diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9d71472..94726ab 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -525,6 +525,37 @@ Reveal.isPaused();
 Reveal.isAutoSliding();
 ```
 
+### Custom Key Bindings
+
+Custom key bindings can be added and removed using the following Javascript API. Custom key bindings will override the default keyboard bindings, but will in turn be overridden by the user defined bindings in the ``keyboard`` config option.
+
+```javascript
+Reveal.addKeyBinding( binding, callback );
+Reveal.removeKeyBinding( keyCode );
+```
+
+For example
+
+```javascript
+// The binding parameter provides the following properties
+//      keyCode: the keycode for binding to the callback
+//          key: the key label to show in the help overlay
+//  description: the description of the action to show in the help overlay
+Reveal.addKeyBinding( { keyCode: 84, key: 'T', description: 'Start timer' }, function() {
+	// start timer
+} )
+
+// The binding parameter can also be a direct keycode without providing the help description
+Reveal.addKeyBinding( 82, function() {
+	// reset timer
+} )
+```
+
+This allows plugins to add key bindings directly to Reveal so they can
+
+* make use of Reveal's pre-processing logic for key handling (for example, ignoring key presses when paused); and
+* be included in the help overlay (optional)
+
 ### Slide Changed Event
 
 A 'slidechanged' event is fired each time the slide is changed (regardless of state). The event object holds the index values of the current slide as well as a reference to the previous and current slide HTML nodes.
diff --git a/js/reveal.js b/js/reveal.js
index 9a43903..021c8d9 100644
--- a/js/reveal.js
+++ b/js/reveal.js
@@ -289,7 +289,10 @@
 			'B  ,  .':				'Pause',
 			'F':					'Fullscreen',
 			'ESC, O':				'Slide overview'
-		};
+		},
+		
+		// Holds custom key code mappings
+		registeredKeyBindings = {};
 
 	/**
 	 * Starts up the presentation if the client is capable.
@@ -1261,6 +1264,33 @@
 
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Add a custom key binding with optional description to be added to the help screen
+	 */
+	function addKeyBinding(binding, callback) {
+		if (typeof binding === 'object' && binding.keyCode) {
+			registeredKeyBindings[binding.keyCode] = {
+				callback: callback,
+				key: binding.key,
+				description: binding.description
+			};
+		}
+		else {
+			registeredKeyBindings[binding] = {
+				callback: callback,
+				key: null,
+				description: null
+			};
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Removes the specified custom key binding
+	 */
+	function removeKeyBinding(binding) {
+		delete registeredKeyBindings[binding];
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Extend object a with the properties of object b.
 	 * If there's a conflict, object b takes precedence.
@@ -1748,6 +1778,13 @@
 				html += '<tr><td>' + key + '</td><td>' + keyboardShortcuts[ key ] + '</td></tr>';
 			}
 
+			// add custom key bindings that have associated descriptions
+			for( var binding in registeredKeyBindings ) {
+				if (registeredKeyBindings[binding].key && registeredKeyBindings[binding].description) {
+					html += '<tr><td>' + registeredKeyBindings[binding].key + '</td><td>' + registeredKeyBindings[binding].description + '</td></tr>';
+				}
+			}
+
 			html += '</table>';
 
 			dom.overlay.innerHTML = [
@@ -4397,7 +4434,7 @@
 
 		// If there's a condition specified and it returns false,
 		// ignore this event
-		if( typeof config.keyboardCondition === 'function' && config.keyboardCondition() === false ) {
+		if( typeof config.keyboardCondition === 'function' && config.keyboardCondition(event) === false ) {
 			return true;
 		}
 
@@ -4462,7 +4499,31 @@
 
 		}
 
-		// 2. System defined key bindings
+		// 2. Registered custom key bindings
+		if( triggered === false ) {
+
+			for( key in registeredKeyBindings ) {
+
+				// Check if this binding matches the pressed key
+				if( parseInt( key, 10 ) === event.keyCode ) {
+
+					var action = registeredKeyBindings[ key ].callback;
+
+					// Callback function
+					if( typeof action === 'function' ) {
+						action.apply( null, [ event ] );
+					}
+					// String shortcuts to reveal.js API
+					else if( typeof action === 'string' && typeof Reveal[ action ] === 'function' ) {
+						Reveal[ action ].call();
+					}
+
+					triggered = true;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		// 3. System defined key bindings
 		if( triggered === false ) {
 
 			// Assume true and try to prove false
@@ -5222,6 +5283,12 @@
 			}
 		},
 
+		// Adds a custom key binding
+		addKeyBinding: addKeyBinding,
+
+		// Removes a custom key binding
+		removeKeyBinding: removeKeyBinding,
+
 		// Programatically triggers a keyboard event
 		triggerKey: function( keyCode ) {
 			onDocumentKeyDown( { keyCode: keyCode } );
diff --git a/plugin/notes/notes.js b/plugin/notes/notes.js
index 80fb6e2..3f00eb6 100644
--- a/plugin/notes/notes.js
+++ b/plugin/notes/notes.js
@@ -131,22 +131,9 @@ var RevealNotes = (function() {
 		}
 
 		// Open the notes when the 's' key is hit
-		document.addEventListener( 'keydown', function( event ) {
-			// Disregard the event if the target is editable or a
-			// modifier is present
-			if ( document.querySelector( ':focus' ) !== null || event.shiftKey || event.altKey || event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey ) return;
-
-			// Disregard the event if keyboard is disabled
-			if ( Reveal.getConfig().keyboard === false ) return;
-
-			if( event.keyCode === 83 ) {
-				event.preventDefault();
-				openNotes();
-			}
-		}, false );
-
-		// Show our keyboard shortcut in the reveal.js help overlay
-		if( window.Reveal ) Reveal.registerKeyboardShortcut( 'S', 'Speaker notes view' );
+		Reveal.addKeyBinding({keyCode: 83, key: 'S', description: 'Speaker notes view'}, function() {
+			openNotes();
+		} );
 
 	}