Just enough computer peripherals? That's wrong!

Don't you see how many people save money to buy equipment, just for the sake of pressing the critical moment? Don't you see that Lao Wang praises the new computer chair crazily, just because his naughty boy has good spinal straight vision? A few years ago, Pen Dianjun used a broken computer to easily play all night long. Now, less than two hours after he started to code, his fingers felt numb and his shoulders felt sore. Seeing that the mechanical keyboard with hundreds of pieces was of good quality, he had a few more expectations. Can you make me feel more comfortable when I hit the keyboard? My skilled hands will fight for another 50 years!

As a result, the words "ergonomics" come to mind. Yuanxiang Bidianjun was cynical in those days. When he heard others talking about ergonomics, he scolded profiteers for making gimmicks and making money. With the rapid development of the times, my friends around me are pursuing a healthy way of working. My cognition is also gradually mature, and I realize that a good working environment is very necessary. Having a set of healthy and comfortable peripheral products is my just need, and the key object of transformation is my keyboard. Today, Bidianjun was lucky to get an ergonomic mechanical keyboard called X-BOWS. Can it become my best partner? Let's put two pictures to show you the real X-BOWS.

1. Get started: what is the fourth generation of ergonomic mechanical keyboard?

At the beginning of the invention of the traditional standard keyboard, because of the mechanical structure constraints, it can only be designed as an "anti human" dislocation layout, the hand hitting efficiency is low, and the long-term discomfort causes "carpal tunnel syndrome", "repetitive compression injury" and other diseases, so 25 years ago Apple launched the first ergonomic keyboard that divides the left and right keyboards into two; Over the next 10 years, the first and second generation ergonomic keyboards have made slow progress, or made adjustments to the left and right hand zones, or improved keystroke comfort in a matrix manner, without paying attention to wrist protection; Since the third generation, major brands have started to make fine adjustments to improve the ergonomic keyboards that are tense at the wrist and shoulder. The ease of use varies from person to person. Hundreds of them will suffer if they don't work together.

Fortunately, China has always broken the habit of foreigners' monopoly. This is the fourth generation ergonomic mechanical keyboard X-BOWS designed by Chinese and awarded the Red Dot Design Award. Integrating the advantages of the previous generation and solving the aging defects, X-BOWS innovatively rearranged the key positions, changed the stubborn misplacement of the predecessors, arranged the keys radially in the direction of the natural stretching of the fingers of the left and right hands, and scientifically rearranged them, so that this fourth generation of ergonomic mechanical keyboard was launched.

Compared with the simple mechanical keyboard ikbc F-87 RGB, which is also 86 keys, the X-BOWS keyboard with outstanding ergonomic temperament is more slim. In addition to its narrow line design, the rearranged keys further compress its area, but the keys do not seem crowded. In addition to the two radiating areas on your left and right hands, the upward arrow light at the intersection of radiating areas will also make you unforgettable.

Ergonomics should focus on the display of human body, so it is better to try it by hand; Therefore, Pen Dianjun decided to put the first test first. If you want to see the details of workmanship and lighting effects, you will have to turn back. What are the advantages of the keyboard layout just now? You can see something from the following picture: in a relaxed sitting posture, put the fingertips of both hands on the usual finger preparation position of the X-BOWS ergonomic mechanical keyboard (such as the left hand ASDF), straighten the fingers when the wrist position remains unchanged, and you will see that the fingers are pointing in the same direction as the key arrangement, and it is no longer necessary to swing or move the wrist to reach the key; Therefore, as long as you try to fix your wrist and hit the key naturally, you will soon feel the beauty of ergonomics.

The first attempt is likely to suffer a lot because of our old habits on the old keyboard. For example, at the beginning, when you hit the Z key, you always hit the X key by mistake. The following diagram can well explain the crux of this misoperation: traditional keyboards place key Z to the right of key A. When the left pinkie hits key Z, it will habitually swing to the right and down (this is the "original sin against humanity" of the old key position, causing finger and wrist fatigue). Therefore, when changing to the X-BOWS key position, it will subconsciously hit key X by mistake. This situation is also shown in other key positions, which shows how stubborn our preconceived stupid habits are.

It can also be seen from the above figure that in order to improve the efficiency of text input, X-BOWS innovatively divides the original space bar into two parts. Both left and right fingers can hit each other separately. The middle triangle is just set with additional backspace, carriage return, and shift The Ctrl key (the green box area above), while the functional area on the right side of the keyboard (the purple box area above) is scientifically redistributed. The size of the key cap is adjusted, and even the screen capture key is discarded (but it is said that the mass production version will return to replace the Insert in the upper right corner).

In addition, Enter Delete， The left and right Alt/Ctrl/Shift are reserved, but the key cap area has been scaled or adjusted in shape and position. For example, the wavy line key and the number 1 key at the upper left of the left hand area are stretched downward to facilitate the tapping of the left pinkie.

Under the reset key position, although the right hand is still busier than the left hand, the hitting task can be independently shared with the left hand. Due to the setting of the central area, the hitting frequency of the rightmost functional area of the keyboard is reduced, and the burden of the left and right hands is actually distributed more evenly. At the same time, the combination of function keys has become flexible and diverse, and friends who like to "customize" convenient fingering have finally opened their minds.

After careful observation and experience, Bidianjun finally realized the good intentions of the designer. The rearranged key position of X-BOWS can ensure that the fingers can hit any key position without large and frequent wrist swing; Nearby keys can be tapped in the easiest way, while common function keys provide additional options for preferred tapping. After gradually adapting to the old keyboard, it can not only get rid of the embarrassment of "looking for keys" from time to time, but also greatly improve the input efficiency. It is no joke to code words with healthy hands for 50 years.

2. Preliminary results: flexible combination boxing

Good design should also be easy to use. If you have experienced something ingeniously conceived but extremely difficult to use, you will naturally understand what I mean. In fact, before I started to use this X-BOWS, I also had the worry that it was not easy to use it; However, keeping in mind the principle of "fixed wrist, natural finger sending", after three or five days of frequent drills, I successfully pushed back the old habit of coding and quickly adapted to the knocking habit of X-BOWS; Since then, the efficiency of keystroke has been improved step by step, and even I have learned from myself without a teacher. I have found out several moves of "combination fist technique" to quickly roll the characters.

For example, Chestnut can flexibly use the function keys in the central area: the left and right index fingers can delete words and change lines at any time, just extend the index finger, and the wrist can hardly move! After getting used to it, I have forgotten that there is a BackSpace on the upper right side of the keyboard, and the Enter on the right side has also become a purgatory wife (below).

Shift and Ctrl in the central area also become high-frequency combination technology keys. For example, the "reverse selection" shortcut key in Photoshop software requires Shift+Ctrl+I, which usually requires the left hand to move horizontally and hold the left Shift+left Ctrl, and the right hand to press the letter I, which is a stupid move. Now it is completed under the gesture of "comparing the heart" with both hands.

Of course, with the accumulation of time, the habit of old-fashioned keys can also help hit efficiency. After adaptation, Shift+E (Photoshop "Merge Layers" shortcut key) has become flexible, which can be used with both hands or left hand alone; But you will notice that my wrist basically stops at the same place, and my fingers finish the operation quickly, but my wrist and shoulder circumference are very comfortable.

After many days of trial, you have accumulated a lot of points like combo boxing or quick skills, so I will not repeat them if the space is limited. By the way, this one in my hand is an engineering prototype. It is said that the key position of the finished product will be slightly adjusted. While the feedback is still in time, I want to ask whether the Insert on the top left can be exchanged with Delete (it is more convenient to click Delete on the top right corner)? Can you provide a more convenient tapping position for the+/- sign (special for high-frequency pinyin word selection)? What adjustments will be made to the future X-BOWS? Don't forget to sum up your experience, friends who taste the new things in advance.

In addition, X-BOWS is also a mechanical hard disk that can be fully customized. The central area and the leftmost column of keys can be customized and macro set, but it cannot be tested on engineering samples. In addition, it is said that after mass production, the left and right positions of Shift and Ctrl in the central area will be exchanged.

3. Appearance and workmanship: fresh and capable

In the first half of the page, we talked about the first-hand measurement. In this section, we will take a closer look at the appearance and workmanship of the X-BOWS. As the engineering prototype is the first to try, the quality of the 3D printed key cap is different from that of the finished product, so we ignore the workmanship of the key cap and focus on the overall structure and workmanship design of the keyboard.

As can be seen from the figure below, the keys of the X-BOWS ergonomic mechanical keyboard are similar to most of the mechanical keyboards on the market. They are also concave, which can fit the curve of the fingers and can be naturally tapped.

Different from the design of the covering shaft body of the ikbc F-87, the X-BOWS can directly see the shaft body under the key cap. The style without coverage can make the key axis below the key position shine more brightly when the colored light is on, which looks good.

The exposed keycap without border cover, together with a 45 degree high light trimming design on the plane of the keyboard base, makes the keyboard look light and capable from any angle. However, it is estimated that it is a problem of the engineering prototype. The high gloss section is relatively easy to scratch. I hope it can be improved after mass production.

From the side, the slope of the key surface of the ikbc F-87RGB and the X-BOWS ergonomic mechanical keyboard is roughly the same. There are two foot supports on the back of the base, one on the left and one on the right. However, ikbc supports support adjustment of two angles. At present, X-BOWS has only one angle.

A close-up of the foot brace, made of frosted plastic, with black anti-skid silicone fixed at the end. However, the recent Jingdongzhong fundraising is different from this project prototype. The bottom shell is flat, with knob type feet attached.

The overall structure of the bottom of the keyboard. In addition to the two upper foot supports, there are two upper and three lower anti slip rubber pads. Although there is no LOGO on the front of the engineering prototype, a large arrow logo and X-BOWS product name are engraved on the back plate. It is estimated that there will be some changes in these patterns after mass production, and parameter nameplates will also be installed. The details are unknown.

The X-BOWS uses the MicroUSB data interface to supply power and transmit signals to the keyboard. The interface is located on the upper left side. No additional drive required, plug and play. The non integrated cable design makes it easier to store and replace wires. The interface is deep, and the general MicroUSB data cable plug is not long enough, so a specially adapted wire is required. It is estimated that changes will be made in the official version.

4. Key axis and light: another Internal Skill

As an RGB keyboard, the X-BOWS can light the cap by plugging in the data cable, and it starts with a progressive flashing light, which is quite gorgeous.

There are also rich setting options for preset light effects. You can set or adjust dozens of light effect states through Fn+Delete/Insert/Page turning/Direction keys/Plus and Minus keys. At present, the engineering prototype has not provided a driver, and it is estimated that the light effect settings after mass production will be more colorful.

Remove the key cap to view its shaft body. The X-BOWS mechanical keyboard in hand uses GATERON's black axis, with transparent LED lights on the axis body, and there is no sense of paragraph when pressing. Compared with the ikbc tea axis in hand, the pressure is larger in grams.

The second generation satellite axis is used in large key positions such as space, Alt, Enter, Delete, etc., so that the pressure on the left and right sides is not inconsistent, and the pressing experience is stable and comfortable.

The LED light on the shaft body lights up more dazzlingly after the key cap is removed. At this time, the debugging can clearly see the change process of the key position light.

The keyboard light is well controlled. There is basically no light leakage, which will not cause light pollution.

Looking at the shaft body and key cap from another angle, there is a kind of neat and orderly beauty.

By the way, we need to add two sentences. At first I thought that the arrow light in the center could not be turned off, but later I found that my homework was not enough. The combination of Fn+right space bar can adjust it. In addition to the seven color constant light switching, breathing light and off, there is also a cool mode of "trial of light", which is consistent with the light effect of the key light with the same name.

5. Summary: Efficient input, healthy codeword

After trying out the X-BOWS ergonomic mechanical keyboard for many days, I have changed from unfamiliar trial and error clicking to skilled and efficient input. X-BOWS applied ergonomics to rearrange the keyboard keys, designed the key layout along the finger's natural stretching track, and took the lead in creating a new generation of ergonomic keyboard. It strives to achieve the best match between interphalangeal movement and key positions, and minimize unnecessary frequent wrist swings and muscle tension during daily keyboard input, which greatly avoids muscle and joint injuries around the wrist and shoulder, and makes healthy words simple and easy. At the same time, it also uses the innovative central area and the readjusted right function key area to flexibly cooperate, so that I can have higher coding efficiency and greatly reduce mistakenly hit operations. In addition to the high standard of workmanship, fresh face and changeable light effects, this X-BOWS has a really good comprehensive experience.

I think that to adapt to the X-BOWS keyboard, just remember the rule of "fixed wrist, natural finger extension", and practice frequently can get rid of old habits and adapt to easy and efficient input methods. From then on, you may not be able to get away from this comfortable and fast typing tool - when I tried to return to the old keyboard from the X-BOWS ergonomic mechanical keyboard, the gap was too strong. So, I'm thinking about how to live when I send it back.