DCS UliviA full icon-mod DCS set, inspired by the Olivetti M24 Keyboard 2
March 20, 2025I've decided to pause Ulivi for the time being. I like the design, but Ulivi has never managed to reach a critical mass. The feedback has been split down the middle on nearly every element of it - the legends, the colors, the kitting, and profile. Reaching a consensus shouldn't be difficult if a set is destined to be a success. There have also been multiple grey and beige DCS runs lately, and I'm not sure the market is there for another, coming so soon on the heels of those.
I have a slew of other projects I'd like to focus on right now. A History of Violets will be going on presale this spring, and I'm launching an IC inspired by Raytheon's 6104-series boards. I'm deep into development of a set based on KSR-28 teletypes as well. I do plan on circling back to Ulivi someday, when the circumstances are better.
Feedback Form (Currently Disabled)VendorsTBDI'm hoping to offer this once again through SPKeyboards's storefront and their international partners, as I did with DCS SMRT; provided I can demonstrate enough support to make it worth their while.
InspirationUlivi is inspired by the Olivetti M24's Keyboard 2, from the mid-1980s. In the US, the M24 was rebadged by Xerox and AT&T under other names. But the original Olivetti version was the one to feature their trademark bright blue legends, used prominently on many of their boards from the era.
I had originally been playing with a color scheme closer to GMK Olivetti, but quickly realized it was very similar to SMRT. Not wanting to repeat myself, I started looking at historical Olivetti models for inspiration. The Keyboard 2 stood out, with its icon modifiers, bright blue legends, and minimalist single yellow and mint accent keys.
This is NOT meant to be an exact recreation; the original's profile was something closer to SA or OEM. This is a port of the colorway to DCS. It's inspired by the M24, but not a replica of it.
Here's some photos of the original, in a Deskthority post by Matt3o back in 2014I want to include Italian alphas if the molds exist, since it's impossible to separate Olivetti from Italy; specifically, the Turin metropolitan area where they still operate today. I've also included a Turin bull ISO Enter novelty in the accent kit, as a nod to the region, and an olive branch ANSI Enter novelty.
Using full icon modifiers (the same as those used with DCS Paperwork) allows Ulivi's mods to be as language-neutral as possible.
Relegendable macro columns and big-ass Enter
Notes• The Southern ISO kit depends on whether the molds exist in DCS - Melissa and Will are looking into this! (And of course, it also depends on whether there's enough support for it. If you've been wanting support for languages beyond the typical NorDeUK, here's your opportunity to demonstrate demand!)
• Unfortunately, Greek sublegends aren't available in DCS, so I wasn't able to make a kit featuring those. I had hoped to offer them as a nod to the Cherry G81-3011 HBQ.
• Putting UK ISO in the base helps reduce the size of the Southern ISO kit, since a couple keys overlap between UK and IT ISO. I use UK ISO myself, so this one particular kitting decision is not negotiable.
• SP is working on convex minibars for DCS - AND THEY'LL BE READY NEXT MONTH (MARCH 2025)!
ColorsAll colors are Signature Plastics stock resins.
• Background is GAL warm light grey
• Legends and bright blue accents are BBJ (Dancer) blue
• Yellow accents are YDA yellow
• Mint accents are VDV green
40% with convex DCS minibars
Ergo blanks
DatesTBD, but probably shipping about 2-4 months after going on sale, given how long recent sets have taken to produce.
PricingBase Kit: TBD
Extension: TBD
Numpad: TBD
40%: TBD
Accents: TBD
Southern ISO: TBD
Ergo: TBD
KittingBase Kit
The base includes UK ISO and Alice coverage.
Extension
Includes Big-Ass Enter, relegendable macro keys, winged R4 mods, 6u and 10u bars, and alternates
Number Pad
Includes extra function keys for 108-key coverage
40% and Ortho
Two of each minibar not already in the base, just like Noah
Accents and Novelties
Turin bull and olive branch novelties, HJKL and WASD keys, and an alternate bolder blue accent scheme
Stretch Goal KittingSouthern ISO
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese alphas
Ergo
Includes all necessary keys for ErgoDox, Boardwalk and Promenade layouts.
Special ThanksThank you to Tour for sanity-checking my Italian; Deadeye for the bull novelty design; Will and Melissa at SP for putting up with all my questions; and to MadMax13 and Mori for their support during the design process.
Additional Renders
10u bar and big-ass Enter
Blue accents (ANSI Enter artwork still pending)
UK ISO with yellow accents
Yellow light render, UK ISO with blue accent, HJKL arrows, and Turin bull novelty
Feedback FormI'm hoping that you'll find this is a clean, neutral set that will match well with pretty much anything, featuring expansive coverage, and multiple ways to dress it up if you desire.
