29
-
My keyboard layout is geared towards Emacs use, and the fn key is labelled as **Hyper**. The Caps Lock is noticably absent, in it's place is another **Control** key. I've also created a couple of Karabiner hacks **TODO**, I need to add them to this document for future reference.
30
-
31
-
The colored key caps in the WASD were added as an experiment to see if I can use them to aid my touch typing. I'm generally around 30wpm at the moment, and I'd like to improve significantly. Having the rainbow of keys on my home row, "should" allow me to orient myself quickly if my hands stray. (My most common typing failure is to g/h or y/t instead of the other, similar mishaps occur with c/v and i/u.) - **TODO** I'll try to add an a note on the effect of this. Note this keyboard is for use in my office, I use the Apple Extended II at home, however, I really like the feel of the Cherry MX Green switches. (I have yet to remove a couple of damps from the AEKII which might even out the feel a bit.) The AEKII is an excellent keyboard too, and at 20 or so years old, it's in fantastic shape.
29
+
My keyboard layout is geared towards Emacs use, and the fn key is
30
+
labelled as **Hyper**. The Caps Lock is noticably absent, in it's
31
+
place is another **Control** key. I've also created a couple of
32
+
Karabiner hacks **TODO**, I need to add them to this document for
33
+
future reference.
34
+
35
+
The colored key caps in the WASD were added as an experiment to see if
36
+
I can use them to aid my touch typing. I'm generally around 30wpm at
37
+
the moment, and I'd like to improve significantly. Having the rainbow
38
+
of keys on my home row, "should" allow me to orient myself quickly if
39
+
my hands stray. (My most common typing failure is to g/h or y/t
40
+
instead of the other, similar mishaps occur with c/v and i/u.) -
41
+
**TODO** I'll try to add an a note on the effect of this. Note this
42
+
keyboard is for use in my office, I use the Apple Extended II at home,
43
+
however, I really like the feel of the Cherry MX Green switches. (I
44
+
have yet to remove a couple of damps from the AEKII which might even
45
+
out the feel a bit.) The AEKII is an excellent keyboard too, and at 20
46
+
or so years old, it's in fantastic shape.
32
47
33
48
## The font, modified Univers 57 Oblique
34
49
35
-
After a little research I found out that the older Apple Keyboards use the Universe 57 Oblique font (although it's a slightly modified version than the one which can be purchased from Linotype.) The @, $ and & are fairly different, and the _ - = + / | are custom drawn for the keyboard, as they are oversized and significantly different from the font glyphs. Also notably, the letter spacing (or perhaps kerning) is much tighter than standard, I've tried to replicate this as faithfully as possible to the original. I also hand edited the $ and # glyphs on my layout, however I didn't tackle the @ or & although I would like to if I have another machine or key set made up.
50
+
After a little research I found out that the older Apple Keyboards use
51
+
the Universe 57 Oblique font (although it's a slightly modified
52
+
version than the one which can be purchased from Linotype.)
53
+
54
+
These keyboard glyphs are different to those the stock font:
55
+
56
+
@ # $ & _ - = + / | \
57
+
58
+
The `_ - = + / | \` are significantly larger and feature regular
59
+
orientation (they're not oblique.)
60
+
61
+
The letter spacing / kerning is tighter than standard, I've tried to
62
+
reproduce this modification faithfully to the original.
63
+
64
+
I hand edited the `$ # _ - = + / | \` glyphs on my layout. I didn't
65
+
tackle the `@ &` glyphs although I'd like to, especially if I have
66
+
another machine or key set made up.
36
67
37
-
There is (what appears to be) rounding of some sort on almost all of the glyphs, although this may be due to laser etching techniques in the early 90s, I haven't been able to find any concrete info about it.
68
+
There is rounding on these glyphs:
38
69
39
-
Anyway, the results of my work are what you see here, the [svg](svg/apple-wasd-layout.svg) reproduction took a little over 4 hours to put together. WASD turned it around and shipped it to Singapore in about a week. Please feel free to grab the svg and use it yourself, or modify it. I expect this could be seen as copyright infringement by Apple, but I hope it's just regarded as an homage.
70
+
2 3 6 9 S s G g J j C c
40
71
41
-
The only things I am slightly displeased about for this project was my choice of symbol for the Control keys, which is far smaller than I'd like. I will amend it if I order another keyset or complete keyboard.
72
+
I didn't implement that on my layout design, it will require editing
73
+
the font. I may well attempt this, hopefully this could be done with
74
+
Robofont.
42
75
43
-
#### WASD keyboard with custom key caps
76
+
The layout took a little over 4 hours to put complete.
77
+
78
+
After ordering/uploading WASD turned it around and shipped it to
79
+
Singapore (from CA USA) in about a week. The results are impressive.
80
+
81
+
#### Finished keyboard
44
82
45
83
46
84
@@ -57,3 +95,8 @@ The only things I am slightly displeased about for this project was my choice of
0 commit comments