What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
1. Are the Macros and/or Settings stored on the device or on the user's profile in the attached PC, or in public storage on the user's PC?
2. Any additional settings have been added since the video? I am looking for the ability to re-assign a pre-recorded macro to a different key, and block-of-text features, similar to the operation of Logitech G devices.
3. Any plans or mods seen to add pop-out feet? I'd like to see this as a feature since the horizontal option is cool but it would suck to have permanent feet in case elevation or rotation adjustments were desired. Even a clip-on solution would be cool because of the modularity given the design, and would add little to the cost.
It is always possible that this device is completely different from their 8-button offering, but I highly doubt it. I'd bet the only difference is the number of keys and the price.
I actually want to get the kit version and incorporate it into a sort of "assistive" game controller I use for playing 3D FPS style games. It has 6 arcade buttons and joystick, and I use an MMORPG gaming mouse for the 12 buttons on the side to mostly take the place of a keyboard for my left hand. Sometimes, though, when not "in the heat of battle" I still have to reach for the keyboard to hit buttons that aren't used very often (like esc or enter), so it would be nice to add a little 'mini-keyboard' to my joystick controller to handle those buttons. It would also add the ability to have some macros and give me a nice GUI to programe those buttons (rather than having to do it in the firmware code, like the six arcade buttons). I might desolder the profile switch and run wires to a button on the face or side of the controller box to let me switch profiles. I hadn't planned on needing to, but it would be nice to have the option if I ever needed it in the future.
On Layer 2, the L1 key goes back to Layer 1 and the L2 key goes forward to layer 3 and so on...