Live Training: Your Layout, in Real Time

Our keyboards are different. That’s probably why you got one. But that also means there is a learning curve: Getting used to your new keyboard takes time and practice.

Live Training is here to help. With Live Training, you get an interactive view of your layout, as you use it:

Live Training shows everything from individual keystrokes, to multiple keys pressed at the same time, to layer changes. You get a complete view of your layout, as you use it.

You can start Live Training and switch to a different window. It’ll keep working, and you can use the interactive keymap as a reference. This is great when just starting out, and for developing muscle memory for layout changes you make over time.

Getting Started with Live Training

Live Training uses the WebUSB standard, which is currently supported by Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers, such as Brave. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It requires no drivers, and no administrative privileges.

A note to Linux users, follow these instructions to set the appropriate udev rules.

For a video tutorial, please watch the following:

Preparing Your Layout

• Clone and modify your keyboard layout, and include the new Oryx key. You can place it anywhere you like:

  

• Using Google Chrome or another Chromium-based browser, click the Train link on the Oryx navigation bar:

  

• Click Connect your keyboard, and follow the on-screen prompts, tapping the Oryx key on your keyboard to confirm the connection when required:

  

That’s all there is to it! You are now in Live Training mode. You can switch to other windows or use the built-in training area. When done, simply close the window.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this work?

Live Training uses webUSB technology, which allows the browser to directly communicate with the keyboard, once you initiate the connection.

Is this a keylogger?

No. Live Training does not send any information about the characters being printed. The protocol only sends the physical positions of the keys being pressed.

Is it open-source?

The code that runs on the keyboard is open-source, and available to review and use here.

I have another question.

Please email us anytime! contact@ergodox-ez.com is where we’re at, and we’d love to hear from you. Thank you for trying out Live Training!