devtools.fm: Developer Tools, Open Source, Software Development Erez Zukerman - ZSA, ErgoDox, and the Future of Keyboards
Oct 21, 2024
Erez Zukerman, the founder and CEO of ZSA, takes us on an intriguing journey from web development to creating innovative keyboards. He shares the inspiring story behind the ErgoDox, originally an open-source project, and its evolution into a commercial success. The challenges of hardware manufacturing and managing crowdfunding campaigns reveal the importance of partnerships and clear communication. Plus, Erez introduces the versatile Voyager keyboard and discusses the future of keyboard design in a world increasingly influenced by AI and speech recognition.
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Community Perspective
- Erez initially felt wronged by community skepticism towards ZSA commercializing the open-source Ergodox.
- He later understood their perspective, recognizing the existing community and his outsider status.
Commercialization Changes
- While commercializing the Ergodox EZ, ZSA redesigned the PCB and shell.
- Core elements like the processor and key switch type remained consistent with the original design.
Oryx Development
- The Oryx configurator, designed by Florian, simplified customization for ErgoDox EZ.
- This web UI utilizes WebUSB, bridging the gap between user and firmware.