Problem with dvorak is most keyboards aren't - ie: laptops, computers you encounter in the field.
On Wed, Jul 6, 2011 at 9:52 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<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<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/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/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<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<http://www.logitech.com/assets/32954/4/logitech-wireless-trackball-m570.png> > > - EZ Vertical Mouse @ http://www.auzspec.com.au/** > media/274270427lMSEZ1L.jpg<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<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<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout#Dvorak> > > Colemak: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/**Keyboard_layout#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 > -- Meski http://courteous.ly/aAOZcv "Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex. Sure, you'll get it, but it's going to be rough" - Adam Hills
