deskthority

(01/23/2017) G20 Semiotics is currently Signature Plastics' featured Set of the Month.

If you are a fan of Ron Cobb's Semiotic Standard or Simon Deering's emergency destruct system panel key graphics from Alien then you'll surely recognize the inspiration for this keyset. This set will be dye-sublimated onto PBT. The base keycap color code is WAN.

After looking at the concept renders that follow, I'm sure one of your first questions will be, "Why are you using that funky G20 keycap family?" I know that it isn't exactly popular, and in fact there are many who dislike it rather vigorously. But the flat, square shape of G20 keys suits the highly ortholinear nature of the graphics. I've examined renders of the symbols on other types of keycaps, such as DSA, and found that the curvature of the keycap surface distorts the graphics in very unappealing ways.

Another source of discomfort for many, I'm sure, is the entirely symbolic nature of the alphas and navcluster keys. While this will undoubtedly bother the hunt-and-peck crowd, I think there are benefits to this unique design. First off, the ability to move the keys around however you like allows for a wide variety of international and alternate layouts without any concern for row profile or legend incompatibilities. For the international user, the biggest issue will be the lack of an ISO return key in the G20 family. The only solution for that is the usual ISO return key from the DCS family.

Another interesting benefit to this symbolic design is that the ability to arrange the keys however you like means that no two keyboards need ever look exactly the same, at least in terms of the alphas and navcluster keys. Arranging a G20 Semiotic keyboard is almost an art project in itself.

Thanks to the symbolic nature of the set, it only takes six kits to cover nearly every alternate keyboard out there without having to resort to blanks. Do keep in mind, though, that there are no G20 molds for keycaps larger than 2.75u, and only one size of spacebar (6.25u).

Yes, this keycap set is rather unusual. Exotic even. It's limited appeal may inadvertently make it a collector's item, who knows!

Here are some renders showing the set on the six WhiteFox layouts:

Here is a quick photo of a few first round prototype keycaps:

I like it. Not sure how fun that keycap profile is. Guess we'll find out.

Did you think about offering "regular" alphas with legends in the same style as the number row / numpad ? Might help with popularity.

The Topstripe kit was the only concession to conventional alphas that I was willing to make. I didn't want to compromise the set's concept any further than that.

There are keysets that shoot for as wide an audience as possible, and there are keysets that shoot for a uniqueness of identity, even at the cost of broad appeal. This keyset doesn't aim to be popular; it aims to be different.

Hm, this is a real dilemma for me. I'm a sucker for that 1970s scifi look, but not really a fan of the profile. And there's no profile that comes close to what the keys on that panel in Alien looked like anyway, so I guess G20 is as good as anything aesthetics-wise.

To be really spot on, one would have to use something really flat and angular that is also semi-transparent. I guess one could maybe do something with SA relegendables on a backlit keyboard and get a setup that gives off similar vibes, but it would still be far from the real thing. Going to ponder this for a while – it's an interesting set for sure.

I think it would be a neat project to try and build a functional keyboard using the same type of keys and the same top-printed graphics as you see in the film. And while some enterprising soul works on that, I figure I can at least put (some of) those graphics onto a keyset that SP can easily manufacture right now.

Note: it is difficult to tell from the render, but the last two keycaps in the SYMBOLS kit have homing bars, as does the extra "5" key in the NUMPAD kit.

Congrats Zslane! Good to see hard work recognized.

G20 Semiotics is now available from PMK.

Get it while it's hot!

I love how pmk managed to take a wrong picture of the numpad

BTW. Ron Cobb, who had designed the "Semiotic Standard" symbols for Alien (and done a whole lot more work for sci-fi and fantasy cinema) died yesterday, Sep 21 at age 83.

Findecanor wrote: 22 Sep 2020, 12:27 BTW. Ron Cobb, who had designed the "Semiotic Standard" symbols for Alien (and done a whole lot more work for sci-fi and fantasy cinema) died yesterday, Sep 21 at age 83.