Index
Table of Contents
To keep your wrists straight, tilt the keyboard so the key tops form a
plane in line with the slope of your forearms and wrists. Taller people
may find a reverse (backward) tilt comfortable. If you have to raise
your hands and arms to type, and you can’t adjust your seat, keyboard,
or desk to compensate, try moving the keyboard away and resting your
forearms on the desk. If you don’t use the mouse much, try placing the
keyboard in your lap.
Keyboards
Keyboards have been singled out as contributing to many computer-
related injuries, particularly problems with the fingers, hands, and
wrists. Here's what you should pay attention to when you're looking
for a keyboard.
✔
Do the keys provide a comfortable level of resistance? The keys
should require more than minimal force to activate, but not so
much that they're hard to press.
✔
The keys should provide some auditory or tactile feedback. You
can test this by watching the display as you type. Can you tell
when you've pressed the keys firmly enough to activate them?
✔
Is the keyboard's angle adjustable? Some believe that the keyboard
should lie flat, while others advocate a negative tilt, with the front
row higher than the back row.
✔
Does the keyboard provide function keys to help you cut down on
the number of keystrokes? Does it provide scrolling keys, such as
page up and home to minimize mouse movements?
Pads and other additions offer an inexpensive solution for some defi-
ciencies in keyboards and other hardware. Padded wrist rests that sit
in front of the keyboard are quite popular.
Pointing Devices
With all the attention paid to keyboards, don't forget your pointing
device, like a mouse or a trackball. Each major category of pointing
device has its own legion of supporters. Choose a device that feels
comfortable to you and that works for the type of job you do.
When shopping for a trackball, consider how resistant the ball is to
movement. If the ball moves too easily or not easily enough, you'll
have to work harder to control it using the small muscles in your
hands and fingers, which are more prone to injury.
