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geekhack Community => Ergonomics => Topic started by: frosty on Thu, 24 July 2014, 18:34:08

Title: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: frosty on Thu, 24 July 2014, 18:34:08: I heard if you're doing that, you'll have to hover your hand and not rest it, as you'll contract some joint and nerve sickness of sorts?

also, is typing with long fingernails a good thing?
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: jacobolus on Thu, 24 July 2014, 19:00:51: A lap is usually an okay height, though I like to sit on a chair high enough that my thighs are angled slightly downward, whereupon my lap isn’t flat enough to fit a keyboard. Slightly above the lap might be even a bit more comfortable, but it depends on your body and your chair/desk setup.

What you want is to have your wrist in as straight and neutral a position as possible, and ideally also elbows that aren’t bent into too acute an angle. I find that having a keyboard at about hip level or slightly above is pretty comfortable. You’re right that your hands should in general be “hovering” above the keyboard, instead of putting weight on your wrists/palms. In particular having your wrists on a table and reaching up to type on the keyboard puts them under a lot of strain.

Also, you want your display to be directly in front of your face, so that you can look straight ahead at it without bending your neck too much – laptops make it very difficult to get into a position that’s comfortable for both hands and neck.
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: AKmalamute on Thu, 24 July 2014, 19:39:00: When I'm typing like mad during NaNoWriMo, my keyboard is in my lap. That way my arms are at rest, and I just have to hold up my wrists ... I guess. Also, when playing FPS games I have the keyboard at the edge of my lap, and the trackball (thumb trackball, thank you very much) on my lap but closer in.

I find the average desk height to be wrong for serious typing, although for manipulating menus (Alt+N, ESC, and that's about it) that it's easier if the keyboard isn't restricting my posture...but that does mean I'm sorta slouched over the chair, or the desk -- whichever's easier.

Now that I have a working ergodox, I find that laptop typing is much harder, although with a short length of 1x6 I can still type my novels in my conventional arrangement.

In short: I'm actually really surprised lap-typing isn't more common. Its just so comfortable ... once you make sure the keyboard isn't going anywhere! I'd never own a laptop for that reason. Too hard to type on it, all the way around.
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 24 July 2014, 19:42:56: Discussions about typing with long fingernails:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=7267.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41079.0
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: hoggy on Thu, 24 July 2014, 23:54:57: I find it pretty comfortable. If you alternate it with it on your desk I don't see any problems. It's a pain to reach for your mouse if that's on the desk, though.
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: frosty on Fri, 25 July 2014, 01:06:19: ah i found the injury's name, carpal tunnel syndrome.

i heard keyboard on the lap is called the "russian style"?

carpal tunnel syndrome seems REALLY scary

and thank you rowdy for providing the links!
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: jacobolus on Fri, 25 July 2014, 02:04:00: Yes, repetitive strain injuries are scary serious business. If you start feeling numbness, pain, or discomfort in your fingers or wrists, you should definitely try changing your environment or routine to avoid injury.
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: davkol on Fri, 25 July 2014, 13:32:52: I type with a keyboard on my thighs quite often. It's great, because I can recline, keep my wrists straight (I do float them) and elbows around 110° angle.
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: TotalChaos on Mon, 28 July 2014, 23:40:29: I type with keyboard and mouse in my lap for many years. It is the correct way.
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 29 July 2014, 14:46:54: I prefer to have my keyboard and mouse on a level surface, preferably a desk.
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: inanis on Tue, 29 July 2014, 15:25:30: Quote from: rowdy on Thu, 24 July 2014, 19:42:56
Discussions about typing with long fingernails:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=7267.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41079.0

Such in-depth discussions about nails! Who knew! I have very long nails and I type just fine, they have never bothered me. I do have one exception, and that is my index fingernails are cut very short. This is out of necessity, not because of annoyance. If I don't keep them cut short then grow in very curled and end up hurting my fingertip. That is because with my index finger I don't hit the key with the pad of my finger, but use the very tip. I actually never realized why this happened until right now, as I was paying attention to my typing patterns. You discover something new everyday.
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: vivalarevolución on Tue, 29 July 2014, 19:39:15: The major issue that I can see occurring is wrist pain from having the keyboard on your lap. Also, my shoulders are kinda cramped. I think you you hover for hands over the keyboard rather than resting your palms on your lap as well, like others have mentioned, it will prevent a lot of wrist pain from developing.
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: anowt on Sun, 24 August 2014, 23:27:45: Quote from: frosty on Thu, 24 July 2014, 18:34:08
I heard if you're doing that, you'll have to hover your hand and not rest it, as you'll contract some joint and nerve sickness of sorts?

also, is typing with long fingernails a good thing?

i have an apple bluetooth keyboard that i like using when i'm laying down. it's comfortable, imo. i just sort of put it on a pillow, or place it on college binder (hard body) so it's not directly resting on my lap (i don't ever have it resting directly on my lap). I like the angle of a college binder since I type like a t-rex.

about the fingernails - since i have long fingernails on one of my hands for playing guitar, my fingernail sometimes slides off the key. but this happens at above 65gram force. lighter keys you can just type directly with the fingernail. which is kind of what i do anyway. error rate is 5% +/- a few. so no worries.
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: islisis on Mon, 25 August 2014, 14:55:34: i can't wait for the day when we can call up a keyboard from the electrical response of contact to the thighs directly (^^)
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: frosty on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:11:36: i was more worried about my fingernails scratching keycaps. :-( would that happen?
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:13:11: Quote from: frosty on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:11:36
i was more worried about my fingernails scratching keycaps. :-( would that happen?

Scratching? No.

Over time you would probably wear down ABS keycaps faster if you keep rubbing your fingernails on them.

There are threads about typing with long fingernails btw :)
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: davkol on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:28:52: (http://i.imgur.com/ARD9ZI2.jpg)
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:33:27: Quote from: davkol on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:28:52
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/ARD9ZI2.jpg)

So it depends on what type of keyboard you are typing on :p
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: Lurch on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:45:40: Quote from: rowdy on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:33:27
Quote from: davkol on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:28:52
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/ARD9ZI2.jpg)

So it depends on what type of keyboard you are typing on :p

:))
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: frosty on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:48:52: Quote from: rowdy on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:13:11
Quote from: frosty on Tue, 26 August 2014, 05:11:36
i was more worried about my fingernails scratching keycaps. :-( would that happen?

Scratching? No.

Over time you would probably wear down ABS keycaps faster if you keep rubbing your fingernails on them.

There are threads about typing with long fingernails btw :)
haha i read a couple of them, but they mentioned little about nails scratching keycaps :(

thanks everyone anyway!
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: Altis on Tue, 02 September 2014, 11:58:22: I tend to type with the keyboard on my lap, but right at the end towards my knees. I find I can keep my wrists straight (so long as my elbows are tucked in). Also, when I do rest my wrists, my whole forearm is resting on my legs so the weight is significantly reduced.

Overall, for long typing periods, I will do long stretches this way as I find it seems to be the least wearing on the body.

It also tends to make keyboards sound even more crisp!
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: berserkfan on Fri, 05 September 2014, 09:44:15: Quote from: frosty on Thu, 24 July 2014, 18:34:08
I heard if you're doing that, you'll have to hover your hand and not rest it, as you'll contract some joint and nerve sickness of sorts?

also, is typing with long fingernails a good thing?

you? long fingernails? I don't remember seeing them on you.
Title: Re: Typing with keyboard on the lap
Post by: frosty on Fri, 05 September 2014, 11:39:30: Quote from: berserkfan on Fri, 05 September 2014, 09:44:15
Quote from: frosty on Thu, 24 July 2014, 18:34:08
I heard if you're doing that, you'll have to hover your hand and not rest it, as you'll contract some joint and nerve sickness of sorts?

also, is typing with long fingernails a good thing?

you? long fingernails? I don't remember seeing them on you.
haha i started keeping them long the last i saw you :P