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Typing, RSI, and what I do differently

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Re: Typing, RSI, and what I do differently

#91

Post by logbiscuitswave »

esja wrote: post #19

I've been typing for 36 years now (since I was a child), and have never had RSI once, or anything close to it. I think it's because I never learned to touch-type "properly". I use most of my fingers, and I type very fast, but I'm not hitting the "correct" keys with the "correct" fingers - I'm just following whatever comfortable patterns I've burned into muscle memory over all these years. If someone asked me to descr…

Thank you for posting this. I don’t type “properly” either and even though I type quickly even with an unorthodox style I still feel self-conscious about it at times.

Re: Typing, RSI, and what I do differently

#92

Post by nemo1618 »

rlp wrote: post #74
joshwcomeau wrote: post #66

I’ve learned a lot about RSI over the past year, having spent about 8 months completely unable to type or use a mouse, trying dozens of things and talking to dozens of people. And the main thing I’ve learned is that every story is unique; the right thing for one person might be an absolutely terrible idea for another. Folks in the comments seem to be making pretty broad statements about what is good or bad, and I jus…

I totally agree, the prevailing RSI advice about posture and exercise and fancy chairs and input devices and taking breaks is not one-size-fits-all. In my case, Sarno's book showed me how my neurotic fixation on RSI was making it worse. I wrote this comment in 2016: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12990976 . My RSI continues to be totally gone (it's been gone 14+ years now, the RSI started a couple years before…

Yep, I'm in the same boat. Suffered for about a year, read the book, 100% cured within a month. Still no issues three years later. I have terrible posture and type all day on a laptop. I shudder to think of the alternate future in which I continued grappling with wrist pain for the rest of my career.

Re: Typing, RSI, and what I do differently

#93

Post by nemo1618 »

fwsgonzo wrote: post #70

Do things that reduce stress, and get a vertical mouse! That helped me. Working out, sitting properly also helps. My biggest issue was and still is stress, which causes muscles to tighten all over, and it can affect different parts, from the finger to the shoulder and neck. Randomly. A physical therapist ended up being able to explain what was happening. Doctors only told me to not type for a week or two, which at le…

Very interesting. I wonder if it was the vomiting that did it, or the norovirus somehow resetting your gut bacteria? I have chronic stomach issues as well, and sometimes I get the feeling that a "total system purge" is all that's really necessary... that is, "turn it off and on again." :)

Re: Typing, RSI, and what I do differently

#94

Post by dehrmann »

brailsafe wrote: post #82

I wish Microsoft would just put out a second version of the Sculpt keyboard. Nothing else on the market really appeals in the same way, and their surface keyboard is ridic expensive. 10 keyless, wireless, negative tilt, with chicklet keys and the same key layout. Maybe less loud keys with less action would be fine. My stupid mechanical keyboard is in the closet, along with my Apple Bluetooth keyboard. At a desktop, t…

I just hope the fix the F keys.

Re: Typing, RSI, and what I do differently

#95

Post by brailsafe »

dehrmann wrote: post #94
brailsafe wrote: post #82

I wish Microsoft would just put out a second version of the Sculpt keyboard. Nothing else on the market really appeals in the same way, and their surface keyboard is ridic expensive. 10 keyless, wireless, negative tilt, with chicklet keys and the same key layout. Maybe less loud keys with less action would be fine. My stupid mechanical keyboard is in the closet, along with my Apple Bluetooth keyboard. At a desktop, t…

I just hope the fix the F keys.

Is that a regular issue? I heard they have a fairly limited lifespan, but I haven't ran mine out yet.

Re: Typing, RSI, and what I do differently

#97

Post by ollo »

woudsma wrote: post #79

A few years ago I started having RSI issues. At a certain point I couldn't even comfortably hold a phone or glass with my right arm. There was no position I could hold my arm where I didn't feel pain. I went to a physiotherapist / mensendieck for therapy, which kind of worked. The real 'cure' for me was a small Wacom Bamboo pen tablet and screens at eye-level. Not having to look up or down. Coding with a pen tablet i…

Interesting setup, do you use the Wacom as a touchpad with your finger or with the pen? Do you have an external keyboard?

Re: Typing, RSI, and what I do differently

#98

Post by tpxl »

fbcpck wrote: post #65
robotmay wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Haha no worries, it's actually a good question as to how it works, as I'm not entirely sure myself. I think the closest equivalent is genuinely musical instruments: I also never look at the keyboard of my accordions. I imagine a part of it is having a constant reference point aside from the fingers, such as having the keyboard in a specific place, or perhaps I'm anchoring more around the modifier keys than the letter…

I really like this explanation! I'm also able to touch-type and I'm not a home-row typist. I noticed that my point of reference mainly the keyboard rims; once I locate the keyboard by feeling the rims with my (pinky) finger, I can just start typing. I'm using Apple Magic Keyboard for almost a decade now, it's pretty small so I'm not sure if I could do the same with standard form factor mechanical keyboard. I sometime…

Same here. Left and right shifts are my reference and from that I can locate every key on the keyboard.

Re: Typing, RSI, and what I do differently

#99

Post by dehrmann »

brailsafe wrote: post #95
dehrmann wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just hope the fix the F keys.

Is that a regular issue? I heard they have a fairly limited lifespan, but I haven't ran mine out yet.

I was just complaining about how they're so stubby. They need to be about twice as large.

Re: Typing, RSI, and what I do differently

#100

Post by fileeditview »

I had some problems with RSI over the last decade too. I changed a few things and since then I never had it again. For me it always seems to come from excessive mouse usage. I never get it from keyboard typing.

Additionally I sometimes got "numb" legs which I could also completely get rid of. My personal tips for developer ergonomics are:

RSI:

- Try to use the mouse less. I e.g. changed to vim and set up many shortcuts for gnome. I can use my whole system basically without mouse if I want to. The change and setup work was really worth it for me. I also realized that vim is not about speed (which did never convince me before) but about ergonomics.

- If you get a strange feeling in your wrist, take a break. Instantly. Rest your arms. Take a walk. Have a hot bath. Relax!

- Generally take breaks from the PC. It is also good for your eyes.

- These training exercises helped me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdD7CgN5FGg&t

Numb legs (& probably also RSI):

- Sit correctly. Straight torso. Head a little tilted downwards. Relaxed shoulders.

- Use a good chair. It took years for me to find a chair that fit to my body.. but now it is awesome. I never had numb legs again afterwards.

- Stand up from time to time. Get a height-adjustable desk and use it. Just for 30-60 minutes. Then site back down again.

Bonus tips for eye strain.

From about 37 years of age onward I got eye strain by sitting at the computer for a longer period of time. Before that I could look at every screen forever and it didn't bother me. I also changed a few things here which made it better:

- Reduce screen brightness by a lot. Most people use too bright screens by default. I have my screens now at 45% and it's great. You have to just tune it down until it's too much then go back a bit. After some time you may get used to it and can reduce a bit more.

- Take breaks. Look into the distance.

- Use light color schemes at day and dark ones at night. This is a biggy for me. Earlier in my life I always used dark color schemes. Now I HAVE to use light schemes during daylight.. it's just so much easier on my eyes.

- Use a night mode in your system which uses warmer colors (more red) when it gets darker.

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