Shift Happens: a Book About Keyboards

WANT. Marcin Wichary has been researching everything about keyboards, everything adjacent to everything about keyboards, and everything adjacent to everything adjacent to everything about keyboards for over a year now. I've been looking forward to this book ever since I first heard that he was working on it.

Marcin’s depth of knowledge of any and everything keyboards is legendary, but he’s also a delightful human being in person.

I have the pleasure of working with him over at Figma and he’s legitimately one of the friendliest people there. He has that warm excitement of someone truly passionate about these things - it’s a delight to talk with him about all things type since his love for the craft is truly contagious.

Nice. I signed up for the preorder.

The first keyboard I used was an IBM Selectric on which I learned to type in a high school typing class. Great keyboard. Another aspiring software geek suggested the class. I am so glad I took his advice.

The next keyboard I used was the DEC VT100. Again, a great keyboard.

The third keyboard I used was on my Mac 128K. An okay keyboard.

The fourth keyboard I used was an IBM Model M. An outstanding keyboard. I am typing on it now ;)

Putting aside the book itself, the website is an excellent masterclass in marketing. I don't think I've ever seen a book launch announcement page that is this impressive in its appreciation of subtlety, nuance, and the user's engagement.

There’s three schools of thoughts about computer keyboards.

1). People who don’t care about keyboards and just use whatever is in front of them.

2). People who love mechanical keyboards with big clicky keys and a medium-high amount of travel.

3). People who love scissor switch laptop style keyboards with flat, clicky and responsive keys with low travel.