51–60 of 121 posts
One trick, not mentioned in the linked doc, is to move C-x to something else using Emacs' very special "ctl-x-map".
Check one of the mapping using "Ctrl + one finger of the right hand" which is a functionality you don't use much and map that to ctl-x-map.
I've had a lot of ergo issues from typing, and I'm always disappointed that Emacs users focus on remapping the Caps Lock key while ignoring the advice most ergonomists give: There are two Alt and Ctrl keys on the keyboard. Use both, and use both halves of the keyboard If you're doing a combination like Ctrl F, use the right control key. If you're doing Ctrl-l, use the left control key. In general, when using these mo…
...though I will admit that I have a bad habit of hitting C-x one-handedly (I have my system configured to the Dvorak layout).
I've had a lot of ergo issues from typing, and I'm always disappointed that Emacs users focus on remapping the Caps Lock key while ignoring the advice most ergonomists give: There are two Alt and Ctrl keys on the keyboard. Use both, and use both halves of the keyboard If you're doing a combination like Ctrl F, use the right control key. If you're doing Ctrl-l, use the left control key. In general, when using these mo…
The only way to hit the ctrl key ergonomically with either hand is by lifting your hand from the home row. But that makes touch typing ridiculously hard. It is extremely easy to fail to return your hand correctly to the home row and now everything you type will be off.
I've had a lot of ergo issues from typing, and I'm always disappointed that Emacs users focus on remapping the Caps Lock key while ignoring the advice most ergonomists give: There are two Alt and Ctrl keys on the keyboard. Use both, and use both halves of the keyboard If you're doing a combination like Ctrl F, use the right control key. If you're doing Ctrl-l, use the left control key. In general, when using these mo…
Your comment assumes everybody is using a "normal" keyboard. Since then a great many have come up with actually ergonomic keyboards and they virtually all have something in common: modifiers easily reached with the thumbs while the hands are in their home position. No crazy "moving the entire left hand to not hit ctrl with the pinky" . That's not ergonomic. At all. If the layout is QWERTY, left hand on asdf, right an…
Sorry, but ergonomists disagree. Moving your whole hand + arm, as long as you are not twisting your wrist, is in general recommended.
I've asked them about keeping the fingers on the home row, and the response has always been: "No good research to support it, nor any to disrecommend it."
I've had a lot of ergo issues from typing, and I'm always disappointed that Emacs users focus on remapping the Caps Lock key while ignoring the advice most ergonomists give: There are two Alt and Ctrl keys on the keyboard. Use both, and use both halves of the keyboard If you're doing a combination like Ctrl F, use the right control key. If you're doing Ctrl-l, use the left control key. In general, when using these mo…
> Use both, and use both halves of the keyboard If you're doing a combination like Ctrl F, use the right control key. If you're doing Ctrl-l, use the left control key. Coordinating both hands to press key combos seems much harder than doing that with just one hand. Also, in many cases (unrelated to Emacs), one hand is on mouse, so pressing keyboard shortcuts by one hand is much more useful than depending on both hand…
Anything is harder until you get used to it :-)
I had to make the shift. It wasn't really an option for me. Life improved after I made that shift.
> Also, in many cases (unrelated to Emacs), one hand is on mouse
While this is unfortunately true, it is still considered unergonomic by most ergonomists (any mouse use is unergonomic if it is continuous). They always recommend using the keyboard if the mouse can be avoided.
In a past life I did CAD work with a mouse. Horrible ergonomic issues ensued. Life got a lot better once I switched to programming.
I've had a lot of ergo issues from typing, and I'm always disappointed that Emacs users focus on remapping the Caps Lock key while ignoring the advice most ergonomists give: There are two Alt and Ctrl keys on the keyboard. Use both, and use both halves of the keyboard If you're doing a combination like Ctrl F, use the right control key. If you're doing Ctrl-l, use the left control key. In general, when using these mo…
I don't think focusing on hitting Ctrl on one side or the other is the problem -- it's the awkward contortion your hand has to make to hit the key, pinky or otherwise. It's in the same bad position on either side on a standard IBM PC 101 and later keyboard layouts. You'll just end up hurting both your hands if you alternate. Caps Lock as Ctrl will serve most Emacs users for quite a long time, and it's traditionally w…
Then don't contort. As I mentioned in another comment, insisting on keeping your fingers on the home keys is a bad idea. You should never bend the wrist while typing. When I want to hit the Ctrl key, I move my whole arm down and to the left so that my pinky (or any other finger) is over the Ctrl key. Moving your whole arm is what is recommended.
BTW, I'm not against remapping to the Caps Lock key at all - I grew up on those keyboards as well. I am merely dismayed that it is the first advice given, when it is fairly minor in preventing RSI.
I've had a lot of ergo issues from typing, and I'm always disappointed that Emacs users focus on remapping the Caps Lock key while ignoring the advice most ergonomists give: There are two Alt and Ctrl keys on the keyboard. Use both, and use both halves of the keyboard If you're doing a combination like Ctrl F, use the right control key. If you're doing Ctrl-l, use the left control key. In general, when using these mo…
or, if you're really that much a dedicated emacs user, get a split keyboard with modifiers on the thumb. as you suggest, you can also double-map modifiers, so that C-M-x is just two thumbs and a finger. you can go really fast this way.
Perhaps it slows me down a little, but my performance is not correlated with typing speed.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Your comment assumes everybody is using a "normal" keyboard. Since then a great many have come up with actually ergonomic keyboards and they virtually all have something in common: modifiers easily reached with the thumbs while the hands are in their home position. No crazy "moving the entire left hand to not hit ctrl with the pinky" . That's not ergonomic. At all. If the layout is QWERTY, left hand on asdf, right an…
> No crazy "moving the entire left hand to not hit ctrl with the pinky". That's not ergonomic. At all. Sorry, but ergonomists disagree. Moving your whole hand + arm, as long as you are not twisting your wrist , is in general recommended . I've asked them about keeping the fingers on the home row, and the response has always been: "No good research to support it, nor any to disrecommend it."
While most people do not have an ergonomic keyboard then what you say is likely true and most ergonomists would agree but I think they would also agree that even better is not have to move and use an ergonomic keyboard. That comes with cost and time which is why most still dont use them.Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think focusing on hitting Ctrl on one side or the other is the problem -- it's the awkward contortion your hand has to make to hit the key, pinky or otherwise. It's in the same bad position on either side on a standard IBM PC 101 and later keyboard layouts. You'll just end up hurting both your hands if you alternate. Caps Lock as Ctrl will serve most Emacs users for quite a long time, and it's traditionally w…
> it's the awkward contortion your hand has to make to hit the key, pinky or otherwise. Then don't contort. As I mentioned in another comment, insisting on keeping your fingers on the home keys is a bad idea. You should never bend the wrist while typing. When I want to hit the Ctrl key, I move my whole arm down and to the left so that my pinky (or any other finger) is over the Ctrl key. Moving your whole arm is what…
FWIW: if you are RSI prone, you to be minimizing time spent on a keyboard in the first place, and heavy editor use is probably just a bad idea in general.
I've had a lot of ergo issues from typing, and I'm always disappointed that Emacs users focus on remapping the Caps Lock key while ignoring the advice most ergonomists give: There are two Alt and Ctrl keys on the keyboard. Use both, and use both halves of the keyboard If you're doing a combination like Ctrl F, use the right control key. If you're doing Ctrl-l, use the left control key. In general, when using these mo…
You can also remap both caps lock and enter to control when they are used in combination with other keys. If you press them alone then they can be caps lock(or escape) and enter as normal. Pretty easy to do in karabiner. No RSI issues and you never have to worry about hunting for the ctrl keys with your pinkies on the bottom of the keyboard.