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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

#271

Post by makeitrain »

JeremyNT wrote: post #140
slightwinder wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Kinesis are keyboards with separated key clusters, but not split keyboards. When one says split keyboard I think they are normally talking about things like the Ergodox EZ/Moonlander Kinesis has also their freestyle-line, which are physically splitted keyboard. But traditionally, the name refers to the split of the key-segments, not the whole keyboard. Until a decade ago, there barely where any real split keyboards…

> Kinesis has also their freestyle-line, which are physically splitted keyboard. But traditionally, the name refers to the split of the key-segments, not the whole keyboard. Until a decade ago, there barely where any real split keyboards, and split segments was the mainstream. Indeed, I saw the title of this post and I wondered if the poster was looking for a setup similar to the Freestyle... and it turns out they we…

I have a kinesis freestyle pro, and it's great. About 18" of separation. I only wish it had a steeper tilt angle.

I always thought full size keyboards should split the alpha keys and put the numpad in the middle. That would drastically improve ergonomics.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#272

Post by sascha_sl »

warp wrote: post #105
FalconSensei wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 just can't bear the thought of using mechanical keyboard where I have to lift my fingers too much to be able to move them and press another key. For me, the less I need to move my fingers up/down, and the less pressure I have to apply, the better - as in, hurts way less

I think that's the main benefit of a mechanical keyboard with hotswap sockets -- you can change out the switches for something better (for you). There are switches with lighter springs, so you can apply less pressure. And if you forgo the MX style mechanical keys you can get a keyboard with low profile "choc" switches, which have less travel. (for example purpz are low profile with a very light actuation force: https…

25g is in the "moving to home row actuates key" territory, make sure you know what you're getting yourself into.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#273

Post by lolc »

appleiigs wrote: post #138
lolc wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I found R-Go Tools Split to be a nice and light keyboard for my mobile rig. The only annoyance was the throbbing light in the corner. But a patch of tape fixed that. The stock cable wouldn't allow placing the parts as far apart as in the article though. https://www.r-go-tools.com/products/ergonomic-keyboards/r-go...

Thanks, looks interesting. FYI: the FAQ says this about the light: Yes, this is possible. You can do so by pressing the key combination "Fn"+"A".

Thanks, that works. But it's not permanent. My tape is :-)

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#274

Post by lolc »

burlesona wrote: post #221
lolc wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I found R-Go Tools Split to be a nice and light keyboard for my mobile rig. The only annoyance was the throbbing light in the corner. But a patch of tape fixed that. The stock cable wouldn't allow placing the parts as far apart as in the article though. https://www.r-go-tools.com/products/ergonomic-keyboards/r-go...

That looks promising, but I heard that model doesn’t work on Macs. Do you know if that’s correct?

I don't see why it wouldn't. It's a USB keyboard. But I use it on Linux, not Darwin.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#275

Post by Abishek_Muthian »

slightwinder wrote: post #28
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…

> Kinesis are keyboards with separated key clusters, but not split keyboards. When one says split keyboard I think they are normally talking about things like the Ergodox EZ/Moonlander Kinesis has also their freestyle-line, which are physically splitted keyboard. But traditionally, the name refers to the split of the key-segments, not the whole keyboard. Until a decade ago, there barely where any real split keyboards…

I have accessibility needs so I use soft keyboard and a trackpad. I keep the keyboard at an angle on the closed laptop but the trackpad was on a flat surface which caused some wrist fatigue.

I join the keyboard and the trackpad together with a double sided tape[1] with a metal scale to the bottom for added rigidity and now I can use both of them at a preferred angle. I no longer have wrist fatigue as I can rest them on a flat surface while both typing and tracking.

[1] https://abishekmuthian.com/accessibility-hack-for-keyboard-a...

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#276

Post by Symbiote »

h3mb3 wrote: post #256

My biggest problem is to find keyboards that would have all 3 modifiers on BOTH sides. I use a Mac for work which means in most (split/ergo/tenkeyless) keyboards (depending on the settings applicable) either Ctrl or Alt/Opt is missing from the right side, because e.g. an Fn key or a squeezed-in left arrow is taking their place. I need all 3 modifiers constantly (Ctrl+C in Terminal, enter special characters, use app s…

Any mechanical keyboard supporting QMK is fully reprogrammable, so you can either choose one with sufficient keys, or enable one of various options to double-up particular keys.

I have an ErgoDash, which has several thumb keys on each side — the size of your hands would determine how many are practical for frequent use.

My squeezed-in left arrow key serves as Alt when I hold it down, and Enter is Ctrl if I hold that down.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#279

Post by flamwenco »

ajford wrote: post #162
flamwenco wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having recently gotten back into mechanical keyboards, partially for ergonomic reasons, I can say the Moonlander so far is the single board I regret purchasing. Almost $400 for a board that is so poorly designed you have to choose between a usable thumb cluster position or a comfortable tenting angle, because the thumb cluster is used as one of the tenting legs. So unless you have giant hands, it's just a very poor e…

Yeah, I can't imagine the Moonlander being a great fit for someone with normal/small hands. I got a Moonlander and happen to love it. Though, I really wish they hadn't decided to make the thumb cluster a tenting leg. I think that's my biggest complaint about it. ZSA does sell a tenting leg kit that I believe should allow you to swap the thumb cluster screw for a leg, but I haven't tried it myself. It's only $24. Addi…

In fairness to ZSA, I did miss that page on printable files. I do still think it's a little silly to need to print a new leg for the board to remedy probably the biggest design flaw.

>The Lily58 and Corne have far too few keys for my liking, but to each there own.

For what it's worth, I used to think the same thing, and now I happily do all my daily programming work on a Reviung41, which has even less keys than the Corne.

Re: Using two keyboards at once for pain relief

#280

Post by flamwenco »

3np wrote: post #159
flamwenco wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having recently gotten back into mechanical keyboards, partially for ergonomic reasons, I can say the Moonlander so far is the single board I regret purchasing. Almost $400 for a board that is so poorly designed you have to choose between a usable thumb cluster position or a comfortable tenting angle, because the thumb cluster is used as one of the tenting legs. So unless you have giant hands, it's just a very poor e…

I have a Lily58 that I’m still getting used to, got any tenting tips? So far I’ve only been putting a towel under the far end to angle it a bit, which is far from ideal.

I have seen people using various different size rubber feet on the bottom to tent their lily, I believe they used a mixture of large rubber bumpers intended for roombas, and the normal small bumpons.

There should also be a variety of 3d printed solutions too, I've seen tenting feet you can screw on to the bottom and cases that let you use large screws on the outside to create tenting legs

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