Relaxing colors for a keyboard

[Giorgio]

As many of you know, surgeons use green coats because that color is complementary to red, eliminating problems of double vision and ghosting effect: "green may be especially well-suited to help doctors see better in the operating room Because it is the opposite of red on the color wheel." http://scienceline.org/2008/09/ask-locke-greenbluescrubs/

For us mortals, busy all day looking at the white pages of books and notepads, which may be the right color? I always had white and beige keyboards, gray at best.
A black keyboard, or colored, can be annoying? Can it stress your eyes?

[Oobly]

As many of you know, surgeons use green coats because that color is complementary to red, eliminating problems of double vision and ghosting effect: "green may be especially well-suited to help doctors see better in the operating room Because it is the opposite of red on the color wheel." http://scienceline.org/2008/09/ask-locke-greenbluescrubs/

For us mortals, busy all day looking at the white pages of books and notepads, which may be the right color? I always had white and beige keyboards, gray at best.
A black keyboard, or colored, can be annoying? Can it stress your eyes?

Most people don't spend much time staring at the board, especially this who use mechanical keyboards, so I don't think it really matters too much. High contrast legends can be more of a factor than overall board color, IMHO.

This is coming from someone who changes their keycaps regularly and is always buying new ones

Penumbra (with Solarized alphas) has remained the longest on a board out of all my sets, if that says anything. It's designed to be less straining on the eyes, but I just love the colors and feel of the set, I can't say that eye strain has been a factor in that.

[Giorgio]

I don't stare at the keyboard directly for typing,  but it is always in the middle of my field of vision, since I have books in front of it and I write on the left of it.

[tofu28]

I think the difference is negligible. If the keyboard matches the color of its surroundings, it shouldn't stand out much as a distraction in your periphery.

[Giorgio]

I think the difference is negligible. If the keyboard matches the color of its surroundings, it shouldn't stand out much as a distraction in your periphery.

So my table is whitish, like my papers and books. Should I stay with light colors? That's what I always did, I haven't owned a black keyboard on ten years... I wonder if the white and black contrast is annoying.

[Findecanor]

I think earth colours can be soothing. Beige and brown - don't care about yellowing, can't see the dirt on it, does not stick out, low saturated colours.

[tofu28]

I think the difference is negligible. If the keyboard matches the color of its surroundings, it shouldn't stand out much as a distraction in your periphery.

So my table is whitish, like my papers and books. Should I stay with light colors? That's what I always did, I haven't owned a black keyboard on ten years... I wonder if the white and black contrast is annoying.

Yeah, I think light colors would work best, but it's all up to personal preference. I think colors that are the same as their environment are less likely to become a distraction.

[MyBoolean]

As many of you know, surgeons use green coats because that color is complementary to red, eliminating problems of double vision and ghosting effect: "green may be especially well-suited to help doctors see better in the operating room Because it is the opposite of red on the color wheel." http://scienceline.org/2008/09/ask-locke-greenbluescrubs/

For us mortals, busy all day looking at the white pages of books and notepads, which may be the right color? I always had white and beige keyboards, gray at best.
A black keyboard, or colored, can be annoying? Can it stress your eyes?

Most people don't spend much time staring at the board, especially this who use mechanical keyboards, so I don't think it really matters too much. High contrast legends can be more of a factor than overall board color, IMHO.

This is coming from someone who changes their keycaps regularly and is always buying new ones

Penumbra (with Solarized alphas) has remained the longest on a board out of all my sets, if that says anything. It's designed to be less straining on the eyes, but I just love the colors and feel of the set, I can't say that eye strain has been a factor in that.

somehow i agree with this. hahaha. i stare at my keyboard when its dirty and urge me to clean it.

[mobbo]

The only thing I find slightly distracting color-wise is back lighting.

[noisyturtle]

I find latte brown and turquoise to be very relaxing shades.

[Kola93]

Beige was prominent in the 90s for computer hardware due to being a neutral and calm colour.

Hopefully it makes a comeback in the near future, but I highly doubt it!

[Giorgio]

I

Beige was prominent in the 90s for computer hardware due to being a neutral and calm colour.

Hopefully it makes a comeback in the near future, but I highly doubt it!

That's exactly my geek back background :-)

[MajorMajor]

I'd say any cool or neutral color should be fine. A doctor's scurbs take up a lot more of your vision when being treated than your keyboard lighting will during your day, so I don't think it's a big matter. I do prefer more neutral and relaxed keycaps though.

[gabba-gool]

I don't really look at my board too often whist typing but I do really like my white caps. I thinks a soft green is the most relaxing color.

[thatsmrdoctortoyou]

I've heard this before and it reinforces why I enjoy green so much  . Anyway, I tend to choose keycap colors/designs based on what is aesthetically appealing to me. Like everyone has been saying, we don't tend to stare at our boards too often while working. In my situation I often have a large amount of stress involved with the work I do in front of my work computer. My thoughts are that it I have a board which triggers happy thoughts when I see it, it can only help to eliminate some of the unhappy/stressful/negative thoughts associated with the work I'm doing while sitting in front of the computer. That's one of my excuses for this hobby anyway 

[sitch]

Unless you're a see typist, you don't usually pay much attention when you type. The only moment I look at the keyboard is when I'm admiring how beautiful it is

[Giorgio]

Unless you're a see typist, you don't usually pay much attention when you type. The only moment I look at the keyboard is when I'm admiring how beautiful it is

But I always write at the left of the keyboard, or read papers in front of it, so it is anyway in my field of vision...

[SamirD]

I think it's important to have something that will not envoke any agitation if you want to remain calm.  Something that triggers happy thoughts is always good, and if changing to a different color might do that, then that's the ticket.

[ideus]

What about the traditional beige, isn't it relaxing?

[Frizer]

Legible legends
Matt plate
Diffused backlighting
Off white desktop underneath.

[shibataken]

I am a fan of darker colors at night/winter and brighter colors during the day/summer.  So a nice dark brown color that won't catch the corner of my eye is a lot easier to use at night or on dreary days when typing some emails or just browsing.  Brighter colors that look great in the sunshine like orange for example I use during the day/summer