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Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

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Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#41

Post by thor_molecules »

aodonnell2536 wrote: post #12
honkycat wrote: 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?

I have an iris, I would highly recommend. Similar to a Moonlander (not as many keys though).

https://keeb.io/collections/iris-split-ergonomic-keyboard/pr...

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#42

Post by giraffe_lady »

_dain_ wrote: post #26
webel0 wrote: post #6

Am I correct to understand that this is actually an issue for these people? As a programmer of far less exalted code, I’ve never felt like I was at risk of an RSI in my hands. (My neck is a different story.) I spend a lot more time thinking than typing. I wonder if this is because I program in a corporate setting, or if I’m just not as smart/fast at coding as these people, or if it is just a reflection of a different…

I think there may just be some genetic component. some people are way more susceptible to it than others.

Possibly to different body parts too. When I was cooking professionally I used to get it in my shoulder and elbow from certain motions. When I switched to coding I was aware of it being a common problem and figured I'd get it from computer user but I never have.

I have maybe been a little more mindful of my posture and ergonomics, but never to the point of using anything but a normal laptop or basic apple keyboard and trackpad.

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#43

Post by Agingcoder »

throw47474777j wrote: post #27
aodonnell2536 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Are you a professional keyboard user? If so, I'd prioritize picking the keyboard that suits you best over price.

I agree with this. After compressing one my nerves quite nastily ( right hand wouldn’t move ) I invested what was at the time a significant amount of money into a keyboard ( kinesis). Best money I’ve ever spent!

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#45

Post by rednerrus »

jimbob45 wrote: post #3

Ergonomic mice are what’s useless. They give your wrist the tilt it (may) need but the real panacea is to keep your wrist/forearm off the table by resting your elbow on your armrest and having your desk height match your armrest height.

I switched hands with my regular mouse five years ago and my wrist pain has gone away.

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#46

Post by cratermoon »

_dain_ wrote: post #38
susam wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right little finger on 'ctrl'. Left little finger on 'x'. With proper touch-typing, that's how we type shift+x too, i.e., right little finger on 'shift' and left little finger on 'x'.

people actually use right-ctrl and right-shift? i forgot those keys even existed. but why not just use the left-ctrl? it's as easy as can be: pinky on ctrl, index finger on x, they're the perfect distance apart, you press them in one fluid movement. maybe I find this easier because I'm left handed?

My laptop keyboards don't have them, so even though I learned to use them, I'm picking up bad habits.

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#48

Post by knodi123 »

jamesgreenleaf wrote: post #15

I'm convinced that using the "mac layout" for your main modifier key (Cmd) is a huge improvement when it comes to comfort and reducing strain. If you're on another OS, you should remap Control to your Alt key. I've done this on my Windows & Linux machines, and it takes a few days to get used to, but it's just night and day. Pinky weak, thumb strong.

That's funny, it's the CMD key that gave me my RSI injury. It was from moving my left thumb underneath my hand in order to hold the key down. I eventually popped that key off and exclusively used the right CMD, and my pain died down. I suspect remapping it to caps lock would have solved the problem too, since I'd use my pinky for that.

Re: Famous Programers with Repetitive Strain Injury (2022)

#50

Post by IceSentry »

jamesgreenleaf wrote: post #15

I'm convinced that using the "mac layout" for your main modifier key (Cmd) is a huge improvement when it comes to comfort and reducing strain. If you're on another OS, you should remap Control to your Alt key. I've done this on my Windows & Linux machines, and it takes a few days to get used to, but it's just night and day. Pinky weak, thumb strong.

Using my thumb to press alt sounds crazy to me. It's incredibly uncomfortable compared to using ctrl with my pinky.

With that said I do agree that modern keyboards completely underutilize the thumb. This is why I love my split keyboard with a thumb cluster. I truly believe every keyboard should have a thumb cluster now. It's crazy that the default is to waste 2 fingers like that.

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