Vertical split keyboards take
the standard keyboard's hand sections and place them upright. This
"hand-shake" position is considered the neutral posture for the forearms and
hands.
Unlike most keyboards, the
SafeType™ has demonstrated in University studies that it can virtually
eliminate the high-risk positions that contribute to RSI problems. http://www.safetype.com/cornell.html
The patented home keys have a
distinctive textural design to make it effortless to find them without
looking. From there, a competent touch typist can use it with almost
no transition time. The standard key layout has been preserved so
there is no re-learning required. There are fold-away mirrors for
those who want a visual reference for ‘Function and Numeric’ rows of
keys.
No extended reach is required
for a mouse or other cursor control device, because the smaller
‘footprint’ of the V801 allows it to be right where the hand naturally
falls, whether the user is left or right-handed.
Vertical Keyboards turn old typewriter thinking up
on end. Instead of starting
with a flat keyboard and asking how it can be modified to be less
stressful, the Vertical concept started by asking,
“What is the orthopedically neutral position for the human
body?”.
Doctors and Physiologists were in universal
agreement. If you stand up,
then completely relax your arms, the thumbs are forward and the palms
are facing inward toward the thighs.
Only the large and strong biceps muscles are used to bring the
hands up in front. Once you
sit down, put your hands in that position, and you are in the most
relaxed typing position possible. Arms
are completely relaxed, elbows falling straight down from the shoulders,
thumbs up, palms facing each other, and fingers gently curved.
NASA and the Technology Utilization Foundation selected
this design concept as a promising technology.
It is patented, but can be licensed to multiple manufacturers.
