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Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

symboliclogic.io

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Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#181

Post by asciimov »

Izikiel43 wrote: post #84
NortySpock wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Congrats on finding and resolving your carpal tunnel problem. I switched to a basic wireless trackball[1] about 5 years into my career (10 years in industry) which has kept me mostly pain free since I can avoid moving my wrist. Still might need to look for a better keyboard and a slightly better trackball, but for anyone reading this with minor pain: don't ignore it. Try new things early and try to reduce your pain,…

Trackball gang unite (?) I got the ergo one[1] and my wrist pain went away, the key is that now I don't move my wrist anymore. [1] https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/mice/mx-ergo-wireles...

I've got a love hate relationship with the ergo.

I love the tilt, and the improved build quality.

But I wish it had better battery life, was a size bigger, and had Linux drivers.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#182

Post by airstrike »

2muchcoffeeman wrote: post #164
roganartu wrote: post #11

> I tried a few of those Kinesis split keyboards. Too squishy for me. Not far enough apart. The CherryMX Kinesis split keyboard was is too clickey for calls and screenshares. Muscle memory made it difficult to switch. This is a really cool hack, and I’m happy that the author found a solution for their pain that works for them, but this bit confused me. Kinesis are keyboards with separated key clusters, but not split…

This guy seems to have given up too soon. There are also normal spilt keyboards like the UHK. And even cheaper Chinese options like the Mistel Barocco. These Chinese keyboards are what most people should get if they need a split keyboard. Normal keyboard layout, just split. Connected by a coiled USBC to USBC cable that you could replace with a longer cable. I use the Mistel which fine for me. The layout never bothere…

I'd love recommendations on a split keyboard with low profile keys. The "normal" angle on keyboards kills my wrists...

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#183

Post by YorickPeterse »

ben7799 wrote: post #68
flylikeabanana wrote: post #13

I find it really odd that the OP is staring down the barrel of an RSI that's going to inexorably lock them (presumably) out of their career and passion, but the learning curve for a proper ergonomic keyboard seemed to high. I was up to an acceptable 40WPM on the Ergodox a week after switching, and his complaints about " the Cherry MX" switches fall a little flat since there's about a dozen different kinds, all with d…

There's absolutely zero clinical/valid evidence that Cherry MX switches do a shred of anything for RSI. It's all hype. There's nothing medical behind any of it. I find the extra key travel of those switches fatigues my fingers/arms far more and makes me feel far more like I'm going to have RSI. I did have full blown RSI, and ditching mechanical keyboards was a key part of getting past it. Now that's just my anecdote,…

I'm not sure if I'd consider it all hype, at least not when talking about the force required to press down a key. When using regular 55g switches (brown, red, or something else), my fingers get tired rather quickly. But when using 35g red switches, I can go all day without any problems (finger wise at least). I've tried lighter (20g), but I ended up accidentally pressing keys too often.

I will say this: clicky switches serve no practical purpose. The same goes for tactile switches, _especially_ when using light springs as you'll bottom out most of the time. Whether you buy Cherry switches, Kailh or something else doesn't really matter either ergonomics wise.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#184

Post by nbzso »

Kinesis Advantage 2.

Hard learning curve, macros, endless customization and no pain. The idea of using Apple keyboards without wrist support is temporary hack.

I have changed countless mechanical and ergonomic keyboards with no success. The concept of using your thumbs for most repetitive combinations is just astonishingly effective.

As a side effect I remapped left super to control and right supper to meta on all my laptops, caps lock is escape.

But nothing can compare to comfort and speed that I can reach on Kinesis Advantage.

The key to success with this keyboard is to remap it by your standards and wishes, I have seen many people complain about using your thumbs or arrow keys, square brackets.

The power of this keyboard besides ergonomic design is in a remapping functionality and complementary software.

Rarely nowadays I can say that some product or service is changing my life drastically for good. But Advantage is one of those life changing products.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#185

Post by Symbiote »

I created a filter able gallery of split, mechanical keyboards to help people browse through the kind of things that are available.

https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/

Xah Lee has a page with some non-mechanical options listed.

http://xahlee.info/kbd/ergonomic_keyboards_index.html

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#186

Post by unemphysbro »

2muchcoffeeman wrote: post #164
roganartu wrote: post #11

> I tried a few of those Kinesis split keyboards. Too squishy for me. Not far enough apart. The CherryMX Kinesis split keyboard was is too clickey for calls and screenshares. Muscle memory made it difficult to switch. This is a really cool hack, and I’m happy that the author found a solution for their pain that works for them, but this bit confused me. Kinesis are keyboards with separated key clusters, but not split…

This guy seems to have given up too soon. There are also normal spilt keyboards like the UHK. And even cheaper Chinese options like the Mistel Barocco. These Chinese keyboards are what most people should get if they need a split keyboard. Normal keyboard layout, just split. Connected by a coiled USBC to USBC cable that you could replace with a longer cable. I use the Mistel which fine for me. The layout never bothere…

Love the mistel. I've been using it for 4 years and it's great!

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#187

Post by shocks »

Symbiote wrote: post #185

I created a filter able gallery of split, mechanical keyboards to help people browse through the kind of things that are available. https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/ Xah Lee has a page with some non-mechanical options listed. http://xahlee.info/kbd/ergonomic_keyboards_index.html

These are fantastic. Thank you!

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#188

Post by ioman »

I have been using Kinesis Advantage keyboards for close to two decades now. The keyboard wells and the placement of the space, enter, delete, backspace, and modifier keys I find amazing. I haven't been able to find anything else nearly as good. So I keep using them even though they only have USB interfaces.

I've been using them so long I have a few lying around. I've gotten two set up as described by ruffrey. Oh. My. God. I've been typing for less than an hour on this new setup and already my shoulders feel way better.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#189

Post by stronglikedan »

corysama wrote: post #135
stronglikedan wrote: post #106

Coincidentally, I just started using two keyboards for related but different reasons - left-hand mousing. I started developing tendonitis in my right thumb from mousing. Didn't matter whether mouse, pad, or ball - everything wore on it. So, I learned to mouse with my left hand, but this presented another problem - keyboard shortcuts. I found it was difficult to keep reaching over to my left side with my right hand, w…

Similar story. I had a year where I was so productive that I typed my way into cubital tunnel syndrome. Felt like getting stabbed by needles at random points in the day. Doc said I needed surgery. Instead I changed my routine dramatically for a few months. 1. "Essential Hand Stretches For Guitarists or Any Instrumentalist" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSrfB7JIzxY before, during and after typing. 2. When typing, ho…

Thanks for the exercises - I'll give them a shot.

I'm also now doing the zombie typing thing, but not quite used to it yet. I wish I would have learned my lesson from my high school typing teacher, who would whack our arms with a ruler if we were resting our wrists on anything.

And, yeah, switching between multiple devices too: regular mouse, vertical mouse, track pad and trackball. That started with something I read along the lines of "the best ergonomic position is the next position".

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#190

Post by hogFeast »

YorickPeterse wrote: post #183
ben7799 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's absolutely zero clinical/valid evidence that Cherry MX switches do a shred of anything for RSI. It's all hype. There's nothing medical behind any of it. I find the extra key travel of those switches fatigues my fingers/arms far more and makes me feel far more like I'm going to have RSI. I did have full blown RSI, and ditching mechanical keyboards was a key part of getting past it. Now that's just my anecdote,…

I'm not sure if I'd consider it all hype, at least not when talking about the force required to press down a key. When using regular 55g switches (brown, red, or something else), my fingers get tired rather quickly. But when using 35g red switches, I can go all day without any problems (finger wise at least). I've tried lighter (20g), but I ended up accidentally pressing keys too often. I will say this: clicky switch…

I had the same experience with ultra-light switches, I couldn't use anything heavier than reds. Then I tried very smooth lubed linears (Alpaca v2, which are 62g), and they were totally fine.

I am not sure if they helped ergonomically but I found I was accidentally pressing keys far less.

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