Welcome to the Alternative Keyboard FAQ!
Frequently asked questions are answered and products used to replace or enhance
standard keyboard use are covered. Products include split, contoured, and chording
keyboards, and other keyboard alternatives/accessories.
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Q&A on Alternative Keyboards
What is proper keyboard placement?
Why are alternative keyboards needed?
What changes have been made to keyboards?
What are the more popular keyboards?
Who buys these keyboards?
Do companies provide alternative keyboards?
What benefits might I expect from alternative keyboards?
What are potential concerns about alternative keyboards?
What are other options, besides alternative keyboards?
Q: What is proper keyboard placement?
A: Keyboards should be located to allow a comfortable,
neutral posture during use. This is typically considered to be directly in front of you,
at seated elbow height. Proper keyboard placement assists in keeping a neutral keyboarding
posture which is generally stated as: shoulders back and relaxed; the upper arms resting
down, to the side of your body; the elbows making an approximate 90 degree bend; the
forearms horizontal, parallel to the floor; and the wrists being in-line with the forearms
with minimal bending up or down, left or right.
Placement of the keyboard to the side results in twisting, awkward postures, and uneven
loading on the body. A keyboard too high or low contributes to poor posture of the
shoulders, arms, and hands and should be avoided for frequent keyboard use.
More recent research at Cornell University
has indicated that a slight backward tilt of the keyboard, to level the keys, is
beneficial for wrist posture while typing. Thus, in general, the keyboard surface should
be as flat as possible. The University of California, San Francisco and Berkeley's Ergonomics Lab is also conducting research
into keyboard design issues.
Related to keyboard positioning, the pointing device (mouse, trackball, etc.) should be
located as close to the keyboard as possible and at the same height. Having a keyboard
positioned in a tray without enough room for a mouse has frequently resulted in high, far
reaches which should be avoided.
Q: Why are alternative keyboards needed?
A: The increased repetitive motions and awkward postures
attributed to the use of computer keyboards have resulted in a rise in cumulative trauma
disorders (CTDs) that are generally considered to be the most costly and severe disorders
occurring in the office. Lawsuits for arm, wrist, and hand injuries have been filed
against keyboard manufacturers allege that keyboarding equipment is defectively designed
and manufacturers fail to provide adequate warnings about proper use to avoid injury.
As early as1926, Klockenberg described how the keyboard layout required the typist to
assume body postures that were unnatural, uncomfortable and fatiguing. For example,
standard keyboard design forces operators to place their hands in a flat, palm down
position called forearm pronation. The compact, linear key arrangement also causes some
typists to place their wrist in a position that is skewed towards the little fingers,
called ulnar deviation. These awkward postures result in static muscle loading, increased
muscular energy expenditure, reduced muscular waste removal, and eventual discomfort or
injury.
Researchers also noted that typing on the QWERTY keyboard is poorly distributed between
the hands and fingers, causing the weaker ring and little fingers to be overworked.
REFERENCES
Bailey, R.W. (1982). Human Performance Engineering: A guide for system
designers. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Feder, B.J. (1992, June 8). New liability threat to computer manufacturers. SanFrancisco
Chronicle, pp. C1, C10.
Ferguson D., & Duncan, J., (1974) Keyboard design and operating posture. Ergonomics,
17, 731-744.
Hedge A., & Powers, J.R. (1995). Wrist postures while keyboarding: effects
of a negative slope keyboard system and full motion forearm supports. Ergonomics, 38(3),
508.
Kroemer, K.H.E. (1972). Human engineering the keyboard. Human Factors, 14,
51-63.
Lyon, B.K. (1992, June). Video display terminal ergonomics. Professional
Safety, 32-39.
Nakaseko, M., Grandjean, E., Hunting, W., & Gierer, R. (1985). Studies on
ergonomically designed alphanumeric keyboards. Human Factors, 27, 175-187.
Powers, J.R., & Martin, M.G. (1992). Effects of full motion forearm supports
and a negative slope keyboard support system on handwrist posture while keyboarding. Proceedings
of the Human Factors Society 36th Annual Meeting. 796-800.
Q: What changes have been made to
keyboards?
A: The rapid increase of computer use and related
keyboard injuries have lead to a wide variety of alternative keyboard designs to reduce
their physical demands on the body, improve posture during use, and overall comfort.
Split Keyboards - Most of the research and design efforts have focused on
re-shaping the standard keyboard, or making it more adjustable, while keeping its basic
shape and well-learned QWERTY key arrangement. This makes it easier for typists to switch
to new keyboard designs, that assist in improving hand and arm postures, without learning
a whole new typing skill. These keyboards can be more specifically described as Fixed-Split Keyboards, Adjustable-Split Keyboards, and Contoured Keyboards. These keyboards range
in cost from under a hundred dollars up to a thousand dollars each.
Vertical Keyboards take
the standard keyboard's key sections and place them upright. This
"hand-shake" position is considered the neutral posture for the forearms and
hands. There are also some of the adjustable-split keyboards that can also assume
vertical positions.
Chording Keyboards are another
alternative to the standard keyboard. Chording keyboards are smaller and have fewer keys,
typically one for each finger and possibly the thumbs. Instead of the usual sequential,
one-at-a-time key presses, chording requires simultaneous key presses for each character
typed, similar to playing a musical chord on a piano.
Dvorak Key Layout is an alternative arrangement of the keyboard's alphabetic keys in a layout that more evenly distributes typing among the fingers of both hands. It is accepted by the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) and, while it has not yet received widespread use, it remains a
useful ergonomic feature available to keyboarders. By strategic placement of the letters and punctuation, Dvorak typists are able to attain the same output with
reduced finger movement, thus reducing the strain on the hands, wrists, and arms. Although most typists have been trained in the Qwerty layout, those who have actually made the switch to Dvorak claim that the change is much easier than they
thought. There are products in the marketplace that facilitate the retraining, including a
switchable keyboards, dual-labeled keys, and typing tutors.
REFERENCES
Bailey, R.W. (1982). Human Performance Engineering: A guide for system
designers. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Kroemer, K.H.E. (1972). Human engineering the keyboard. Human Factors, 14,
51-63.
Lueder, R.K. (1985) How to use computers without using keyboards. Office
Ergonomics Review, 2(1), 22-24.
Nakaseko, M., Grandjean, E., Hunting, W., & Gierer, R. (1985). Studies on
ergonomically designed alphanumeric keyboards. Human Factors, 27, 175-187.
Noyes, J. (1983) The QWERTY keyboard: A review. International Journal of
Man-Machine Studies, 18, 265-281.
Q: What are the more popular keyboards?
A: Among the Fixed-Split Keyboards, Microsoft's Natural
keyboard has done much to break the paradigm of what a keyboard should look like. Along
with an earlier attempt by Apple's Adjustable keyboard, these mainstream names have
largely legitimized the idea of alternative keyboards. According to the Washington Post
(Dec 24, 1996) Microsoft has accomplished a 61% share of the "ergonomic
keyboard" market, with generic "home brands" making up an additional 24%.
Adjustable-Split Keyboards are able to change either their horizontal split or both the horizontal and vertical angling. The Comfort keyboard
has been the
higher-end of adjustable keyboards with the Goldtouch, Kinesis Maxim, and Pace keyboards
being lower-cost alternatives. Initially, the cost of these keyboards put them out of reach
to all but the most determined keyboarder, however prices have dropped in
several cases into more
affordable ranges.
Sculpted/Contoured Keyboards do more than simply cut the standard keyboard into pieces
and angle them. They place the keys in curves that closely match the natural movement of
the fingers, thus reducing finger travel to the keys. More work is also transferred from
the weaker fingers to multiple thumb keys. In the USA, Kinesis is the better marketed and
more popular version of these types of keyboards, especially when it comes to
compatibility between many different computer platforms and providing for key and macro
programmability. The Maltron keyboard was the pioneer in this style of keyboard and
provides an optional, unique key layout. Its distribution seems to be more in Europe, but
is also available in the US. The DataHand is a keying device that is the farthest from the
traditional keyboard (short of chording devices) and is included in this category as it
performs a similar function of limiting finger movement related to entering information
into the computer.
The selection process for these keyboards (unless a specific model is recommended by a
medical/ergonomics specialist) appears to be from the Fixed-Split, low end of the market
to the Adjustable-Split and Sculpted/Contoured keyboards, whose cost have pretty much
limited them to the medical accommodation market until more recent price drops in some of
the keyboards. Some buyers see the Microsoft Natural in the store and buy it straight out
while others investigate several different keyboards, increasing in adjustability and
cost, until they find one that works for them. It is frequently recommended to use the
retailers/manufacturer's trial period to try out one or several keyboards before deciding
to make the final buying decision.
Caution: Make sure to allow adequate time to learn the keyboard. When the
pressure is on to meet deadlines is not the time to get used to a new keyboard.
The MS Natural (and clones), Lexmark, and Kinesis keyboards have been the most popular
of keyboards to first try out. If they don't work, then more adjustable and unique designs
such as the Comfort and DataHand might be considered. The products mentioned here, and
many more alternatives, are provided below with Web links, manufacturer/reseller
information and any additional insights we've been able to pick up along the way.
Q: Who buys these keyboards?
A: Due to their prices and focused marketing, most
individuals who are purchasing the higher-end alternative keyboards are typically injured
or disabled and depend upon workers compensation to pay for the keyboards as a medical
accommodation. This has led some keyboard makers and resellers to comment that these
products are not "price sensitive". The more recent availability of lower-end
alternative keyboards and the decreasing cost of adjustable and sculpted boards has lead
to some more proactive purchases by those who are concerned about becoming injured, who
believe that these keyboards are more comfortable, or who think they are simply cool. On
the other hand, most people not experiencing problems see no reason to change and seem to
prefer to stay with their standard keyboard. This may explain, at least in part, some of
the mixed results when non-injured typists are asked to use these strange keyboards during
experimental studies.
Q: Do companies provide alternative
keyboards?
A: Companies take several different approaches to
alternative keyboards which range from not providing them at all, or providing them only
on medical prescription/injury accommodation, to the more progressive companies that keep
a few alternative keyboards on hand for employees to try out. Increased costs of
alternative keyboards and concerns about jumping on the bandwagon of an alternative
keyboard before there is actual research to indicate that it is better, slows distribution
of these keyboards, else they may find out that it actually causes more problems. Company
ergonomists tend to focus more on how employees use their keyboard, rather than the type
of keyboard they use.
REFERENCES
Hilzenrath, D.S. (1996, December 24). Are these the keys to less stress? The
Washington Post, E1,E3.
Q: What benefits might I expect from
alternative keyboards?
A: Research is somewhat mixed in its results, but the
main improvements to alternative keyboards are in their operating posture, reduction of
pain and resulting comfort. A few studies indicate productivity improvements, but typing
speed and errors appear to be about the same once the user gets past the new keyboard's
learning curve, especially on some of the more unique keyboard designs. For those that are
injured, alternative keyboards provide options that let them type longer than they could
on a standard keyboard, that is if they can type at all on a standard keyboard. However,
it is important to note that if one types all day with poor technique, methods, and
posture, any keyboard will result in fatigue, discomfort, and pain.
REFERENCES
Marklin, R.W., & Simoneau, G.G. (1996). Upper extremity posture of typists
using alternative keyboards. Conference Proceedings: ErgoCon'96, 126-132.
Swanson, N.G., Galinsky, T.L., Cole, C.S., & Sauter, S.L. (1997). The impact
of keyboard design on comfort and productivity in a text-entry task. Applied
Ergonomics, 28(1), 9-16.
Wright, K.S., & Andre, A.D. (1996). Alternative keyboard characteristics: A
survey study. Conference Proceedings: ErgoCon'96, 148-157.
Q: What are potential concerns about
alternative keyboards?
A: The increased width or height of some of these
keyboards may result in users reaching farther for the pointing device (MS Natural's
width) or need additional workplace changes to properly locate the alternative keyboard.
Increased keyboard size may not fit in the same space as your old keyboard. Some of the
keyboards have increased height due to their adjusting mechanisms and may require new
furniture, an adjustment of existing furniture, or a keyboard tray to properly place the
keyboard for use.
Sculpted keyboards, or those with high vertical angles, may hide from view some of the
keys and increase the importance of being able to touch type. Thus, some of these products
may not be of immediate benefit to those who "hunt and peck".
With keyboard segments slanted at moderate to high vertical angles, the forearm and
wrist may lose what support they are used to, the wrists could drop into a poor posture,
and the shoulders and arms take on the continuous task of keeping the hands in position
while typing on an angled surface.
REFERENCES
Marklin, R.W., & Simoneau, G.G. (1996). Upper extremity posture of typists using
alternative keyboards. Conference Proceedings: ErgoCon'96, 126-132.
Q: What are other options, besides
alternative keyboards?
A: I must point out that other workstation components
and how the keyboard is used also has a major affect on injury risk, and that changing the
keyboard alone is not likely to prevent or cure anything by itself. Key workstation
ergonomics and good practices require proper placement of the keyboard, screen and other
supporting materials and educated typing methods to reduce strain and overall exposure to
poor postures leading to discomfort and injury. Speech recognition systems are constantly
improving in accuracy and ease of use and already are an option for many to replace much
keyboarding activity. Additional information on other options are provided throughout the
Typing Injury FAQ and other fine sources referenced throughout this FAQ.
REFERENCES
Comments and additional insights are welcome
Webmaster@tifaq.com
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Motion
Based Ergonomics™ Keyboard Retraining, Norman J. Kahan, MD, and
Vivienne Griffin
Over the years, computer-related injuries have increasingly plagued the
modern office workplace, debilitating hundreds of thousands of workers,
causing pain, impairment and, in some cases, disability. The vast majority
of computer-related injuries can be attributed to specific faulty
movements and awkward postures inherent in the act of typing, which may
cause fatigue, inflammation of muscles or tendons, compression or
entrapment of nerves, as well as pain or weakness in the upper limbs and
neck. Recognizing and correcting these movements is at the heart of a new
and emerging field known as keyboard retraining, a largely overlooked but
critical component in the fight against RSI.
Guidelines
for Laptop Computer Users, Vivienne Griffin, and Norman J. Kahan, MD
Today, many computer users have turned to convenient portable laptops as
either an adjunct to their work stations, or as an alternative to a desk
top computer. Just as desktop computers have specific guidelines and
recommendations for safe and healthy use, so do laptops. The following is
a list of things to consider and try to promote and ensure comfort when
using them.
Alternative
Keyboards- A User Survey by K.S.Wright, MS
Results of a 1996 alternative keyboard user survey representing users of a wide
variety of alternative keyboard brands and types.
Tyranny of the
Keyboard by Jay Hersh
Hardly anyone would place the modern computer keyboard in the rank of medieval torture
devices such as the rack or iron maiden, and yet today there are tens of thousands of
people in whom the keyboard strikes the same terror as felt by those of that heinous era.
Return to Table of Contents
Alternative Keyboards by Chris Grant, Ph.D., CPE
http://www.ur-net.com/office-ergo/12things2.htm
Attention to keyboards and keyboard design is not new. However, in recent years,
there has been a concerted and heightened interest in this topic. The purpose of the
following review is to provide answers to questions commonly asked by users and employers.
The text is based on a comprehensive review of over sixty years of scientific papers on
keyboard design and ergonomics.
Pros and Cons of Alternative Keyboards by Chris Grant, pH, CPE
http://www.ur-net.com/office-ergo/pros&.htm
#Alternative Keyboards and Alternatives to Mice
NIOSH Suggests Considerations for Alternative Keyboard Use
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/altkey.html
IBM Healthy Computing: Accessories - Keyboard
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/healthycomputing/vdt8.html
In some applications, the user must perform rapid and accurate keying operations while
looking almost exclusively at a source document. In such cases, the keyboard is the
critical interface between user and system. Therefore, the way the keyboard is laid out,
how it functions and the design of the keys may affect user productivity and acceptance.
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Also see Keyboard Archive
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