Totally unsubstantiated opinion... "Faster" keyboard = more clicks per minute > more chance of repetitive strain.
Years ago I learned to mouse with my off hand. Took about a week. Just think "left button"/"right button" instead of "index finger"/"middle finger" and you're golden. Changing hands made the pain go away. On Jul 6, 2011 9:53 PM, "Les Hughes" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hey All, > > This is kind of long (eeep), but here goes: > > Lately I've have been getting a little tense in my mid-right back area > and right wrist which I believe is been caused by a lot of the mouse > work I've been doing over the past few weeks in which my right arm is > constantly extended out around 30-40 centimetres from the home position > on the keyboard. > > I thought here would be a good place to ask for advice in how everyone > else, whom, like me, spends upwards of 60 hours per week behind their > battlestations. (check: http://www.reddit.com/r/battlestations for info > on 'battlestations') > > The main areas I am currently looking at are Keyboards, Mice, and > Keyboard Layouts. > > > Keyboards > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > I currently use a Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 Keyboard ( > http://www.microsoft.com/australia/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/images/products/nek4k/mk_productdetails_nek4k.jpg > ) and am starting to think that the space between the right control key > (below the right shift and enter keys) where the arrow buttons and > numeric pad are just get in the way. > > So far I am thinking about moving to a smaller keyboard to limit the > space I need to move for the mouse, ideas so far are the > > - Truly Ergonomic keyboard @ > http://www.trulyergonomic.com/images/Truly_Ergonomic_Keyboard.jpg & > http://www.trulyergonomic.com ) > > - Kinesis Freestlye VIP @ > http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/images/freestyle-vip_648x339.jpg - > http://www.kinesis-ergo.com > > > Mouses - mice, mices :P > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > I am leaning towards a trackball, but have also considered something > more vertical: > > - Kensington Expert Trackball @ > http://www.smartmadesimple.com.au/Products/images/Zoom/z64325%20Expert%20Mouse.jpg > (favourite so far) > > - Logitec M570 @ > http://www.logitech.com/assets/32954/4/logitech-wireless-trackball-m570.png > > - EZ Vertical Mouse @ http://www.auzspec.com.au/media/274270427lMSEZ1L.jpg > > > Keyboard Layouts > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Perhaps a religious battle, but: > > I was thinking if I am going to go along the whole self improvement > route with better devices, why not visit my keyboard layouts? Most of us > use QWERTY: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QWERTY > > Much of my reading seems to point towards qwerty being a terrible > layout, and something that should have died with the typewriter (it's > keylayout is meant to slow you down, and has more to do with stopping > those thingies on the typewriter from getting stuck together... those > who have used typewriters will know what I mean) > > Besides QWERTY, there are a few others that seem to be gaining traction, > they are: > > DVORAK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout#Dvorak > > Colemak: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout#Colemak > > Colemak so far looks the most appealing to me if I were to change, > http://colemak.com/ has a good explanation of the keyboard, but seems to > be down right now :/ > > > The questions: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > - Has anyone gone down the ergonomic path, and what did end up doing? > > - Are there any recommended keyboard/mouse combinations that you think > are worthwhile? > > - Does anyone think a smaller kayboard is better development with a > numeric pad on the left or a USB external one? > > - Trackballs: yay or nay? > > - Has anyone changed their keyboard layout, and if so, would you > recommend it? > > ------------------------------------------------- > > Hopefully this isn't too early for the week (not friday), but I'd be > really interested in any feedback anyone has. > > Thanks heaps :) > -- > Les Hughes > [email protected]
