Ergonomic Mechanical-Switch Keyboard? 310
dotancohen writes "As wear and tear on my hands builds up, I find that I need an ergonomic (split) keyboard. It seems the vast majority of available ergonomic models are either crippled with dome-switches or have unusual designs, which place many critical keys under the thumbs (I cannot use my right thumb). The one normal-appearing contender, the Northgate Ergonomic Evolution, seems to be noisier than even the Model M — in fact, it echoes! Programmers and hobbyists geeky enough to be here today: what do you type on?"
Great Forum for Input Devices (Score:5, Informative)
Check out the forum here:
http://geekhack.org/forumdisplay.php?f=31 [geekhack.org]
There are also some interesting vertical keyboards like the SafeType and the Kinesis Freestyle Ascent, but they're kinda expensive and might take a bit of relearning.
Here's a survey of ergonomic keyboards: http://nsx.underbase.org/db/kbd/keyboard-survey.htm [underbase.org]
Personally I use a DSI ASK-6600 and a Scorpius M10, and I like them both very much. The DSI keys need a bit more force to push, and it has the large "Enter" key I like from old Keytronix keyboards (as opposed to a large Backspace key and a repositioned backslash character, like the Scorpius and Model M have).
These two keyboards probably don't appeal to you because they're not curved/natural keyboards. I avoid wrist problems while using a regular (straight) keyboard because I have a custom typing style, wherein my wrists are not angled when they rest on my "home row" (e.g. index fingers rest on V and N instead of F and J). This limits my upper bound of typing a bit (under 100wpm), but fast continuous typing will only get you so far in programming and sysadmin work, whereas wrists that don't hurt are quite nice... I also remap my CapsLock key to be another Ctrl, for easy one-handed reach to Ctrl+F1-F5/etc.
While you're at it -- upgrade your mouse too! I found all my wrist problems went away when I moved to a Logitech Cordless Trackman (wish it was corded, but whatever). This has a finger-operated trackball and a thumb-operated left-click, which I find MUCH more accurate and comfortable than a thumb-operated trackball (e.g. most trackball mice on the market now). Trackball mice are usually considered to be more accurate than regular mice anyways. One of the big benefits here is the fact that your wrist isn't as twisted as with a regular mouse... if that's your main goal, there are also some expensive ergonomic vertical mice that might be comfortable.
Ergonomic Model M (Score:5, Informative)
Keyboard love (Score:4, Informative)
Natural Ergonomic keyboard (from Microsoft)
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=043
The best a man can get...
truly ergonomic (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Microsoft 4000 (Score:4, Informative)
Veyboard (Score:1, Informative)
Check out the Veyboard [veyboard.nl], a Dutch chorded keyboard with an ergonomic layout that uses Cherry keys. I'm mentioning it only as a curiosity, because the learning curve is fierce. But those who have mastered it can type at conversational speeds. The system works by splitting words into syllables and then keying them in with both hands, a syllable at a time. It exploits the fact that every syllable consists of zero or more starting consonants, one or more central vowels, and zero or more ending consonants. On the Veyboard, the starting consonants are keyed with the left hand on the left side of the board, the center vowels in the center of the board with fingers from both hands, and the ending consonants on the right hand side with the right hand. You "spell out" a syllable across the board, from left to right, with both hands. I own one of these things (though I can hardly operate it, sorry to say), and it's actually quite natural-feeling. The tricky part is getting all fingers of both hands at the right place at the right time and doing it really fast, but in theory that's just practice...
Certain combinations of keys produce certain letters, or entire strings. The system is really neat in that it produces plain text straight from the machine, not abbreviations, and the input fully defines the output. Apart from some simple rules ("T and J make D"), there is no interpretation layer or dictionary. You can even do special keys, or a single letter per chord; but not that you'd want to. Can be handy when you need to spell something funny. Alas, the Veyboard (or Velotype as it used to be known) is a famous futuristic flop from the 1980's, and these days finds traction mostly with live captioners and deaf interpreters. But I think it's still quite neat.
Re:Great Forum for Input Devices (Score:1, Informative)
Even better yet, use a Wacom Bamboo tablet as your pointing device.
Once you've gotten used to it, it's faster than a regular mouse, and far more ergonomic because the pen-on-paper posture is far better for your tendons than the posture you use for mouse clicking.
Re:Ergonomic Model M (Score:4, Informative)
Actually.
So it turns out that one of the major injuries typists get is called RSI, and one of the major causes is that people leave their hands on the keyboard, and wind up tensing their wrists in order to keep their fingers from depressing keys. Without rest, this causes injury. One of the majorly GOOD things about these buckling spring boards is that they can support more weight.
There's a couple of things going on with this 'ergo' idea - one part is visual, reflecting the key layout. Another part to do with the support of the hand and discouragement of behaviors that cause injury. It can be very easy to confuse the two.
If you want to avoid injury, it seems like while some accessories like fancy chairs may help, the behavioral aspects are far less mystical:
1) be healthy-ish to begin with
2) avoid keeping your hands in a fixed position, and certainly not a strained one.
3) move around from time to time, whether that means a new posture or talking a break.
I used the Unicomp keyboards for a few years, but I've been through a few of them - the design simply does not adequately protect the board from spills, and if I ever buy another one I'm going to modify it before use to isolate the keywell from the circuits.
Re:It's all about the Negative slope! (Score:3, Informative)
The problem with Microsoft's "ergonomic" keyboards is that they are made for people who have longer pinkies than index fingers. They slope the exact wrong way, forcing you to stretch more than you would with a normal keyboard.
If you really want an ergonomic keyboard that's shaped for your fingers and not your palm, Maltron make some of the best. They're not cheap, though.
But really, for most "normal" users, the best thing they can do is get a keyboard without a keypad on the right. Having to move the arm back and forth those four extra inches to reach the mouse is far more damaging than any of the typing. In addition, quite a few users end up with the keyboard casing centered in front of them, instead of the actual keyboard centered, which means the right hand reaches over to the left more than what's needed.
Comment removed (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Keyboard love (Score:3, Informative)
This is exactly what I have. I do have to admit a few issues with it, though.
Everything else works great for me. The fact that it's corded is a non-issue. I use this thing 8-12 hours a day, 5 days a week (plus a couple hours on the weekends), so cordless would have me going through batteries way too quickly anyway. Every once in a while, the usb acts up, but that has mostly gone away as pieces of the OS get upgraded (kernel modules for the most part, I think, though xorg may have had something to do with it).
Re:Bad technique (Score:3, Informative)
Ya, I had the same problem!
Both hands bad. Exactly as you call it, "classic carpal tunnel". The MD's (all 3 of them). recommended surgery.
While hemming and hawing about it a friend of mine convinced me to go see his naprapath (ya, I know, one step less legit than chiropractors, but I was desperate to make the pain stop!)
He gave me (yup, did not even charge me for the visit or anything) a pair of wrist braces and told me to wear them when I slept and when I was typing.
Dude, I gotta tell ya, 10 years later, no surgery, no pain, it's a fucking miracle!
There are times that I still need to wear them at night.
It turns out that I (in my sleep) fold my hands back towards my wrists, under my head. This cuts off the nerves and inflames them making them cause pain anytime, at even the slightest provocation, typing, driving, biking, motorcycling, anything.
It may not work for you but a pair of bowling braces (with the insert to keep you from bending your hands towards your wrists) are MUCH cheaper than the alternatives AND they don't leave scars!
Oh, and whenever I manage to throw out my back, I go see my naprapath.
Re:I can tell you what I don't do (Score:3, Informative)
In the spirit of the above comment, I'd like to point out that I don't type on a typewriter, newspaper, carpet, the wind, or indeed, a pink zebra.
Re:Keyboard love (Score:3, Informative)
I LOVE that keyboard; I have two spares in my closet for the possibility that my current one breaks down. Never happened, ofcourse.
Pros: - very good design
- no wireless, fast response
- does not break or fail
Cons: some keys are hard to reach, for instance the '7' key is a bit tough
- the 'extra' keys are useless, I never used the calc button and the browser and mail buttons are annoying if pressed by accident
- the 'f' modifier (for the function keys' is useless.