Well just about every man and his dog has proposed a different keyboard layout, so I thought I'd have a stab at it too! This is a *really* rough mockup just to throw some ideas out there. Don't expect anyone to change any code; can do all that myself if needed. Would like some comments, though, on what I've gotten wrong as far as groupings go! WIP.
The first idea here is to try and create a "cursor" group in the top right corner. Assume some future upgrade to navigation (up/down is already used for menus) then having 4 directions might be handy. So I appropriated the CLX as another cursor key,
I haven't really focused on making sure I copied all the functions over; hope I did OK, but it's the basic idea I'm after at the moment.
The second change is, of course, the moving of the function keys to the left edge, stacked vertically, the addition of offset arrows, and the solid colours. I prefer them here, and it makes the big blank space middle of keyboard disappear.
I've moved the R/S top right of numeric block, and the XEQ to the left of that. So the start and stop are next to each other. The bottom row now holds the EEX key which makes more sense because it's involved with number entry. The CPX has had to move to 1st key 2nd row.
The fractional F/G functions are now down next to the . used for fractional entry, creating a new grouping.
I think it's probably a good idea to have a dedicated sigma+ key (with sigma- shifted on that). When you're doing stats you don't' want to have to f-shift every single item entry. Unless that's already catered for with a sticky f-sigma when doing stats :) in which case it's OK as is.
Another thing I'd do -- and that's 'hotkeys'. When you're in a menu, there are probably fairly logical letters for many of the menu items. How about allowing you to press the letter hotkey to select? For example, to set 4-register mode for the stack; press h-MODE then 4. No scrolling through all the options if you know the hotkey. Hotkeys could be displayed alongside the menu items (optionally, say, if you hold enter down... or something).
I couldn't be bothered moving the alphabet around to the right spots. That would need to be reviewed, so ignore that part.
Since I really haven't played with the real thing, yet, I'm sure some of my assumptions are bad. BUT, if everyone can drop their preconceptions and preferences just for a bit... at least this is a novice view uncluttered by previous experience. Just thought I'd throw it out there for comment on the functionality errors in this design.
Cheers
A
Edit: Haters gonna hate. I contribute to communities and actually make stuff. Move on if you're bored.
I have removed the 2/8/10/16 and replaced with a BASE menu. Idea is you'd press g-BASE and then 2 or B, or 8 or O, or T, or H... or select manualy with up/down from the base menu. BASE on menu allows addition of further arbitrary base support later and also frees up keyspace.
I have consolidated DEG/RAD/GRAD into a new menu DRG.
I moved the e^x and LN back into the appropriate row grouping.
Moved the DSE/ISG to the XEQ key, as it's part of programming group which seems better placed near XEQ R/S LBL/RTN.
BAD IDEAS: DISCARDED BECAUSE I WAS JUST PLAIN WRONG...
* Moving R^ and Rdown to the UP/DOWN arrow keys. Used by forward/back step so key not avaialble.
* The R<>P key in the official overlay is incorrectly coloured. The yellow should be (the R and the arrow pointing to the P). The blue should be (the P and the arrow pointing to the R). The arrows are the wrong colour and mirrored. As it is, it makes NO SENSE at all.. I've fixed that in the image shown here.
Edited: 20 June 2012, 5:18 a.m. after one or more responses were posted