Tips for making the layout work for smaller hands

[lazyjai]

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone has any tips for making the Keyzen layout work for smaller hands: 17.5 cm palm to tip

I'm finding the thumb and top row buttons are a bit of a stretch with everything bumping up against each other when retracted to the closest positions which limits how things can be placed. This is likely going to cause some strain.

Thanks in advance

 

[Im this guy]

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone has any tips for making the Keyzen layout work for smaller hands: 17.5 cm palm to tip

I'm finding the thumb and top row buttons are a bit of a stretch with everything bumping up against each other when retracted to the closest positions which limits how things can be placed. This is likely going to cause some strain.

Thanks in advance

Tower risers could be an option - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7092870

 

[lazyjai]

Thanks, that may help with the button, but the thumb placement is another issue. Because of the thumbstick mounting module impacting the rightmost key group (third photo), the thumbstick group cannot get any closer to the rest of the hand.

This causes a stretched thumb and is uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time. (1st photo, with 2nd photo showing a natural thumb position.)

Thoughts?

 

[Im this guy]

Thanks, that may help with the button, but the thumb placement is another issue. Because of the thumbstick mounting module impacting the rightmost key group (third photo), the thumbstick group cannot get any closer to the rest of the hand.

This causes a stretched thumb and is uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time. (1st photo, with 2nd photo showing a natural thumb position.)

Thoughts?

With risers you might be able to push the index finger forwards, thus allowing you to better position the thumbstick

 

[lazyjai]

Ok, they're on the 3D printer and I have new M2.5 screws coming. Will do some testing.

 

[lazyjai]

Thanks, that has mostly solved the issue. Needs some tweaking to see what raise is ideal, but mostly good.

 

[Ocean]

Smaller hands? Keyzen starts at 7.9in. The average hand size for men is 7.6in. The average size for women is 6.8in. It isn't smaller hands that need accommodating. It's average hands. My hands are 7.5in. If I bring in the keys as far as they'll go, it feels okay. A tenth of an inch shorter, and it would've felt off. In an ideal world, they could be a little shorter, but it's not bad enough for me to return it as is. I think there should be a warning that it's for larger hands. At least more than just that statement in the details. The sad part is that there's still about a half inch or so before the key modules start hitting the palm rest so there's room to make some smaller fingers for the base plate without changing anything else. I'd certainly appreciate some.

 

[lazyjai]

I'm wondering if the designers benchmaked for Eastern European sizing..... Latvians have a very tall average height, about 6 or 7 cm more than Americans (i'm guessing since you use freedom units). That could play a factor.

It's not uncommon for different parts of the world to have different size benchmarks. in textiles, the benchmark size for a XL shirt in Japan is often equivalent a large or even a large-ish-medium in North America.

 

[Ocean]

If I had to take a guess? They didn't want to produce new bases for the towers (the fingers), or just haven't gotten around to it yet. Those are injection molded parts now, and not 3d printed. Molds are expensive. But then, they also could've designed the towers differently as well to compensate, so... Your guess is as good as mine, but I don't think it was regional size difference, medium is classed as 6.3-7.5in for the Cyborg II. Could also be that their customer base tends to skew towards large hands as well. Don't know for sure. The only reason I went for the Keyzen over the Cyborg II compact is the extra inputs. I've been pretty happy with it, and their software, so far as well. Hopefully they'll offer a size adjustment kit in the future, and they're not seeing a lot of returns over it.

 

[Im this guy]

The switches take so much space, so there is not much that can be done about the size of the towers.

 

[harrystyles7117]

Smaller hands? Keyzen starts at 7.9in. The average hand size for men is 7.6in. The average size for women is 6.8in. It isn't smaller hands that need accommodating. It's average hands. My hands are 7.5in. If I bring in the keys as far as they'll go, it feels okay. A tenth of an inch shorter, and it would've felt off. In an ideal world, they could be a little shorter, but it's not bad enough for me to return it as is. I think there should be a warning that it's for larger hands. At least more than just that statement in the details. The sad part is that there's still about a half inch or so before the key modules start hitting the palm rest so there's room to make some smaller fingers for the base plate without changing anything else. I'd certainly appreciate some. papa's games

The switches take so much space, so there is not much that can be done about the size of the towers.

You're right that they could have compensated in the design, but it sounds like they prioritized a universal fit, even if it skews large.

 

[Ocean]

The switches take so much space, so there is not much that can be done about the size of the towers.

I'm not saying there had to be a change to the size or arrangement to the towers, just a change in the design in the base of them. Shift the mounting holes forward on them to allow them to travel further back. A notch in the back bottom of the pinky tower to allow it to get past the hump in the finger it's attached to and move further back as well. You've probably already tried this though, I'd assume, and there was a reason behind going with the mounting design you did. It wouldn't net you a whole lot, maybe as little as 1cm on the pinky side, but you're so close to that sweet spot already, it'd be a shame not to try if for some reason you haven't already.

You're right that they could have compensated in the design, but it sounds like they prioritized a universal fit, even if it skews large.

I'd say they prioritized universal parts compatibility. It's a great idea, being able to offer a new product with just some newly designed towers, a thumb module, and some software support. They've done a great job with it, imo.

 

[smithsato]

I'm not saying there had to be a change to the size or arrangement to the towers, just a change in the design in the base of them. Shift the mounting holes forward on them to allow them to travel further back. A notch in the back bottom of the pinky tower to allow it to get past the hump in the finger it's attached to and move further back as well. You've probably already tried this though, I'd assume, and there was a reason behind going with the mounting design you did. It wouldn't net you a whole lot, maybe as little as 1cm on the pinky side, but you're so close to that sweet spot already, it'd be a shame not to try if for some reason you haven't already.



I'd say they prioritized universal parts compatibility. It's a great idea, being able to offer a new geometry dash lite product with just some newly designed towers, a thumb module, and some software support. They've done a great job with it, imo.

Hi there, I completely understand the struggle with the Keyzen layout for smaller hands, especially with reaching the thumb and top row buttons comfortably. Have you tried adjusting the keycaps or switches to something more sensitive or lower profile? This might reduce the stretch needed for each press. Additionally, ergonomic accessories like wrist rests could potentially help align your hands in a more natural position, making it easier to reach all keys.