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
This is a real question by the way, I just can't think of what I would want a six key keypad for.
I've also seeb people using it for media control to pause/play multimedia and to mute/change the sound volume.
A third thing people do is setting it up for programming/software development. They simply use it to write pieces of code they use often with the press of a button. Idk if you know anything about programming, but examples of this are for/while-loops and framework specific codes which are often used in frameworks like Laravel for authentication.
Many things can be done with this keyboard. If you have a repititive task, it's possible to make your life easier with this.
I've got about 10 macro boards in the office (at various co-workers desks) and it's been a blast "training" people on what pressing a button can do.
Another purpose of a macropad I hadn't thought of myself is using it to display novelty keycaps. In that case you don't even need a computer :).
Would you mind sharing what kind of macropads you use and how many keys are generally used by the average worker in your office space?