svalboard lightly

Banish pain with the most adaptable ergonomic keyboard and mousing instrument ever made.

  • Magnetic = Light + Tactile

    Lightly brings fifty perfectly light, perfectly tactile magneto-optical keys to your fingertips, with integrated pointing for completely hands-down operation.

    Read about the unique magnetic key mechanism 

  • Custom Anatomical Fitment

    The unique Svalboard fitment mechanism gives a perfect fit for any adult hand, accommodating finger length, fingertip size and palm size variation.

    Read about the Fitment System 

  • Life-changing Results

    "Over the past six months, the Svalboard has transformed the way I work, helping alleviate my neck and shoulder issues by allowing me to type without strain. Svalboard isn’t just another keyboard—it’s a game-changer for comfort and productivity."

    - Jan Lunge

    Watch Jan's video and more 

  • Mount Anywhere

    Built with a ~15° tent angle and M5 tenting screw inserts for extra tenting. It also has 1/4"-20 inserts for additional mounting options: chair-mount, lap desk, keyboard tray and Magic Arm compatible. Pictured here with SmallRig Rosette 11" Magic Arms

  • Multiple Pointing Options

    Trackball, Trackpoint, and now: Touchpad!

    Mix-and-match these integrated pointing devices for maximum comfort.

    Buy now 

  • Self-Print Kit Option

    Print and assemble your own with our self-print kit and great community support.

    Buy it here 
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QWERTY layout for svalboard

QWERTY touch typers start with their fingers on the home-row: A,S,D,F for the left hand and J,K,L,; for the right hand. On Svalboard these are exactly the same. Your fingers rest on the round center keys of each key cluster. G and H are just inward flicks of the index fingers. However four keys: T, Y, B and N, have new positions: These are inward flicks of the middle and ring fingers.

The thumb keys switch between different layers: (1) Letters, (2) Numbers, (3) Functions and (4) Navigation.

Setting up a completely different layout like Dvorak or Colemak is easy because Svalboard is infinitely customizable. Use Vial-QMK to change keys in real-time with no flashing required.

Learn more about Layouts

Perfect fit for any hand

Big hands? Small hands? Wonky finger lengths? Broke a pinky when you were three and now it's all janky? We've got you.

Individual 5-axis finger and thumb adjustability for natural hand posture.

3 axis palmrest adjustability for ultimate comfort and hand sizing.

1/4"-20 mounting hardware for tenting, chair and clamp-on mounting using standard camera hardware or just M5 screw inserts for tenting legs.

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Light, small, tactile

No contortions, no reaches.

Fingers move just a few mm for any keypress.

Light 20gf magneto-optical keys reduce hand workload and fatigue by ~90% vs traditional keyboards, even "ergonomic" ones.

100% front-loaded force profile has a clean breakaway unlike anything else on the market.

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100% Customizable layout

Built on the amazing QMK engine, with massive community support.

Default QWERTY, Colemak and Dvorak layouts included.

Remap keys, layers, macros, combos, and use tap-dance functions -- all without reflashing thanks to the magic of Vial.

Learn about Vial

From the creator:

"As a Datahand user of 20+ years, I can safely say that Datahand saved my career. I've tried everything over the years, and there's simply no comparison. When the company died, I was gutted. When one of my precious Datahand units got damaged during travel, I got serious about building a replacement.

It was around then I found out about Ben Gruver's amazing lalboard design and built one myself, with lots of help from him.

Lalboard laid the foundation of basic key mechanisms which enabled Svalboard to come to life, but... it was not a production-oriented design. With my background in high volume consumer electronics and input tech development, I decided it was time for me to dive in and make it a reality.

Like Datahand. I hope Svalboard will help thousands of RSI sufferers like me enjoy a faster, safer, more precise, and most of all PAIN FREE typing experience."

Built for the long now

In the spirit of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, we're committed to a living design which can always be repaired, updated and modified by product owners.

All mechanical parts can be produced on a hobby-grade 3D printer, from SLA, or CNC'd from any material you like.

All pinouts are available if you want to hack your own electrical modifications, too.

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Robust and maintainable

In the proud tradition of the Datahand, we've designed Svalboard to be robust, easy-to-clean, and repairable.

Unlike Datahand, Svalboard is totally modular, for easy repairs and modifications.

There are no electromechanical contacts to wear out.

Keys are easily removable for cleaning.

Did we mention you can make your own replacement/custom-fit parts on a hobby-grade 3D printer?

Proudly made in the USA, with a global following

People in over two dozen countries are enjoying pain-free typing with Svalboard Lightly today. Join them on the Discord and learn how Lightly changed their lives:

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