Hardware modding FN/CTRL swap on SK-8855

[Kocane]

Since there's no existing method to swap these two buttons on the SK-8855 keyboard, I got to thinking whether the two keys can be swapped thru hardware somehow?

Does anyone know how these keyboards look internally? There was a guy who did this on the newer external ThinkPad, and I'm wondering if the same could be applied to this.

My idea was the source an extra keyboard from a T410/T510/X220/T420/T520 and do the mod on it.

[RealBlackStuff]

Don't forget that there are three KB manufacturers: NMB, Alps and Chicony, all with different parts!
And is such a swap really THAT important?

[Kocane]

Do they differ much in how they basically work?

and no, maybe a swap is not that important but I'll admit that the wrong placement of CTRL does annoy me to an extent where I dislike using the otherwise great keyboard.

[axur-delmeria]

From a theoretical standpoint, there are two ways to go about it:

* replace the keyboard controller with one that can be programmed (there are existing Arduino/Teensy/Pico projects that convert Thinkpad keyboards to USB).

* Change the "wiring" of the keyswitch matrix, which involves opening up the keyboard itself to expose the plastic membranes, cutting the existing circuit at certain points, then drawing new circuit traces with conductive ink.