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Evolving my ergonomic setup (or, my laptop with extra steps)

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Re: Evolving my ergonomic setup (or, my laptop with extra steps)

#91

Post by de_nied »

elric wrote: post #75
pnut wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But when I can buy a "good enough" Dell keyboard for $30, over 10x the cost for splitting the PCB in half sure smells like a rip off.

Does it? The "good enough" Dell keyboard is made by a multi-billion dollar corporation in extremely large quantities. Economies of scale bring the price all the way down, and they skimp on parts (e.g. no real mechanical keys). The cost isn't in "splitting the PCB in half", it's in designing and connecting two halves. In sourcing (usually) high quality mechanical keys. Due to the small batch sizes there's also a good…

I work for a U.S. company that makes ergonomic 3D printed keyboards. We design specifically for the individual user's hand. Almost all the keyboard shells (the 3d files) are designed custom for the individual.

Labor is pretty cheap. It takes on average about 2 hours to build a keyboard. If there are no issues, it takes 1 hour. That costs about $25 total on average for labor.

The main cost is the 3d printed shells. We print PLA ourselves for cheap, but we outsource Nylon and Resin to China. These can cost anywhere from $150 to $200 for the entire thing.

The next highest cost are the PCBs. Our connectors, PCB columns for the switches, trackball PCBs, and the "brain" PCB, where all the logic processing happens, end up costing over $100-$150 total.

The total cost to build them ends up being anywhere from $250 (the absolute minimum barebones keyboard) to $400 for higher end boards.

Just some insight.

Re: Evolving my ergonomic setup (or, my laptop with extra steps)

#92

Post by bowsamic »

maeln wrote: post #6

This does look very cool. But my advise for anyone suffering from pain to their arms, hands, backs, and any other body parts that usually hurt for people working on computer all day: Do modest, but regular mobility and strength exercises. While having an ergonomic (and cool looking at that) setup is important, it wont save you from muscle atrophy. A physical therapist might help you find the right kind of exercises f…

Yes, all my issues with pain are fixed by regular exercise at the gym doing exercises prescribed by physiotherapists

Re: Evolving my ergonomic setup (or, my laptop with extra steps)

#93

Post by bowsamic »

brokenmachine wrote: post #48
Cthulhu_ wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup, can confirm. Had forearm pain for years (started in the wrists when I started using a laptop at school), did the whole round of ergonomic keyboards, joystick-mouse, etc. Eventually went to a personal trainer who had me try pushups, couldn't do them because of wrist pain. He then made me do deadlifts, which were tricky at first because my grip strength wasn't great, but after just a few sessions it improved marke…

My theory is that because your muscles are a little bit tensed for a long period of time, there's not enough movement to move the blood and lactic acid around, and eventually it builds up and becomes painful. So even just doing a little bit of mobility exercises with light weights helps a lot.

No it's literally just atrophy and weakness. Supporting muscles not being strong enough, etc. The increased strength relieves a lot of misplaced physical stress

Re: Evolving my ergonomic setup (or, my laptop with extra steps)

#95

Post by pimlottc »

__mharrison__ wrote: post #60
rhcom2 wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm still surprised by the price of some of these split keyboards. I guess it's just small batch size but $400 is steep.

That is pretty cheap in the long run.

I get what you mean, but that is assuming that you know exactly which one to get and you only need to buy one. In reality, you'll probably need to try at least 3-4 keyboards to find the right one, and they're not always easy or cost-free to return since they're often only available on specialty sites or kickstarters.

Re: Evolving my ergonomic setup (or, my laptop with extra steps)

#96

Post by ishtanbul »

theshackleford wrote: post #47
loloquwowndueo wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ll bite. Why does it take longer for you?

I just have a lot of things I have to do in my program, and I have to do them twice a day, every day. I thought it might be better not to do it every day, and asked that, but was told no by two separate physios and my care team and so twice a day every day it remains. I also do in person physio and pilates on top of this three days a week. It's obviously good for me (what kind of exercise isnt I suppose) but id proba…

I am in the same situation. Disc herniation, post surgery, doing pt every day and no material improvement in 3 years. Ive tried many pt programs. My time is under extreme pressure.

I need to stop sitting, and revert to a hunter gatherer movement pattern of walking, running and crouching. Unfortunately i live in nyc and my desk job may kill me.

If we can use AI+VR/AR to put an end to desk work, it will dramatically benefit billions of souls.

Re: Evolving my ergonomic setup (or, my laptop with extra steps)

#99

Post by wolftickets »

nicholasjarnold wrote: post #46
maeln wrote: post #6

This does look very cool. But my advise for anyone suffering from pain to their arms, hands, backs, and any other body parts that usually hurt for people working on computer all day: Do modest, but regular mobility and strength exercises. While having an ergonomic (and cool looking at that) setup is important, it wont save you from muscle atrophy. A physical therapist might help you find the right kind of exercises f…

Full agree. My wife is a physical therapist (DPT, Northwestern) and the owner of a PT practice. I say this with some (very limited) authority, repeating things she has said to me: 1) Absolutely seek the advice of a good PT. It's not like going to a chiropractor where you'll get signed up for the "forever plan". You go, pay for a few visits or even just 1 and they will evaluate and give you things to do on your own. Y…

+1 - Shared with my wife, who is also a DPT(Southeastern US) and she agreed with all of these points.

Re: Evolving my ergonomic setup (or, my laptop with extra steps)

#100

Post by __mharrison__ »

pnut wrote: post #74
__mharrison__ wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is pretty cheap in the long run.

But when I can buy a "good enough" Dell keyboard for $30, over 10x the cost for splitting the PCB in half sure smells like a rip off.

Maybe. If a $30 keyboard works for you that's great. They drive me crazy.

My take is that ergonomics are personal. Split keyboards work for me.

If your body is complaining, don't ignore it. Take actions. Split keyboard might be one action that helps.

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