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Types Of Ergonomic Keyboards You Should Know About
Ergonomic keyboards are designed to reduce the risk of wrist strain, fatigue and carpal tunnel syndrome, which is one of the repetitive motion injuries affecting tens of thousands of American typists each year. PC ergonomics is an emerging field that has picked up a lot of press in the new millennium because there are so many more people whose job consists of extensive computer work and, as a result, there are many more people who miss work due to computer-related wrist or back injuries. Bosses are looking at ways to improve productivity and reduce worker’s comp payouts, which is really at the heart of ergonomic product designs.
Almost every major technology brand is releasing ergonomic keyboards these days. Microsoft, Apple, Dell, Toshiba, Logitech, Adesso and other brands are vying for their share of the PC ergonomics market, which aims to improve comfort for computer users while they go about their repetitive tasks. While these new designs might be a little tricky to adjust to, there are a number of people who can benefit from these innovations. For instance, people who type all day long at a rapid pace for work, the elderly, the disabled and people who have weak wrists may all prefer an ergonomic design to a conventional keyboard. There are, in fact, many types from which to choose.
Split keyboards are one of the more popular designs because they reduce ulnar deviation, which is a hand position where the wrist is bent toward the little finger, contributing to the fatigue of muscles, thumb-area tendons and wrist nerves. A conventional keyboard requires users to strain to reach the space bar and vertical columns of keys like “Home” or “Page Up/Down.” Split keyboards change the arrangement of the keys, separating the keys into two halves elbow-width apart. Sometimes the angle is slightly changed to reduce ulnar deviation further. After an initial drop-off in speed or accuracy, users generally get used to this product design within a day or two. Examples of split keyboards include The Kinesis FreestyleTM Adjustable Split and the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000.
Negative-slope ergonomic keyboards are another design to consider. Some designs include extendable leg supports in the front of the keyboard to give a flat or slightly backward slope that prevents wrist extension. Bending the wrist back has been shown to increase pressure on the median nerve and exacerbate the wrist muscles. A wrist rest prevents sagging and straightens the elbows to improve posture. Unfortunately, there is very little ergonomic evaluation or research published about this design, but negatively sloped keyboards have easy-to-read keys and many people say their wrist posture is better. In some cases, users may bend their hands up and over the front of the keyboard, which could hurt the wrist if used improperly. An example of a negative-slope keyboard is the Proformix system.
Choosing between the different types of ergonomic keyboards can be difficult since so much depends upon personal preference. Slate Magazine recently tested six keyboards for comfort and usability: Adesso Tru-Form Pro Contoured Ergonomic Keyboard (rating: 15/30), Goldtouch Ergonomic Keyboard (rating: 16/30), Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 (rating: 20/30), Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave (rating: 20/30), Kinesis Freestyle VIP (rating: 22/30) and the Kinesis Advantage Ergonomic Keyboard (rating: 25/30). In the end, they concluded that the Kinesis Advantage design is “hands-down the most habit-changing keyboard on the market today” because “if you’re using the keyboard correctly, your hands barely have to move at all.” With the customizable foot pedal, capitalizing words has never been easier. Admittedly, the $299 price tag is prohibitive for some people, but it may be worth the investment if you need to reform your ill-typing ways and protect your body from repetitive injuries.
More and more people spend long hours at a desk, which has led to increased problems with back and leg pain due to improper body alignment. This has led to an increase in the number of people using special chairs such as an executive ergonomic chair. Find out more at the Ergonomic Chair site.
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Filed under ergonomics by on Apr 16th, 2010. 
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