Neo Ergo - Trimode Keyboard Kit

Ergonomic keyboards were designed to alleviate chronic wrist and shoulder injuries caused by intensive typing. Most ergonomic mechanical keyboards available today are designed based on the Lynworks EM7 and TGR Alice in terms of layout and structure, primarily focusing on improving wrist and forearm angles. However, factors such as tilt angle, rotation, and finger placement are often overlooked. After using and analyzing numerous open-source ergonomic projects, we incorporated all these essential elements into our design and created the Neo Ergo.

As Natural As Possible

Although the split ergo is a popular choice for ergonomic keyboards nowadays, it does come with a steep learning curve. To balance easy adoption with ergonomic design, we've chosen a tilted Alice layout for this project.

The standard Alice layout allows our wrists to maintain a relatively natural position during typing, yet it doesn't address the forearm rotation. Experience with Logitech K680 has enlightened us to explore beyond the two-dimensional system. Ideally, only the outer rims of the hands and the small fingers should make contact with the desk while typing. Therefore, the tent is added in the middle of Neo Ergo to allow hands to rotate slightly outwards, reducing wrist rotation and relieving tension in the forearm muscles.

Improved Layout

We believe symmetry is crucial to the aesthetics of the Alice-style keyboard, so it's one of our main considerations when designing the layout for Neo Ergo. We made the alpha areas nearly symmetric to accommodate different typing habits while incorporating multiple options such as 2.25+2.75 spacebars, split backspaces, split shift, and arrow keys, all of which are configurable in VIA. Furthermore, we positioned the F and J keys symmetrically to minimize the height difference between the left and right hands while typing.

Case Design

The appearance of Neo Ergo continues the Neo family's simple and retro design style. We've added RGB light strips in the spaces between the keys for embellishment. The colour of the light strip can be adjusted according to personal preference, making it easy to match with different themed keycaps.

Like the Neo65 and Neo70, Ergo's side profile is simple and considerate, featuring an inward-sloping edge for easier pick-up. We've concentrated on the design around the USB port to minimize the bulky look created by the tenting case. The bevel above the USB port enhances the dynamism of the side profile, which also forms a natural transition from the top to the side. 

This time, we've included “the kernel” between the top and bottom cases. It not only hosts the batteries, daughterboard, and magnetic connectors but also provides an additional element for customization.

The orbit logo on the weight has been redesigned. Customers can also choose different colours for the weight and badge to add a personal touch.

The Ergo wristrest is the cherry on top. It's specially designed to match the outline and the tenting angle of the Neo Ergo, further lowering the front height to ensure your hands type in the most comfortable position. Customers can choose between the acrylic or cherry wood versions based on preference. The acrylic version undergoes multiple rounds of special treatments to enhance hardness and durability. Each wrist rest is hand-polished for an ultra-smooth texture.

Innovative Gasket Mount

During the prototyping phase, we found that the standard gasket mount couldn’t deliver consistent typing feedback or optimal acoustic performance in a tenting keyboard. As a result, we repositioned the gasket to the middle and corners for the Ergo. This adjustment offers a more evenly distributed typing and acoustic experience across the entire keyboard.