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Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

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Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#53
post #5

i killed my RSI that I had for YEARS by seriously over-hauling my workspace. I also went to occupational therapists who helped me figure out what I was doing wrong and how to fix it. I use a moonlander split keyboard so my shoulders are properly spread out instead of hunched together, and my wrists and arms can fall at a more reasonable angle. I use a "tall" ergo mouse. This was a huge upgrade from my small mouse and…

I’ve been strongly considering a split keyboard recently, and have been looking at (and loving the ergonomics of) the Moonlander, but struggle to reason paying $365 when every keyboard I’ve bought in the past has been <$80. Do you by chance know of any cheaper alternatives with similar ergonomics?

microsoft sculpt keyboard

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#54
post #8

> in particular, due to use of emacs I use Emacs too full-time (at work as well as at home). I use the 'ctrl' key on both sides of the keyboard. For example, if I'm typing C-a (i.e., ctrl+a), I hold down 'ctrl' with the right little finger and 'a' with the left little finger. Similarly, if I'm typing C-k, I hold down 'ctrl' with the left little finger and 'k' with the right middle finger. I touch type and any touch t…

I’ve used Karabiner Elements on my Mac to turn caps lock into a combined ctrl and escape key, and return into a combined ctrl and return key. It takes getting used to but it’s pretty nice.

When I hold the key while pressing another, it acts like ctrl. When I tap the key it acts like escape and return, respectively.

I’ve only done it recently for return. Still getting used to it. But now I have a ctrl key on both sides of the keyboard.

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#55
I find rest and forearm stretches help. The best stretch I've found is to push the hands against each other (flat, open palms against each other), either in front of or behind you. Disclaimer: talk to your doctor first.

Never continue working with when you have the slightest pain in your wrists/hands, that's the fastest way to an RSI. I would say you need to rest/stretch until it goes away.

Desk/chair ergonomics are important. Find what works for you, but generally never use a laptop on its own for more than you have to. Separated screen and keyboard are important.

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#56
post #55

I find rest and forearm stretches help. The best stretch I've found is to push the hands against each other (flat, open palms against each other), either in front of or behind you. Disclaimer: talk to your doctor first. Never continue working with when you have the slightest pain in your wrists/hands, that's the fastest way to an RSI. I would say you need to rest/stretch until it goes away. Desk/chair ergonomics are…

> Separated screen and keyboard are important.

I don't see how that has to do with hand/wrist pain. It would seem that's only relevant for neck & back pain.

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#57
post #8

> in particular, due to use of emacs I use Emacs too full-time (at work as well as at home). I use the 'ctrl' key on both sides of the keyboard. For example, if I'm typing C-a (i.e., ctrl+a), I hold down 'ctrl' with the right little finger and 'a' with the left little finger. Similarly, if I'm typing C-k, I hold down 'ctrl' with the left little finger and 'k' with the right middle finger. I touch type and any touch t…

I’ve used Karabiner Elements on my Mac to turn caps lock into a combined ctrl and escape key, and return into a combined ctrl and return key. It takes getting used to but it’s pretty nice. When I hold the key while pressing another, it acts like ctrl. When I tap the key it acts like escape and return, respectively. I’ve only done it recently for return. Still getting used to it. But now I have a ctrl key on both side…

That mapping is also pretty common on linux with xcape (and some stuff on wayland whose name I don't remember). What would one use on windows? AHK?

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#58
post #5

i killed my RSI that I had for YEARS by seriously over-hauling my workspace. I also went to occupational therapists who helped me figure out what I was doing wrong and how to fix it. I use a moonlander split keyboard so my shoulders are properly spread out instead of hunched together, and my wrists and arms can fall at a more reasonable angle. I use a "tall" ergo mouse. This was a huge upgrade from my small mouse and…

I’ve been strongly considering a split keyboard recently, and have been looking at (and loving the ergonomics of) the Moonlander, but struggle to reason paying $365 when every keyboard I’ve bought in the past has been <$80. Do you by chance know of any cheaper alternatives with similar ergonomics?

Kinesis freestyle is pretty cheap. I bought the mechanical one which is more expensive but don't use it. I'm too comfortable with microsoft ergonomic keyboard with light membrane keys https://www.microsoft.com/en/accessories/products/keyboards/... of which I have three. The only issue with the microsoft one is that it has to fit you since it is split but one piece. With a fully two piece split keyboard you can adjust it to your needs.

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#59
post #22

Here's a joke I often tell: I use emacs daily, my hands and fingers adjusted to the old bindings somehow. So whenever I used Eclipse and Java, I get serious RSI in less than 24H (the kind of acute/deep/radiating pain you don't want to ever feel)

You probably know this already, but Eclipse, and IntelliJ IDEA, and VSCode, support Emacs key bindings. I toyed with Emacs key bindings in Microsoft Word, but that never felt comfortable. I also recall finding a lot of paper in the office printer when I tried C-p in Notepad :/

> I tried C-p in Notepad :/

haha

Yeah I knew about IDE custom keybindings but maybe early on they weren't well supported enough so I never bothered. Still strange that emacs quirkiness never triggered any pain (and I don't even remap caps lock)

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve used Karabiner Elements on my Mac to turn caps lock into a combined ctrl and escape key, and return into a combined ctrl and return key. It takes getting used to but it’s pretty nice. When I hold the key while pressing another, it acts like ctrl. When I tap the key it acts like escape and return, respectively. I’ve only done it recently for return. Still getting used to it. But now I have a ctrl key on both side…

That mapping is also pretty common on linux with xcape (and some stuff on wayland whose name I don't remember). What would one use on windows? AHK?

There is TouchCursor, but it’s been quite a few years since I tried last.
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