ProZ.com global directory of translation services
 The translation workplace
Ideas

 
User
Thread poster: Dallas Cao
Suffer from RSI? Use more than one keyboard!

Dallas Cao  Identity Verified
China
Local time: 18:52
Member (2007)
English to Chinese
+ ...
Sep 2, 2009

As soon as I started to feel pains in my knuckles I began to search for a perfect keyboard. But I bought 4 or 5 keyboards only to find that all them hurts.

Now I am happy with my new solution: I connect 3 keyboards at the same time to my computer. When my fighers get tired with one keyboard, I switch to another. I notice different keyboads have different feels and by switching between different keyboards, the repetitive strain on my fingers has largely been relieved!


Direct link Reply with quote
 

Bjørnar Magnussen  Identity Verified
Norway
Local time: 12:52
Member (2002)
English to Norwegian
+ ...
Interesting observation Nov 4, 2009


Dallas Cao wrote:

As soon as I started to feel pains in my knuckles I began to search for a perfect keyboard. But I bought 4 or 5 keyboards only to find that all them hurts.

Now I am happy with my new solution: I connect 3 keyboards at the same time to my computer. When my fighers get tired with one keyboard, I switch to another. I notice different keyboads have different feels and by switching between different keyboards, the repetitive strain on my fingers has largely been relieved!


This is an interesting observation. How different are your 3 keyboards? Are any of your keyboards of the flat laptop (diNovo) type?

And what about ergonomic (like Microsoft natural) or contoured (like this> http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/benefits.htm)?


Direct link Reply with quote
 

delveneto
United States
Local time: 06:52
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Two mouses Nov 10, 2009

I have had once a bad time with some pain in my hands. My solution was not to have two keyboards but instead, two mice, because, mainly, in my case, dealing with the mouse was worse than dealing with the keyboard.

I am left-handed but I can comfortably use any hand to deal with the mouse; so, my current setup is one keyboard, a MS Wireless Entertainment 7000, its companion mouse to the left (because it has a symmetrical design, so it is good for any side) and a wired MS Intellimouse Explorer v4 to the right (because it is the most comfortable mouse I know of; its design is specific for the right hand and it's a big mouse, adequate to my rather big hands).

Whenever one hand shows any sign of stress, I change. But I need a fast way to change the buttons function: right mouse requires left button to be the main one and left mouse requires the opposite so I use this application:
http://www.swapmousebuttons.com/

Why did I choose that particular keyboard:
- it has "notebook-like" keys, i.e., keys are low, require less movement and their feel (hardness) is just perfect for me
- it does not have a keypad; as useful as a keypad can be, keyboards that have a keypad will consequently have the keyboard shifted to the left, not centered, because the keypad will use space to the right. I hate to have the keyboard shifted to the left; one way to "fix" it would be to move the keyboard to the right so to make the keyboard main keys centered but then the keypad would be to far to the right and the right mouse even further, making it not comfortable to use the right mouse
- by not having the keypad, the keyboard is not as wide as usual making it possible to have both mice nearer to the center.

I also use this keyboard/mouse support:
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/ergonomics/home/products/keyboardtrays/AKT150LE/
with a second mousing platform to the left; it allows me to adjust positioning with precision.

I've been extremely happy with this setup. No more problems with my hands.

I also have connected a Wacom tablet. Sometimes, having a pen to make the mouse movements is much faster and less stressful to the hand than using a mouse.

[Edited at 2009-11-10 05:50 GMT]


Direct link Reply with quote
 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Natalie[Call to this topic]
Mohamed Kamel[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Suffer from RSI? Use more than one keyboard!






Fluency Translation Suite 2011
Translate Up To 50% Faster with Fluency

Start and finish your translations faster than ever with Fluency Translation Suite 2011. TMs, Terminology, and Online Resources are all fully integrated and only a click away. Download a free trial today!

More info »
SDL Trados Studio 2011
Buy or upgrade today and save up to 15%

SDL Trados Studio 2011 is the latest market-leading translation memory software from SDL. Now with Track Changes, Bilingual Word Files support, new Display Filter, AutoSuggest and more great details.

More info »