Build your own keyboard from A to Z(erty)

Let’s get one thing out of the way: we won’t be talking about keycap aesthetics or the satisfying (or irritating) sounds mechanical keyboards can make. Instead, we’ll dive into electronics, ergonomics, and DIY.

Fifteen years ago, I started experiencing pain in my hands and wrists. That led me to explore keyboard ergonomics, first by switching to the bépo layout, then moving on to so-called ergonomic keyboards. But more recently, I decided to go a step further: to design and build a keyboard tailored precisely to my needs.

In this talk, we’ll walk through how to build a custom keyboard from scratch, from the USB connector all the way to your fingertips. We’ll cover HID class protocol, microcontrollers and firmware, key matrix wiring, layout and layer design, and even the fun stuff like LEDs, rotary encoders, or screens. There are no limits!

And what if I told you it costs barely a third of a commercial keyboard? Come discover one of the most rewarding DIY projects I’ve ever taken on!