Ergonomic Keyboards & Mice

Both ergonomic keyboards and vertical mice are input devices designed to reduce strain and discomfort associated with prolonged computer use. They aim to promote more natural hand, wrist, and forearm postures compared to traditional, flat keyboards and horizontal mice. Here’s a detailed look at each:

Ergonomic Keyboard:

An ergonomic keyboard deviates from the standard rectangular layout of traditional keyboards to better accommodate the natural positioning and movement of the hands and wrists. These keyboards come in various designs, each addressing different ergonomic concerns.

Types and Key Features:

1. Split Keyboards:
   • Design: These keyboards are physically split into two separate keypads, one for each hand. The split allows users to position their hands and wrists at a more natural, shoulder-width distance, reducing ulnar deviation (bending the wrist outwards).
   • Benefits: Significant reduction in wrist pronation (palms facing down) and ulnar deviation. Can alleviate pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries (RSIs).
   • Variations: Some split keyboards are fixed in their split angle, while others offer adjustable angles to suit individual preferences.
2. Contoured/Sculpted Keyboards:
   • Design: These keyboards feature a curved or sculpted key layout that mirrors the natural curvature of the hands and fingers. The keys may be arranged in columns of varying heights and angles to better fit the different lengths of the fingers.
   • Benefits: Reduces finger extension and reaching, leading to less hand and finger strain. Can promote a more relaxed hand posture.
   • Examples: Microsoft Natural Keyboard series is a well-known example.
3. Angled/Tented Keyboards:
   • Design: These keyboards elevate the center, creating a tent-like shape. This encourages a more neutral, handshake-like wrist posture, reducing pronation.
   • Benefits: Minimizes forearm pronation, which can compress the nerves and tendons in the wrist. Often combined with a split design for further ergonomic benefits.
   • Examples: Many Kinesis and ErgoDox keyboards feature a tented design.
4. Ortholinear Keyboards:
   • Design: Unlike traditional staggered key layouts where keys are offset in each row, ortholinear keyboards have keys arranged in a strict grid.
   • Benefits: Reduces finger travel distance as keys are directly above or below each other. Some users find this more efficient and less straining once they adapt.
   • Considerations: Requires a learning curve for users accustomed to staggered layouts.
5. Compact/Tenkeyless Keyboards:
   • Design: These keyboards eliminate the numeric keypad (tenkey) on the right side, making the overall keyboard narrower.
   • Benefits: Allows the mouse to be positioned closer to the body’s midline, reducing shoulder reach and strain. Often preferred by users who don’t frequently use the numeric keypad.

General Ergonomic Features Found in Many Designs:

• Palm Rests: Integrated or detachable supports that allow users to rest their palms during typing breaks, reducing wrist extension.
• Keycaps: Some ergonomic keyboards use sculpted keycaps with different profiles for each row, further conforming to the natural finger curvature.
• Adjustable Tilt Legs: Allow users to adjust the angle of the keyboard, although excessive upward tilt can sometimes worsen wrist extension. A negative tilt (front of the keyboard lower than the back) is often recommended.
• Mechanical Key Switches: While not strictly an ergonomic feature, some users find the tactile feedback and lower actuation force of certain mechanical switches to be more comfortable for prolonged typing.

Vertical Mouse:

A vertical mouse is designed to orient the user’s hand in a more natural, handshake-like position, with the palm facing sideways rather than downwards. This aims to reduce forearm pronation, a key contributor to wrist pain and RSIs.

Key Features and Benefits:

1. Vertical Orientation:
   • Design: The primary characteristic is its upright shape, which allows the hand to grip the mouse in a more neutral, vertical posture.
   • Benefits: Significantly reduces forearm pronation, minimizing the twisting of the forearm bones and the pressure on the nerves and tendons in the wrist.
2. Ergonomic Contours and Grips:
   • Design: Vertical mice often feature sculpted surfaces with thumb rests and finger grooves to provide a comfortable and secure grip.
   • Benefits: Encourages a relaxed hand posture and reduces the need for a tight grip, which can contribute to hand fatigue.
3. Button Placement:
   • Design: The primary buttons (left and right click) are typically positioned on the side of the mouse, accessible with the index and middle fingers in the vertical orientation. Additional buttons for scrolling, forward/backward navigation, and DPI adjustment may also be present.
   • Benefits: Allows for clicking without excessive wrist movement.
4. Reduced Wrist Extension:
   • Design: The vertical design often naturally encourages a less extended wrist position compared to a flat mouse.
   • Benefits: Reduces strain on the wrist extensors on the top of the forearm.
5. Variety of Sizes and Shapes:
   • Design: Vertical mice are available in various sizes and shapes to accommodate different hand sizes and grip styles.
   • Importance: Choosing the right size is crucial for comfort and effective use.
6. Wired and Wireless Options:
   • Availability: Like traditional mice, vertical mice come in both wired and wireless versions.

Benefits of Using a Vertical Mouse:

• Reduced Forearm Pronation: The primary benefit, leading to less stress on the wrist.
• Alleviation of Wrist Pain: Many users with carpal tunnel syndrome or other wrist pain find vertical mice more comfortable.
• More Natural Hand Posture: The handshake grip feels more intuitive for some users.
• Potential Reduction in Shoulder Strain: By promoting a more neutral wrist and forearm, it can indirectly reduce tension in the shoulder.

Considerations When Switching to Ergonomic Devices:

• Learning Curve: It may take some time to get used to the different shape and key layout of an ergonomic keyboard and the vertical orientation of a vertical mouse. Patience and practice are key.
• Individual Needs: Ergonomics is highly individual. What works well for one person may not be ideal for another. It’s often beneficial to try different types of ergonomic devices to find the best fit.
• Cost: Ergonomic keyboards and vertical mice can sometimes be more expensive than their traditional counterparts.
• Combination is Often Best: Using an ergonomic keyboard and a vertical mouse together can provide synergistic benefits and address multiple ergonomic risk factors.

In conclusion, ergonomic keyboards and vertical mice are valuable tools for promoting comfort and preventing injuries associated with computer use. By encouraging more natural hand, wrist, and forearm postures, they can contribute to a healthier and more productive computing experience. When choosing these devices, it’s important to consider individual needs and be prepared for a potential adjustment period.