What is an Alice Keyboard?
An Alice Keyboard (also called an Arisu Keyboard) is a non-conventional layout for a keyboard where the board is split in the middle and both sides are given a slight angle in a “∧” shape. There almost always are two small space bars on both sides and also two “B” keys on both sides.
This design focuses on the ergonomics of typing as it puts your arms in a more natural position than the more conventional layouts. Most of the keys are separated by uneven gaps accompanied by a staggered arrangement of keys.
The number of keys it typically has is similar to a standard TKL layout keyboard, it doesn’t have a numpad but retains the directional arrow keys.
Where did the Alice Keyboard Layout Come From?
The layout is accredited to Keyboard enthusiast and Malaysian Designer Yuk Tsi in 2018 where they presented an innovative design based on a basic layout that had the PCB split and slightly angled for ergonomics.
The original TGR Alice Keyboards are expensive and exceedingly rare to find as there are only 40 units sold as online records say. Though the original batch of the Alice boards is more of a collectors’ item now, many companies in the past few years are releasing keyboards based on the Alice Layout.
If you want to learn about other keyboard layouts also read: Keyboard Form Factor and Keyboard Layout – What’s the Difference?
Advantages of using an Alice Keyboard
It is an ergonomic-centric design that forces the user to place their hands and arms in a more relaxed position to reduce the strain on the wrist during long typing sessions.
Unlike most ergonomic keyboards in the market, most Alice keyboards are either custom-made or the company producing it made the keyboards hot swap ready. With this benefit, it makes most Alice-style boards customizable depending on the users’ needs.
The disadvantage of using an Alice Keyboard
It needs some to get accustomed to its weird design, but an experienced typist will get the hang of this layout in a week or even in just a few days.
Though the keys are highly customizable, you should also be aware of how big the angle of the middle split has as its not customizable in that department, unlike ergonomic keyboards with an actual split keyboard design that gives its user all the benefits of the Alice keyboard plus the ability to adjust the distance and angle of both halves of the keyboard.
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