A better keyboard than QWERTY | The Vergecast

()

Intro (00:00:00)

David Pierce talks about his tech crap bag, a collection of duplicate chargers, plugs, cords, and backup headphones he keeps in his suitcase for easy travel.
He explains how it saves him time, effort, and the hassle of forgetting essential items while traveling.
Despite its occasional messiness, he finds the system effective and satisfying.
The Vergecast will feature a segment on reinventing keyboard layouts.
An individual spent two years reimagining how their keyboard functions and utilizes it.
The story promises to be engaging and entertaining.
Tom Warren will discuss significant changes occurring at Microsoft.
Topics include Microsoft's plans for AI, Surface devices, and the concept of an AI PC.
Various other subjects will also be covered.

Jonas, a self-taught developer, created a custom keyboard layout to reduce repetitive strain injury (RSI) after trying ergonomic keyboards without success.
The commonly used QWERTY keyboard layout is not necessarily the most efficient or ergonomic design, but it has become the standard due to familiarity and the difficulty of retraining.
Alternative keyboard layouts, such as Dvorak, Colemak, Workman, and Be, aim to improve typing efficiency and reduce strain.
Jonas focused on optimizing his layout for his specific use case and needs, prioritizing the reduction of same-finger diagrams and discomfort.
The concept of a "repeat key" was introduced, which repeats the last pressed key, reducing same-finger presses and enabling rolling motions between keys.
Jonas's custom layout, called T34, features multiple layers of keys accessed through modifier keys, including arrow keys, function keys, and number keys.
Split keyboards were also recommended for ergonomic benefits.
Overcoming muscle memory built over decades of using QWERTY keyboards is a significant challenge in adopting new layouts.

Microsoft has undergone significant changes, including corporate moves, product launches, and the hiring of Mustafa Suleyman as the CEO of Microsoft AI, signaling a shift in the company's approach to AI, Windows, and Surface.
Panos Panay's departure from Microsoft resulted in the division of his responsibilities, with Pavan Davuluri overseeing Surface hardware and M. Parkin leading Windows engineering.
Microsoft's reorganization placed most teams under Pavan Davuluri's leadership, consolidating Windows engineering and Surface Hardware.
Microsoft's recent moves suggest concerns about its position in the AI race, leading to a rebranding of its AI chatbot from "ChatGPT" to "Co-pilot" and increased efforts to integrate AI into products like Office and Outlook.
Microsoft introduced the concept of "AIPC" (Artificial Intelligence Personal Computing), requiring the latest CPUs, GPUs, and MPUs (Neural Processing Unit) for tasks like background blurring and noise cancellation.
Microsoft's upcoming consumer-oriented Surface devices will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite or Elite X Arm-based processors, marking a shift from Intel-based CPUs.
Microsoft is developing a feature called AI Explorer, which will record user activity on their PC and allow easy access to past information, leveraging the Microsoft Pluton chip for quick data retrieval.
Concerns have been raised about the privacy implications of AI Explorer, with some opposing the idea of their screen being recorded.

Netflix uses various factors to recommend content, including watch history, title metadata, member preferences, and user feedback.
The "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" rating system is designed to be simple and easy to understand.
A "thumbs down" rating is particularly important as it helps Netflix understand what content users dislike and avoid recommending similar content in the future.
Watching trailers and using the "remind me" button for upcoming content are strong signals of interest.
Netflix values how much of a show or movie a user watches, with watching something to the end being a positive signal.
Users can help improve their recommendations by creating a taste profile and rating content.