Questions, answered
How Svalboard feels, how long it takes to learn, and how to set it up. Can't find your answer? Ask on the Discord or write to support.
Using Svalboard
How do you use Svalboard Lightly?
Five keys surround each finger. The fingers move about 2 mm north, south, east or west to reach the side keys, which tip outward about 2 mm in travel, and the fingertips press down to hit the center keys, which travel about 1.7 mm. By default, most letters are mapped to the same fingers and directions as QWERTY, so your touch-typing muscle memory helps you as you adapt.
The thumbs take on everything your pinkies are tired of doing: Ctrl, Alt, Return, Tab, Backspace, Space, Shift, the Number layer, and two layer switches for the Function and Navigation keys.
How many keys do I have to relearn?
On traditional keyboards, even split ergonomic ones, the index fingers make big, contorted reaches for the center columns (T, Y, G, H, B and N in QWERTY). Those reaches cause fatigue, inflammation and pain for high-volume typists. The finger effort chart further down this page shows the relative effort of each finger on a traditional keyboard.
Svalboard removes those reaches by giving those keys to inward motions of the first three fingers. Coming from QWERTY, the only letters that move to a new finger are T, Y, B and N: 4 of 26. The rest is getting used to the thumb clusters, which replace all the pinky reaches for Ctrl, Alt, Backspace and Tab.
Speed and comfort
Is it faster?
Somewhat, for some people, but Svalboard is about ease. Some Datahand and Svalboard users find they are a bit faster than on flat keyboards; all of them say the real benefit is comfort and how little effort it takes.
Ben Gruver, creator of the original Lalboard, put it this way: "I love how it feels when you really get in the groove typing on it. Doing that 120 WPM from my YouTube video, it's just like... my fingers are typing of their own volition, without me being aware of what they're actually doing." His video is just below this section.
Svalboard's creator types about 10% faster on a Datahand than on a flat keyboard, using the same QWERTY-style layout on both. The biggest gains are in comfort and endurance, not speed.
Is it more comfortable?
Dramatically. The original Datahand had hundreds of testimonials from customers whose lives it changed; see our reviews. Less finger workload and less strain on the tendons through the carpal tunnel mean more comfort and less inflammation in the wrists and hands.
Svalboard is not certified by the FDA to treat any medical condition, but this design has saved many careers.
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Ben Gruver at 120 wpm
"My fingers are typing of their own volition, without me being aware of what they're actually doing."
Ben Gruver, creator of the original Lalboard, typing on it.
Learning
How long does it take to learn?
It varies. About 40 to 50 words per minute is where switching full time becomes reasonable, so the time to reach that is the number that matters most. Past 50, it is a matter of time before you match or pass your best speed on a flat keyboard.
From our first ten customers:
- One typist in their early twenties reached 50 wpm in alpha-only practice within 24 hours. They came from a split ergonomic board with several thumb keys and use Colemak.
- An ergonomic keyboard enthusiast in Poland reached 50 wpm after a week.
- A programmer in Chicago used it for work after a couple of weeks; another in New York after about three.
- Two others were at 25 to 30 wpm after one to two weeks, without regular practice.
Everyone progresses at their own rate, but if you start from the layout closest to what you know, you adapt quickly; it is much easier than moving from QWERTY to Dvorak on a flat keyboard. Two to four weeks is typical for the first adaptation, and three to five months to equal or pass your previous best speed.
How much should I practice?
15 minutes a day is a great first target. More than about 30 minutes tends to be counterproductive, so relax and adapt at your own pace. It is surprisingly fun to rewire your brain a bit.
Svalboard Practice reads your layout from the keyboard and builds lessons around it, adding keys a few at a time. General typing sites such as MonkeyType are great once you know all the keys.
What layout should I use?
Start with the layout you know best. The muscle memory you carry over is substantial, and the ergonomic benefits of the Datahand design do not depend on your layout. The default is QWERTY, with each letter on the finger you already use for it.
Dvorak, Colemak, Graphite and the Hands Down variants are ready in Keybard's Layouts panel, and the community shares more in #layouts on the Svalboard Discord.
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Finger effort on a flat keyboard
Higher numbers and redder keys take more effort. The center columns are the hardest reaches, and Svalboard removes them.
Software and firmware
How do I change my layout?
Lightly runs Svalboard QMK, and you configure it with Keybard in your browser. Reassign keys, build layers, and set up macros, combos and tap dances. Changes apply right away and save to the keyboard.
Advanced users can add features like home row mods and tap dances to get even more out of the design.
Which software do I need?
Nothing to install. Open Keybard in Chrome, Edge, Brave or Opera on a desktop computer and connect your Svalboard by USB. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS; on Linux, add the udev rule from the Svalboard Manual first.
Optional: Keybard Overlay, a Windows app, shows your layers on screen while you type, and Svalboard Practice helps you build speed. See Learn for all three.
Can I try Keybard before my Svalboard arrives?
Yes. Open Keybard and choose QWERTY Example. You get the full editor on a sample layout; nothing is written anywhere, and you can export what you build.
How do I update the firmware?
Every Svalboard ships with firmware installed. New firmware is published on the Svalboard QMK release page, with release notes and every file. The build guide shows how to flash it.
Before you flash, export a backup of your layout from Keybard, so you can restore it after.
What about Vial?
Svalboard QMK is configured with Keybard. If you prefer Vial, Svalboard's Vial firmware is still available. Export your layout before you switch in either direction.
Help
Where do I get help?
The fastest answers come from the Svalboard Discord, where owners and the Svalboard team help each other. You can also email support@svalboard.com, and the Svalboard Manual covers setup, fit and troubleshooting.