This. I’m used to using extra keys (like the menu key or Capslock) for chording macros and personal shortcuts. In fact I get gaming keyboards with the customizeable keys (usually perma-bound — perma-binded? — to ctrl-, -2, -3, -4, -5 respectively) so they can be easily trapped and redirected to common macros.
I think the Super key was developed on the same principle.
People joke that the editor Emacs’ name is an acronym for Edit Meta Alt Ctrl Super (all the modifiers but Shift on a very complex keyboard of the past) since it uses modified keystrokes for most of its functions, though really only Ctrl and Meta
I have been using key shortcut chaining in my WMs for freeing up more application hotkeys and also make them easier to remember. And it it still quite fast.
Starts them off by Ctrl+T, then for example:
A (Audio) - [P, Pause; N; Next; V, Volume]
R (Run) - [B, Browser; I, Inkscape; S, Spotify; Q, SQL editor]
And a lot more. The mnemonics helps me remember them, and Ctrl+T, R, B is quick enough to launch a browser.
I do find the super key really useful actually, for binding hotkeys for my window manager. But a key for some voice assistant is really dumb.
This. I’m used to using extra keys (like the menu key or Capslock) for chording macros and personal shortcuts. In fact I get gaming keyboards with the customizeable keys (usually perma-bound — perma-binded? — to ctrl-, -2, -3, -4, -5 respectively) so they can be easily trapped and redirected to common macros.
I think the Super key was developed on the same principle.
People joke that the editor Emacs’ name is an acronym for Edit Meta Alt Ctrl Super (all the modifiers but Shift on a very complex keyboard of the past) since it uses modified keystrokes for most of its functions, though really only Ctrl and Meta
Never saw the point given that you could already set chord combinations of Shift, Ctrl and Alt to give more hotkeys than you are likely to remember.
I have been using key shortcut chaining in my WMs for freeing up more application hotkeys and also make them easier to remember. And it it still quite fast.
Starts them off by Ctrl+T, then for example: A (Audio) - [P, Pause; N; Next; V, Volume] R (Run) - [B, Browser; I, Inkscape; S, Spotify; Q, SQL editor]
And a lot more. The mnemonics helps me remember them, and Ctrl+T, R, B is quick enough to launch a browser.