[consulting] OT: Keyboards and RSI

[Benjamin Maurice]

My experience makes me second all that Eric Farris wrote, especially the
point that the mouse is probably to blame for many RSI problems, even if you
feel it using the keyboard first.  And I'm certainly no health professional,
but amateurs have led the way in actually helping people with RSI (for
instance, all I've read recommends against carpal tunnel surgery).

I also want make clear that the 3M "mouse" is shaped like a joystick, but
you slide the whole thing around (very little movements, it's laser) on your
desk, and I've found it better than roller-ball mice, at least for me, but
only slightly.

The key point that the more you can avoid the mouse, the better, is worth
emphasizing, and I think it's very important for all software manufacturers
to ensure that there software is usable without a mouse and that this is well
documented.  (For instance, I can't remember if I ever figured out how to
get to the Menu in Mac OSX--- the File, Edit etc. menu where in Windows you
just press ALT and you're there.)

As web designers, that's a special challenge for us, but I'd love to see
Drupal lead the way in mouse-less navigation-- and keyboard shortcuts a la
Google Mail.

ben melançon
Agaric Design
http://agaricdesign.com/

Featuring: http://power2exchange.com/

On 8/10/06, eric Farris <eafarris at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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
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