F1’s design begins with centralized alpha cluster, comprising the alphanumeric and thumb keys. The key’s grouping takes it’s cue from the idea, “above all else, avoid having the typist move from the home row;” a philosophy extending to the idea that the alpha keys are absolutely the essence of achieving the writer/programmer’s design goals.

A beneficial side-effect of the centralized alpha cluster design is found noting that the thumbs rest naturally over the two keys adjacent to the space key. Shift/Escape and Shift/Backspace keys. The Shift function of the Shift/Escape key is activated by holding down the key while pressing another character while the Escape key is activated with a quick tap. Vim users, especially, will appreciate the Escape key’s location for quick activation.

A similar device is used for the right thumb key: the ‘Shift’ function is activated by holding the key down with another (usually alpha) key while the ‘Backspace’ key is engaged with a quick tap. The thumbs' position gives the keyboardist the ability to access all the alpha keys and the most commonly-used editing keys while at the normal, ‘home row’ position.

The Return is activated by holding down the ‘Space’ key momentarily.

While the design makes minimal changes, the “home row” philosophy is extended to the expanded use of the thumbs. The most commonly used non-alpha keys—backspace and return—are placed on the two thumb keys adjacent to the space bar. Never far-extend your pinkies again!

Overall, the all writing-related keys lay in the main key area and are designed such that the alphas and most commonly used editing keys are accessible without reaching from the home position. The modifier keys stay out of the way during text input but remain in a position where they may be pressed with a quick, protracted stroke.

The rationale for the meta keys' placement recognizes the shift in the typist’s thinking: when the typists uses a modifier key they have moved mentally from a writing mode to a modification mode. Traditional keyboards force the typist to contort their fingers (CTRL-C, for example) in various ways to access various non-writing functions. The F1’s modifier key placement recognizes the cognisant change by keeping the modifier keys out of the main key bay while remaining close for quick meta edits without painful finger movements.

The negative key tilt should be considered with thoughtful keycap profiling to bring a design that provides a natural, almost effortless typing experience. The sculpted keys should feel as if the keyboard “knew” where the typist’s fingers would land with each key.

The negative keyboard tilt and judicious keycap profile, if done properly, ought to lend itself to flexible use, either by typing with the keyboard on a desk or in the typist’s lap. The F1’s physical dimensions and design features are intended for both desktop and laptop use.

The F1’s physical measurements—220mm x 120mm—lends itself for resting the keyboard on your lap or set lower at a steeper negative angle between the inner thighs. Either configuration provides a ‘posture neutral’ position for the typist. The benefit is longer typing sessions without discomfort, indirectly increasing efficiency.

Note in the diagram entitled, ‘Ideal Typing Position’, the keyboard has a positive tilt but, because of the negative angle of the keyboard tray, the keys are negatively angled overall. The F1 achieves a negatively-angled key arrangement on flat surfaces by angling the keys themselves. It is your author’s opinion that the keyboard position tries at least in part to overcome poorly designed, “positively sloping” keyboards. The net benefit of sloping the keys themselves in the F1 is achieving a sound, negative-angle key configuration on a flat surface.

Setting the keyboard between the inner thighs at a slightly steeper angle is shown in the author’s experimentation to actually be the more comfortable of the two, especially over long periods of time. The benefit is increased as periodic adjustments become easy and natural. Laptop use also benefits the typist through clearing the desk and permitting his monitor(s), laptop, or tablet to be positioned closer.

Keyboarding is found more comfortable for all normally used positions from sitting straight in a chair to open-angled reclining.

The terminal computers of the 1970’s made the most of their sparse resources through a system called “modal editing.” Modal editing uses two modes: insert mode where you type text into the editor and it is committed to the document. Normal mode is used to enter arguments via the keyboard to perform a variety of functions, including: moving the cursor around the document, searching, and manipulating the text in the document (for example, cutting and pasting).

An example of the advantages of modal editing may be had in the simple operation of deleting the next three lines from the cursor. With WYSIWYG editing, the user must either first move his mouse, highlight the sentences, and press the Delete key. Alternatively he must hold the Delete key down until the sentences are erased.

With ErgoVim (described below), the next three sentences are deleted with 3xx. Traditional Vim’s key combination is 3dd.

The method of Modal input survived to this day because it is fast and efficient. The F1 is optimized with a modified Vim called, ‘Erovim.’ From the Ergovim author’s description:

The F1 uses the Vim snippets system to make your input faster. Snippets allow you to type in a few characters plus the TAB key to expand commonly used text blocks.

Typing lorem+TAB creates a block of ‘Lorem Ipsum’ text commonly used by web developers.

When modifier keys need to be used, as in the case of a screen switch (Meta+number key in the Awesome window manager), the meta keys are designed to be out of the way yet easily accessible with a quick protraction of the fingers. Note that the meta key position means your fingers never leave the home row area through simply moving one of the fingers back slightly.

The Formula One keyboard reflects 25 years of cutting-edge writing and information technology experience. The system orchestrates fast, fluid input methods into a compact, quality design. The Formula One is the first true programmers keyboard, designed by programmers, for programmers.

Mod+number and Shift+Mod+number key combinations comprise the most often used keys with tiled window managers. The F1’s modifier key located on the right side index finger and the number key position along the left home row makes switching desktops fast and convenient.

Once you have mastered navigating your software and operating system modaly through VIM and tiled window managers, operating your browser through the keyboard becomes a natural next step.

Mouseless operation with the web is achieved with the Pentadactyl plugin for Firefox or through naively with qutebrowser. Both let you surf the web efficiently and intuitively through the keyboard. You will eventually find going back to a mouse-based browser cumbersome.

Another method of mousless operation is through the keynav daemon. The software, through the VIM movement keys, lets you quickly and easily ‘target’ the area you wish to click. Making mouse clicks through keynav is arguably faster than using the mouse and is certainly less distracting.