How to use this item:

1. Put it on your desk.
2. Looks cool!
3. Connect it to your PC via USB or PS/2.
4. Ignore red symbols and use as common keyboard.
5. The red symbols are genuine APL stuff. You can use this item as true APL keyboard, of course.


This keyboard is Keycool 87 modification. Keycool 87 is a mechanical keyboard what is favored by keyboard enthusiasts.


Specifications:

Keycap Material: PBT
Keycap Printing Method: Dye Sublimation
Key Switch: Cherry MX Brown
Layout: ANSI (US English)
Special Features: NKRO, Plate Mount Switch, Windows Key Lock (Game Mode)
Dimensions: 14.30 x 5.75 x 1.50 inches (31.5 x 12.5 x 3.8 cm)
Weight: 2.25 lbs (969 g)
Interface: PS/2 and USB


Custom Order:
You can specify your images for printing by custom order. $380 for standard case.


Keycaps Only:
You can buy only keycaps without keyboard by $230. Custom order please.





What’s APL?

An ancient programming language. APL uses esoteric symbols which are derived from mathematics. Red symbols of this item are APL symbols. The symbols enable concise notation of scientific calculation.

In 1970’s, APL was widely used at universities, research institutions, and financial institutions. In 1980’s, microcomputer and VisiCalc made APL decline. The esoteric symbols of APL cost too much for microcomputer users because they required special keyboard and special display system. VisiCalc and the successors, i.e. spreadsheet was enough for small uses.

Some open-source implementations are available:

ngn/apl:
Implemented by JavaScript. Online demo is available here: http://ngn.github.io/apl/web/

GNU APL:
For UNIX. http://www.gnu.org/software/apl/

NARS2000:
For Windows. http://www.nars2000.org/

By the way, if you only want to use APL and have no interest in my design and quality, you can get APL keycaps inexpensively from here: http://pckeyboard.com/page/Buttons/USAPLSET
The store may seem coarse but I ordered and got the item without any trouble (in 2014 Spring).


What’s IBM layout?

The first implementation of APL is 1960. In the mainframe age, there were thousands of character sets and keyboard layouts according to vendors, countries, languages and uses. So APL keyboard layout has thousands of variation, too. The variation is growing even now.

Current major variation:

IBM layout: The default layout of IBM APL2. IBM was most important commercial vendor of APL for long years. The layout is traditional and looks good for printing on keycaps’ front side.

Dyalog layout: The default layout of Dyalog APL. Dyalog is most important commercial vendor of APL now. Dyalog APL has vendor-proprietary extended APL symbols which standard APL doesn’t have. The layout contains such symbols. And the layout is more reasonable than IBM’s, I suppose.


What’s PBT and dye sublimation?

PBT is a kind of plastics. Common keycaps use ABS. PBT keycaps are more solid, durable, and provide better finger touch than ABS. Keyboard enthusiasts think PBT is the best material for keycaps. But PBT product is expensive. Only luxury keyboards for keyboard enthusiasts use PBT keycaps.

Dye sublimation (dye-sub) is a printing method for keycaps. Common keycaps use pad printing. I suppose you have ever seen a well-used keyboard’s legend is worn out. This is a bad property of pad printing. Dye-sub legend hardly becomes worn out. This item has far longer life than common stuff.

Dye-sub printing for keycaps required factory-use instruments before. But recently, I developed a new way falls in my home and budget. This item is a product of my findings.