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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: devilcm3 on Fri, 22 January 2010, 04:22:22

Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: devilcm3 on Fri, 22 January 2010, 04:22:22: i was wondering whether i should lift my keyboard or not?

read in some article that keyboard should not be lifted because it makes RSI worse...but doubt the credibility of the source....

so i just want to know your opinion...does it feels better / type faster when the keyboard is lifted...or not?

now im using my keyboard without the feet
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: whininggit on Fri, 22 January 2010, 04:24:47: On almost every keyboard I've tried, it makes it more uncomfortable to type with the feet raised.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: kishy on Fri, 22 January 2010, 04:58:20: I can't type at all (typos galore, speed gone, often pressing wrong keys) if the feet are NOT extended.

I'm an exception to the norm in that way, however.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: cmr on Fri, 22 January 2010, 05:01:36: i always use the feet at the highest setting, and if they break, i fashion new ones
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: devilcm3 on Fri, 22 January 2010, 05:15:40: Quote from: whininggit;152921
On almost every keyboard I've tried, it makes it more uncomfortable to type with the feet raised.

is it the wrist which caused any discomfort to you?

i can actually type both lifted and without , but i feel that i type faster although i feel sometimes my pinky have a hard time reaching the P without being lifted.

is it true that lifting the keyboard decreases the distance from key to finger? (especially pinkies)
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 22 January 2010, 05:27:19: I'm convinced that IBM put feet on the Model F to emulate this -

(http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/pc/images/02108.jpg)

And everyone else blindly followed.

I still prefer it when the feet are raised, even though it's supposedly unergonomic.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: devilcm3 on Fri, 22 January 2010, 05:36:07: Quote from: ch_123;152926
I'm convinced that IBM put feet on the Model F to emulate this -

Show Image
(http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/pc/images/02108.jpg)

And everyone else blindly followed.

I still prefer it when the feet are raised, even though it's supposedly unergonomic.

so it is true that lifting the feet is ergonomic eh?

i wonder if you have any typing difficulties especially pinkie when typing with the feet off?
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Fri, 22 January 2010, 05:48:53: I believe whatever feels better to you, probably is better for you.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: mmgoose on Fri, 22 January 2010, 05:55:10: i always go for what feels comfortable and i also try and take cues from those who've been doing it for a very long time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhnRIuGZ_dc&fmt=
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Fri, 22 January 2010, 07:27:41: For me it depends on the situation. If I'm using a keyboard tray, I don't use the feet. But if I'm using the keyboard directly on the desk, then yes.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: itlnstln on Fri, 22 January 2010, 07:41:09: I never use the feet; I like my 'boards as flat as possible. That said, it's a personal preference. Do what ever feels more natural to you.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: Rajagra on Fri, 22 January 2010, 07:41:36: Quote from: ch_123;152926
Show Image
(http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/pc/images/02108.jpg)

Note that her wrists are straight, and her elbows are below the height of the keyboard. Hence the slope of the keyboard is acceptable.

For most people these conditions will not be the same, so raising the back of the keyboard is not appropriate.

I think the real reason for raising the back of the keyboard is to make it easier for non touch typists to read the keys. It's that silly.

This is what will happen to your hands if you use the keyboard feet:

(http://magicstatistics.com/wp-content/pictures/art/Titian%20St%20John.jpg) (http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=152852&postcount=16)
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Fri, 22 January 2010, 08:03:18: Quote
Show Image
(http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/pc/images/02108.jpg)

A frozen grin on the face must be quite important too. I see that in all pictures on ergonomic typing.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: Rajagra on Fri, 22 January 2010, 08:19:40: She's happy because her toast is nearly done.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: snerd on Fri, 22 January 2010, 08:28:33: I keep the feet raised, which probably means you should not. I type like Frankenstein's monster with my arms extended slouched way down in the chair, and my eyes aligned to the bottom of my huge monitor.

This position with the feet raised aligns perfectly to keep my wrists straight with no strain, and the edge of me desk is like a wrist rest.

(do not do this)

I intend to get a steelcase leap to try to improve my posture. I'm just not comfortable unless all of my body parts including my feet are propped up.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: HaaTa on Fri, 22 January 2010, 08:45:25: Quote from: Rajagra;152969
She's happy because her toast is nearly done.

LOL.

Why is there a toaster to the right of her terminal anyways?
Toast crumbs are EVIL, and should not be within a 2 meter radius of any keyboard.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: hyperlinked on Fri, 22 January 2010, 08:49:27: [Echoes of what Rajagra said about posture...]

Elevating the feet bring the back row keys you have to reach for just a little closer so that you don't have to reach as far, but how your body is situated in front of your keyboard is more important.

Most people probably have their keyboard on top of their desks and so in that case unless you're at least 6'2", then the keyboard is probably too high already.

Also, if you're slouching forward at your keyboard, the angle of your upper body makes it as if you're "typing uphill." That's something most people don't take into account. It doesn't matter if you have your workstation finely tuned to the perfect heights and distances only to negate everything with very bad posture once you get down to work.

If anyone has only one key to ergonomic success, don't listen to them. They don't know what they're talking about. It's how everything is put together that matters. Ergonomics is a very soft word and a controversial science... but you wouldn't ever know that from all the products that are getting marketed as "ergonomic."
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: hyperlinked on Fri, 22 January 2010, 08:51:18: Quote from: HaaTa;152973
Why is there a toaster to the right of her terminal anyways?
Toast crumbs are EVIL, and should not be within a 2 meter radius of any keyboard.

Those are probably 8" floppy drives... ancient stuff.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Floppy_Disk_Drive_8_inch.jpg)
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: quadibloc on Fri, 22 January 2010, 09:49:10: Quote from: ch_123;152926
I'm convinced that IBM put feet on the Model F to emulate this

And here I thought they put the feet on to emulate that -
(http://www.selectric.org/ibmtypebar/executive.jpg)
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: Mercen_505 on Fri, 22 January 2010, 10:20:52: I always keep my keyboards slightly inclined. The only time I ever used a keyboard totally flat was with my IBM M4, which is absurdly steep when you put the feet into position. I keep my boards on top of my desk, rather than using a slide tray underneath. In such a position, I can totally understand why one would not want to use the legs.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: meltie on Fri, 22 January 2010, 11:10:29: The first keyboard I regularly used was a Model M at work (i didn't use the feet), and for I long time after, I had to use the feet on any other keyboard to tilt them as much as the Model M. But now, I prefer to not use the feet and like my keyboards as flat as possible. I use a wrist rest, though.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: hyperlinked on Fri, 22 January 2010, 11:17:18: Quote from: ripster;153003
As long as you're not doing this it's all personal preference.
Show Image
(http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/images/comp_keyboard_bent_wrist.gif)

One of the reasons why you don't do that is because every joint in your body has a "neutral" position that is roughly in the middle between the two end ranges of motion. It's in this middle angle that you make the most efficient use of your muscles. The farther away you are from that middle range, the greater amount of stress each keystroke or motion causes on your muscles and tendons.
Title: lift the keyboard feet , no?
Post by: devilcm3 on Fri, 22 January 2010, 11:27:07: Quote from: ripster;153003
As long as you're not doing this it's all personal preference.

Show Image
(http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/images/comp_keyboard_bent_wrist.gif)

But I do recommend keyboard trays for a lot of reasons.

thanks..this is what i need:D