kbdfr wrote: 31 May 2022, 09:20
I find all the effort you put into such a futile endeavor addressing just a fringe audience simply amazing.
The short and simple answer is along the lines of what Mu said. I hope some day these models serve a purpose to others, but don't really have any specific ideas of what that might be. I would be happy if these models get used in any context for anyone who needs them. It would be rad to see one make an appearance in a video game or something but won't hold my breath. All the models are free and downloadable, though, so not totally out of the question.
Now if you'll indulge me I'd like to further explain myself by drawing an absurd comparison
.
I recently watched a documentary called
APEX: The Secret Race Across America. The movie is about a duo obsessed with setting the world record time for driving from New York to California.
The movie shows the degree of
preparation, ability to
execute,
endurance to win, effort to
document, and feeling of
gratification that the team went through to break the record.
Preparation - The team plans every facet of the race they're attempting down to the last detail. They plan their route around speed traps and weather conditions along the way. They outfit the car with tons of tech including multiple GPS units, thermal night vision, cameras, scanners, radios, etc. They even go as far as having a scout plane following them, to warn them of any "obstacles" ahead. Similarly, the photogrammetry process requires planning out every detail to achieve the best results.
Execution - It's one thing to have a plan but a whole other thing to stick to it when the rubber meets the road. It takes discipline not to deviate but also cunning to pivot if an obstacle arises. I generally do my best to keep the plan but sometimes need to "call an audible" and adjust what I'm doing in the moment. Whether or not it works out, I try to learn from my mistakes and improve the next time.
Endurance - Obviously driving over 32 hours straight as quickly as possible is a mental and physical feat to behold. I've found over time that everything turns out best if I take as few breaks as possible and just power through the process. Breaks introduce opportunity for variables to creep in. Variables are really bad when consistency is the key to success. When I embark on the journey, I intend for my grand vision to lead me and anything that muddies those waters should be avoided at all costs.
Documentation - In the case of the race, it was important for them to document everything to prove their time was authentic. They had all the GPS data and camera footage but also saved gas/toll receipts along the way to reinforce this proof. But I suspect that they had an ulterior (more like additional) motive which is: showing what you did is fun and satisfying. Heck, they wouldn't have been able to make their movie without it. I don't really have anything I'm trying to prove, but have a great time putting together videos and sharing tips to others who might be looking for this kind of stuff. The models themselves also serve as their own documentation, which is to say that they try to capture the essence of the keyboards as accurately as possible, so that people in the future can reference them.
Gratification - This comparison is pretty self explanatory. The race team is driven by the gratification they will get by beating the record. I'm a simple man, so my ambitions are just to make the models as good as possible. I won't say that I'm rewarded by the same singular achievement, but my little wins feel good.
Anyways, the movie is fantastic and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone interested based on my description. Unfortunately it's not on any subscription streaming services, but you can buy it on Amazon Prime or Apple TV. Here's the trailer, which doesn't nearly do it enough justice.
For the record, I don't condone dangerous driving and completely disavow this awesome movie on that basis.
Also for the record, my magnetic valve keyboard is no longer in the living room and has moved to "annexed storage", also known as my kitchen closet.
