+1 for changing hands. I learned to be 'mousebidextrous' years ago due to pain in my right arm/shoulder.
I now use my left hand at work and my right hand at home. Hardly ever experience any pain and it's great to confuse your co-workers when they say "Didn't kno you were left handed?" On 7 July 2011 06:03, noonie <neale.n...@gmail.com> wrote: > Totally unsubstantiated opinion... > > "Faster" keyboard = more clicks per minute > more chance of repetitive > strain. > > Years ago I learned to mouse with my off hand. Took about a week. Just > think "left button"/"right button" instead of "index finger"/"middle finger" > and you're golden. > > Changing hands made the pain go away. > On Jul 6, 2011 9:53 PM, "Les Hughes" <l...@datarev.com.au> wrote: > > > > Hey All, > > > > This is kind of long (eeep), but here goes: > > > > Lately I've have been getting a little tense in my mid-right back area > > and right wrist which I believe is been caused by a lot of the mouse > > work I've been doing over the past few weeks in which my right arm is > > constantly extended out around 30-40 centimetres from the home position > > on the keyboard. > > > > I thought here would be a good place to ask for advice in how everyone > > else, whom, like me, spends upwards of 60 hours per week behind their > > battlestations. (check: http://www.reddit.com/r/battlestations for info > > on 'battlestations') > > > > The main areas I am currently looking at are Keyboards, Mice, and > > Keyboard Layouts. > > > > > > Keyboards > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > I currently use a Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 Keyboard ( > > > http://www.microsoft.com/australia/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/images/products/nek4k/mk_productdetails_nek4k.jpg > > ) and am starting to think that the space between the right control key > > (below the right shift and enter keys) where the arrow buttons and > > numeric pad are just get in the way. > > > > So far I am thinking about moving to a smaller keyboard to limit the > > space I need to move for the mouse, ideas so far are the > > > > - Truly Ergonomic keyboard @ > > http://www.trulyergonomic.com/images/Truly_Ergonomic_Keyboard.jpg & > > http://www.trulyergonomic.com ) > > > > - Kinesis Freestlye VIP @ > > http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/images/freestyle-vip_648x339.jpg - > > http://www.kinesis-ergo.com > > > > > > Mouses - mice, mices :P > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > I am leaning towards a trackball, but have also considered something > > more vertical: > > > > - Kensington Expert Trackball @ > > > http://www.smartmadesimple.com.au/Products/images/Zoom/z64325%20Expert%20Mouse.jpg > > (favourite so far) > > > > - Logitec M570 @ > > > http://www.logitech.com/assets/32954/4/logitech-wireless-trackball-m570.png > > > > - EZ Vertical Mouse @ > http://www.auzspec.com.au/media/274270427lMSEZ1L.jpg > > > > > > Keyboard Layouts > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Perhaps a religious battle, but: > > > > I was thinking if I am going to go along the whole self improvement > > route with better devices, why not visit my keyboard layouts? Most of us > > use QWERTY: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QWERTY > > > > Much of my reading seems to point towards qwerty being a terrible > > layout, and something that should have died with the typewriter (it's > > keylayout is meant to slow you down, and has more to do with stopping > > those thingies on the typewriter from getting stuck together... those > > who have used typewriters will know what I mean) > > > > Besides QWERTY, there are a few others that seem to be gaining traction, > > they are: > > > > DVORAK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout#Dvorak > > > > Colemak: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout#Colemak > > > > Colemak so far looks the most appealing to me if I were to change, > > http://colemak.com/ has a good explanation of the keyboard, but seems to > > > be down right now :/ > > > > > > The questions: > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > - Has anyone gone down the ergonomic path, and what did end up doing? > > > > - Are there any recommended keyboard/mouse combinations that you think > > are worthwhile? > > > > - Does anyone think a smaller kayboard is better development with a > > numeric pad on the left or a USB external one? > > > > - Trackballs: yay or nay? > > > > - Has anyone changed their keyboard layout, and if so, would you > > recommend it? > > > > ------------------------------------------------- > > > > Hopefully this isn't too early for the week (not friday), but I'd be > > really interested in any feedback anyone has. > > > > Thanks heaps :) > > -- > > Les Hughes > > l...@datarev.com.au >
