Kinesis KB600 User Manual
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Kinesis KB600 User Manual

Professional-grade ergonomic keyboard with mechanical keyswitches
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USER'S MANUAL
Advantage2 Family of Contoured Keyboards™
with SmartSet™ Technology
KB605
KB600
Designed and Assembled in the USA
Mac/Windows/PC
Contoured
SmartSet™ Onboard
Cherry Mechanical
Switchable
Keyboard™
Programming Engine
Keyswitches

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  • Page 1 USER’S MANUAL Advantage2 Family of Contoured Keyboards™ with SmartSet™ Technology KB605 KB600 Designed and Assembled in the USA Mac/Windows/PC Contoured SmartSet™ Onboard Cherry Mechanical Switchable Keyboard™ Programming Engine Keyswitches...
  • Page 3 • July 2016 Edition © 2016 by Kinesis Corporation, all rights reserved. Printed in the USA on recycled paper. KINESIS is a registered trademark of Kinesis Corporation. ADVANTAGE2, CONTOURED KEYBOARD, SMARTSET and V-DRIVE are trademarks of Kinesis Corporation. WINDOWS, MAC, and ANDROID are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, Apple, Inc., and Google, Inc., respectively.
  • Page 4 FCC Radio Frequency Interference Statement Note This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a residential installation.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents 1. Health and Safety Warning 2. Read-me-First 3. Introduction 4. Keyboard Overview 5. Ergonomic Features 6. Installation 7. Getting Started 8. Adaptation Guidelines 9. If You Are Injured 10. Layout Selection: QWERTY & Dvorak 11. Thumb Key Mode Selection: Windows, PC & Mac 12.
  • Page 6 21. Ergonomic Guidelines for Computer Workstations 22. Tech Notes...

  • Page 7: Health And Safety Warning

    Your physical trauma has built up over months or years, and it may take weeks before you notice a difference. It is normal to feel some new fatigue or discomfort as you adapt to your Kinesis keyboard.

  • Page 8: Read-Me-First

    Read this User’s Manual Even if you don’t normally read manuals, Kinesis strongly encourages you to read this entire manual at least once. The manual provides suggestions for the initial adaption period and explains the unique features of the physical form-factor and electronic design of the Advantage2 keyboard.

  • Page 9: Introduction

    Since debuting in 1992 as the first letter-based ergonomic keyboard in the US, the design is widely recognized as providing the ultimate in keyboarding comfort. The Kinesis contoured design has long been imitated by other companies who are only interested in paying lip-service to ergonomics, but no keyboard design goes as far as the Contour to address the major repetitive strain injury (“RSI”) risk factors associated with...

  • Page 10: Keyboard Overview

    The underside of the keyboard features two cables. The longer cable with the USB Type-A connector is used to connect the keyboard to your computer through a standard full-size USB port. The cable with the familiar looking telephone connector (RJ11 style) is used to connect the keyboard to an optional Kinesis Advantage Foot Pedal.

  • Page 11: Ergonomic Features

    5. Ergonomic Features The design of the Advantage2 keyboard traces its roots to the very first contoured keyboard made by Kinesis in the early 1990s. Kinesis set out to develop a design that would prioritize ergonomics over everything else, and would address the major risk-factors associated with keyboarding.
  • Page 12 Cherry first built the Brown-stem switch according to specifications supplied by Kinesis in the early 1990s and it has since been adopted as one of the switches of choice for all of the major mechanical keyboard manufacturers, ergonomic or otherwise. “Tactility” is a slightly elevated force around the midpoint of the stroke of the key which lets you know the switch is about to be activated.
  • Page 13 Optional foot pedals Kinesis contoured keyboards were designed to be paired with optional Advantage foot pedals to further reduce the strain put on overworked hands and fingers. Up to three foot pedals can be used to perform individual keystrokes or complex macros, redistributing a portion of the workload away from your hands.

  • Page 14: Installation

    6. Installation Compatibility The Advantage2 is plug-and-play with all operating systems that support USB devices. Thanks to the Kinesis SmartSet Onboard Programming Engine, the Advantage2 does not require the installation of any software or special drivers on your computer. Installation Note: 1.

  • Page 15: Getting Started

    Since the Advantage2 keyboard is taller than a traditional keyboard and features integrated palm rests, it may be necessary to adjust your workstation to achieve a proper typing posture with the Advantage2. Kinesis recommends the use of an adjustable keyboard platform/tray to allow for optimal keyboard position. To shop for keyboard platforms and other ergonomic accessories visit www.kinesis.com.

  • Page 16: Adaptation Guidelines

    You will need a little time to adjust to the new shape of the Advantage2 keyboard. Laboratory studies and real-world testing show that most new users are productive (i.e., 80% of full speed) within the first few hours of using a Kinesis contoured keyboard.

  • Page 17: If You Are Injured

    9. If You Are Injured The Advantage2 keyboard is designed to reduce the physical stress that keyboard users experience– whether or not they are injured. Ergonomic keyboards are not medical treatments, and no keyboard can be guaranteed to cure injuries or prevent the occurrence of injuries.
  • Page 18 This gives you body a change to rest and make a fresh start. If possible, Kinesis recommends starting with the Advantage2 during a period when you are not under a lot of work related stress or pressure.

  • Page 19: Layout Selection: Qwerty & Dvorak

    Dvorak layout. All keyboards come configured from the factory with the QWERTY layout active. Users can quickly toggle between layouts with a touch of a button. Additional layouts, such as Colemak, can be downloaded from Kinesis.com. QWERTY Layout The Advantage2 keyboard retains the familiar QWERTY key layout for the vast majority of keys (pictured below). Several changes have been made to secondary, non-letter keys in the QWERTY layout to transfer the typing workload from your overworked little fingers to your stronger thumbs.
  • Page 20 Changing the positions of the keycaps will make it difficult for your fingers to move across the keys. Kinesis recommends that Dvorak typists purchase the Advantage2 QD model (KB600QD) which features dual-legended QWERTY-Dvorak keycaps.

  • Page 21: Thumb Key Mode Selection: Windows, Pc & Mac

    Thumb Key Mode Selection: Windows, PC & Mac In addition to selecting between QWERTY and Dvorak layouts, Advantage2 users can select from one of three Thumb Key Modes to configure the four modifier keys in the Thumb Clusters to match their operating system. The three Thumb Key (non-windows) Modes are 1) Windows, 2) PC , and 3) Mac.

  • Page 22: Function Row

    The Advantage2 features 18 half-size mechanical “function” keys located in the Function Row. The Function Row is conveniently located at the top of the keyboard, closer to the home row than on a conventional keyboard. Kinesis recommends accessing these keys by moving your hands and arms slightly, rather than trying to stretch your fingers.

  • Page 23: Mac Usage & International Usage

    13. Mac Usage & International Usage Mac Usage When installing the Advantage2 for the first time a Mac computer, you will likely be prompted with the Keyboard Setup Assistant. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the Setup Assistant or close the window. Mac users should configure their thumb keys for Mac-specific modifiers and install the included keycaps on the appropriate keys.

  • Page 24: Smartset Onboard Programming

    Savant Elite2 programmable foot pedals in 2015 and then adapted for use in the Advantage2 keyboard. The basis of SmartSet is using a virtual flash drive (the “Kinesis KB” v-drive ™) inside the keyboard to store custom configuration settings. For basic users of the keyboard, the saving and storing of these layout files to the Kinesis KB drive happens behind-the-scenes.
  • Page 25 15. Customizing Your Keyboard: Basic SmartSet Programming Features The Advantage2 keyboard has a number of Basic Programming Features that even those who have never used a programmable keyboard can learn to use and benefit from. Basic Programming Features are accessed using The Program Key (labeled “progm”) in conjunction with one or more keys in the new Function Row.
  • Page 26 Your Advantage2 keyboard comes from the factory with the most up to date version of the firmware as of its build date. Kinesis may at times release new versions of firmware to add features or fix bugs. If you purchased your Advantage2 from one of Kinesis’s authorized resellers (as opposed to from the Kinesis store), its possible that your keyboard has an older version of firmware.
  • Page 27 that provides a subtle electronic click each time a key press is registered. The purpose of the key click is to provide feedback to the user regarding when a given key press has been registered by the computer to discourage “bottoming out”...
  • Page 28 Activate Windows Thumb Key Mode Program + F7 Note: No change to the Layout or other basic settings. Activates Windows Thumb Key Mode (see page XX). Disable (Enable) Key Clicks Program + F8 The Advantage2 is equipped with a unique feature that provides a subtle electronic “click” each time a key press is registered.
  • Page 29 Key and Modifier Keys (e.g., Ctrl, Alt, Shift etc) cannot be used as a single key macro trigger. Once you have selected a valid trigger key (or key combination), the Num Lock LED indicator will begin to flash slowly while you type your macro content for recording.
  • Page 30 Unlike Macro Record Mode, during Key Remap Mode the keyboard will revert to the original underlying layout (i.e., QWERTY or Dvorak) for key reassignments. So you cannot remap a remapped key. During Key Remap mode, the keys will not output to the computer. Keypad Layer (aka the “embedded layer”) Keypad Key Each Layout on the Advantage2 features a second virtual keyboard layer that can be used to be used to remap keys, store...
  • Page 32 Even those users familiar with programmable keyboards in general, or a Kinesis Advantage keyboard, should read this manual in full before attempting to access any of the Advanced Programming Features.
  • Page 33 Program + F1 As described in the SmartSet Onboard Programming Section, the Advantage2 contains a virtual flash drive (named “Kinesis KB”) where the keyboards layout files (e.g., QWERTY and Dvorak) and firmware files are stored. This flash drive is normally hidden from your computer and for basic keyboard usage (including Basic Programming Features) it is not ever necessary to access the v-drive.
  • Page 34 AutoPlay popup, look in “My Computer” for a removable disk named “Kinesis KB”. On Mac operating systems, the V-drive will usally appear on your desktop. If it does not appear on your desktop look in Finder > Devices for “Kinesis KB”. In Android look in computer settings.
  • Page 35 custom actions have been saved to the QWERTY Layout, then the qwerty.txt file will be blank. 2. dvorak.txt– The dvorak.txt file contains the configuration instructions for the default Dvorak Layout. Only custom remaps and macros created in (or otherwise assigned to) the Dvorak Layout will appear in the dvorak.txt file. If no custom actions have been saved to the Dvorak Layout, then the dvorak.txt file will be blank.
  • Page 36 Your Advantage2 keyboard comes from the factory with the most up to date version of the firmware as of its build date. Kinesis may at times release new versions of firmware to add features or fix bugs. If you purchased your Advantage2 from one of Kinesis’s authorized resellers (as opposed to from the Kinesis store), its possible that your keyboard has an older...
  • Page 37 To update the firmware, perform the following steps: 1. Obtain the appropriate version of Advantage2 firmware from Kinesis tech support (“.upd” file) 2. Activate Power User Mode (Program + Shift + Esc) 3. Open the V-drive (Program + F1) 4. Open the Firmware Folder 5.

  • Page 38: Customizing Your Keyboard: Direct Programming Guide

    As described in Section X, enter Power User Mode (Program+Shift+Esc) and then mount the Kinesis KB V-drive (Program+F1). Open the Kinesis KB drive and open the “active folder”. Always use a plain text editor if possible, and if not, be sure to select the “plain text” or “simple text” format when saving a Layout configuration file. It is a good idea to rename and save a backup outside the active folder or on your hard drive.
  • Page 39 Kinesis-defined “tokens”, which are used to identify the key. In most cases the appropriate USB hex code can be used in place of the Kinesis tokens if users find that preferable. A default Qwerty or Dvorak Layout configured for Windows Mode will have an empty .txt file. If PC or Mac Mode has been activated, then the appropriate key remaps will have been automatically added to the .txt file.
  • Page 40 Example 1: The Q key will perform the letter “a”. [Q]>[A] Note: [Q]>[A] and [Q]>[a] both produce the same lower case “a” output. Example 2: The Right Windows key will perform the “shift” action. [rwin]>[shift] Note: After the keyboards has been programmed, the lower case action of letter keys will always be produced unless the keyboard's Caps lock is on when pedal is pressed.
  • Page 41 Example 4. Macro plays “1+2=3” using the F12 key: {F12}>{1}{-shift}{=}{+shift}{2}{=}{3} ADVANCED PROGRAMMING FEATURES FOR MACROS Several special features can be incorporated into macros. A different action can be produced on the press and on the release of the key. Also a faster or slower output speed can be selected which will override the Global Macro Playback speed as set using Program+Pause.
  • Page 42 Example 1. This left pedal macro below plays back the phrase "fast slow" where the word “fast” is typed at speed5 and the word “slow” is typed at the speed9. {lpedal}>{speed5}{f}{a}{s}{t}{space}{speed9}{s}{l}{o}{w} Adding delays to macros Macros can have one or more internal delays. Delays are most commonly used to support a double click action but you may find other applications for them.
  • Page 43 Any changes made to a Layout Configuration file will not take effect until the .txt file is saved to the Active folder and the Kinesis KB drive is closed/unmounted. The drive can be unmounted either by using the shortcut Program+F1 or by...
  • Page 46 “DICTIONARY” OF TOKENS FOR AVAILABLE MOUSE & KEYBOARD ACTIONS & COMMON SHORT MACROS Token Token Key Descrip on (Top Layer) (Keypad Layer) Notes kp-F1 kp-F2 kp-F3 kp-F4 kp-F5 kp-F6 kp-F7 kp-F8 kp-F9 kp-F10 kp-F11 kp-F12 print screen prtscr mute scroll lock scroll vol- pause...
  • Page 47 Token Token Key Descrip on (Top Layer) (Keypad Layer) Notes kp-Z kp-X kp-C kp-V kp-B kp-N ,< .> kpenter accent/tilde kp-` International (near to L Shift) intl-\ kp-insert left arrow left kp-left right arrow right kp-right up arrow kp-up down arrow down kp-down open brack [...

  • Page 48: Keyboard Care And Maintenance

    Keyboard Care & Maintenance The Advantage2 keyboard is designed for increased thumb usage compared to a traditional keyboard which places more strain on the little fingers. Some new Kinesis contoured keyboard users initially experience fatigure or discomfort as their thumbs adapt...

  • Page 49: Troubleshooting, Technical Support & Repairs

    Packaging and Shipping In you need to ship a product back to Kinesis, use its original packaging or other suitable packaging that protects the device against impact and shock. You should insure the package with your carrier as Kinesis is not responsible for items until they...
  • Page 50 Accessories & Upgrades The Advantage2 keyboard is designed for increased thumb usage compared to a traditional keyboard which places more strain on the little fingers. Some new Kinesis contoured keyboard users initially experience fatigure or discomfort as their thumbs adapt...

  • Page 51: Warranty

    If you suspect the Product is not working properly or if you have questions about the performance of the Product, contact Kinesis Technical Support. If you wish to return the Product to Kinesis for any reason, you must obtain from Kinesis an RMA number and instructions for returning the product.
  • Page 52 Kinesis products.
  • Page 53 Appendix– Configuring Your Workstation The Advantage2 keyboard is designed for increased thumb usage compared to a traditional keyboard which places more strain on the little fingers. Some new Kinesis contoured keyboard users initially experience fatigure or discomfort as their thumbs adapt...
  • Page 54 Appendix– Tech Notes Firmware Version 3263...

This manual is also suitable for:

Kb600lfKb600qdKb605Kb620-xx

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