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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

#211

Post by ashton314 »

Gigachad wrote: post #202
ashton314 wrote: post #32

There is a lot of hype on this thread about the Moonlander keyboard. The hype is real. The author has a neat hack, but seriously, just get yourself a split keyboard that supports the QMK firmware, customize the crap out of it, and your hands will thank you forever.

I wish someone would make a wireless split keyboard. I have the ergodox but I ended up replacing it with the logitech mx keys because I was sick of having cables all over my desk and having to unplug the thing every time I switch between my desktop and laptop.

You can definitely build your own. I think one hurdle is that the ZMK firmware (like QMK, but supports Bluetooth) is a little immature. (I could be very wrong.)

I’ve seen plenty in r/ergomechkeyboards. If someone made a wireless Moonlander, insta-buy from me!

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#212

Post by outworlder »

Gigachad wrote: post #202
ashton314 wrote: post #32

There is a lot of hype on this thread about the Moonlander keyboard. The hype is real. The author has a neat hack, but seriously, just get yourself a split keyboard that supports the QMK firmware, customize the crap out of it, and your hands will thank you forever.

I wish someone would make a wireless split keyboard. I have the ergodox but I ended up replacing it with the logitech mx keys because I was sick of having cables all over my desk and having to unplug the thing every time I switch between my desktop and laptop.

> I wish someone would make a wireless split keyboard.

You mean like the Freestyle Blue?

https://kinesis-ergo.com/shop/freestyle2-blue-pc/

You can also get USB switch. They won't solve the cable issue, but you won't have to keep plugging/unplugging stuff.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#213

Post by unnouinceput »

Wasn't on HN, not so long time ago, maybe couple of months, how to create a mechanical keyboard from a Raspberry Pi? I think the author of this article could've benefit from that one. Could've created his custom keyboard, without any additional software to link two separate keyboards in one, could've made it as wide or as split he wanted and with as many programmable keys (if he'd want) as needed.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#214

Post by Gigachad »

outworlder wrote: post #212
Gigachad wrote: post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish someone would make a wireless split keyboard. I have the ergodox but I ended up replacing it with the logitech mx keys because I was sick of having cables all over my desk and having to unplug the thing every time I switch between my desktop and laptop.

> I wish someone would make a wireless split keyboard. You mean like the Freestyle Blue? https://kinesis-ergo.com/shop/freestyle2-blue-pc/ You can also get USB switch. They won't solve the cable issue, but you won't have to keep plugging/unplugging stuff.

Interesting product. Little bit ugly but it does seem to be what I wanted. I actually had a usb switch setup going on but the problem was I had cables everywhere and still had to plug everything in to the laptop. Now I just plug in power and video and the rest is just wireless.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#215

Post by johncalvinyoung »

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 got a UHKv1 from an early adopter friend (who had multiple UHKs) and have loved it. It was hard getting used to it at first, but it was the only keyboard that didn't make my forearms ache, when my tendonitis flared up.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#216

Post by LAC-Tech »

dotancohen wrote: post #69
enchiridion wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is just having a softer touch the answer?

That is half the answer. When I let people try my mechanical keyboards, especially the Cherries, I emphasize that the goal isn't to mash the key until it no longer goes down. Rather, the goal is to stop mashing somewhere between the actuation point (usually ~2mm) and the end of key travel (usually ~4mm). This corresponds to 45-60 grams of force depending on switch type, and staying in this range makes for a relativel…

> But nothing is going to quiet the sound of switches designed to give audio feedback, such as the Cherry Blues. I do not recommend those for use in an office or even at home with other people at home.

Do people really get that upset about a keyboard that clicks a bit?

Back when I was in open offices the annoyances were people yelling to each other with me in between, people singing, private phone calls etc. A click wouldn't even have registered.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#218

Post by LAC-Tech »

darthvoldemort wrote: post #34

There are probably multiple different causes for RSI in programmers, but for me, a regular keyboard is fine. Even my slouch is fine. I type with my elbows on the table and it's fine. It's the mouse that killed me. A handful of years after graduating from college, I thought my programming career was over because the pain in my neck and shoulders was so bad I couldn't type. I went to a bunch of doctors, neurologists, p…

Voted this just because we're all different and this could really be a lightbulb moment for someone with similar issues.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#219

Post by LAC-Tech »

michaelcampbell wrote: post #199

> The CherryMX Kinesis split keyboard was is too clickey for calls and screenshares. I use Cherry Blues on all my kb's at home, and at least Google Meet does a stellar job at filtering out that noise; I've even asked people while I'm typing if they can hear me typing; none have answered in the positive so far.

After 18 months of remote work, the noise from someones keyboard would not even register. Click away I say.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#220

Post by burlesona »

I will second this and say split keyboard has largely solved the neck and shoulder pain I’ve had for years. I still get it sometimes but it’s very rare, whereas it was very frequent before I converted to split keyboard.

For ease of adjustment I found the Matías Ergo Pro keyboard to be very good.

Before that I tried the Kinesis Freestyle and didn’t like it as much.

Recently I’ve been using a Dygma Raise with Cherry MX Brown switches, and I’m enjoying it as it’s nearly as familiar as the Matías but smaller. I greatly miss the arrow keys though.

I have to say this two keyboard hack is pretty clever. What I wish I could buy is almost exactly this: a Mac laptop keyboard split in half. I wouldn’t argue that it has better typing feel etc compared to mechanicals, but I do still work on my laptop some and while I’ve gotten to where I can switch back and forth without being too badly impacted, I still make a lot more mistakes compared to when I exclusively typed on my laptop or other Apple keyboard.

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