David Hayward's QMKeybox Turns Almost Anything Into a Single-Key Keyboard — Including Old Morse Keys
Designed primarily with a Morse code-driven game in mind, the QMkeybox makes hooking switches up to USB a cinch.
Maker David Hayward has released a gadget designed to turn almost anything into a one-button keyboard — primarily as a means of interfacing vintage Morse keys with a friend's newly-launched game.
"QMKeybox is a small USB-C interface based on the [Arduino] Pro Micro, that can make almost any conductive object act as USB keyboard," Hayward explains of the compact creation. "It's also VIA compatible, so while it behaves as a space bar by default, it can easily be remapped to act as any other keyboard key you want. Depending on what you connect the other side of it to, as well as switches and buttons, you could also find many other ways of triggering it. I've included source files for everything from the firmware to the 3D prints, so you can modify it to meet your specific needs."
A one-key keyboard might sound a little limited, but there's a method to Hayward's madness. While it can be programmed, thanks to its open-source and fully-customizable firmware options, to perform a range of one-push tasks up to and including the playback of pre-recorded multi-key macros, Hayward had a more specific task in mind: interfacing vintage Morse keys with modern computers.
"My friend Alex Johansson's videogame MORSE […] is controlled by Morse Code and can be played with actual Morse keys," Hayward explains. "Connecting one of those to a PC isn't always straightforward though. There are DIY solutions involving stuff like relays, or Alex' own example of hacking a broken mouse; or there are neat off-the-shelf solutions like Brett Hollifield's excellent VAIL Adapter (perfect for people serious about telegraphy; which is still very much a thing in HAM Radio communities!)"
The QMKeybox is smaller and simpler than most existing alternatives. There are only two connections: one USB Type-C for data and power, and another for any two-wire switch or switch-equivalent. Connect your Morse key — or any other momentary switch — to one end and the other to your desktop, laptop, games console, or other USB-compatible device, and you're done.
More details are available on Instructables, while Hayward has released source code and 3D print files on GitHub under the reciprocal GNU General Public License 3.