[consulting] OT: Keyboards and RSI

[eric Farris]

On 8/10/06, Mark Fredrickson <mark.m.fredrickson at gmail.com> wrote:
> I've decided to give the pain in my left arm the boot, and I'm in the
> market for a new keyboard anyway, so I thought I would see anyone had
> recommendations for an ergonomic keyboard.

Disclaimer: I'm not a health professional.
Claimer: I've been at this a while, and have had similar trouble.

Here are the things I've found have helped me be able to work all day
without (much) pain:

* Good posture. You're mother knew what she was telling you. Do it
now. Sit up straight. I've found a foot rest is better for me than my
feet flat on the floor, too.

* Ergnomic equipment. I tell people that I use exactly two Microsoft
products: their keyboard (an MS Natural Keyboard Pro) and their
trackball (an MS Trackball Explorer). Both of these you'll have to pry
these from my cold, dead hands. I positively *love* them both.

* I much prefer a trackball to a mouse. I'm convinced (though, see the
disclaimer above) that people have trouble because of the repetitive
strain on their elbow/shoulder from mousing. A trackball keeps those
joints in place.

* (and here's my big one) Learn And Use your Keyboard Shortcuts!
Again, see the disclaimer, but the switch from keyboard to pointing
device back to keyboard has *got* to be expensive in terms of
repetitive stress on the arm. I used to wonder why old-time Unix
suspender vi-emacs guys didn't seem to have the same levels of RSI as
the secretaries that play with MS Publisher. I am totally convinced
it's because the old-timers kept their shoulders and elbows in the
same place, as their fingers never had to leave the keyboard.

Also, learning your keyboard shortcuts will make you much more
efficient and productive. Learn to navigate vi with hjkl (use nethack
for practice :) ). Make use of cmd (or ctrl) xcv for cut-copy-paste.
On a Mac? go get Quicksilver, and stop mousing around to your Dock or
Applications folders. There's a reason that stuff exists, and I
believe it not only makes your computing faster, but safer, too.

-- 
e
www.eafarris.com