Chair mounted keyboard setup

[chop]

Hello,

After having suffered through nearly two years of RSI, I've made numerous changes to my work habits and desk setup. However, I've also come to terms with the fact that flat keyboards make my hands and fingers ache the most, although mice obviously are partly to blame.

I digress. My reason for making this thread was to try to siphon some, if any, experiences others have had with a split keyboard, vertical keyboard positions and/or chair mounted solutions.

I got some pointers on this site: http://www.ksl.stanford.edu/people/kpfleger/ergo/ which I aim to reproduce. I've tentatively decided on a comfort keyboard, but may consider a datahand once they become available again.

Thanks for any and all answers.

[Rajagra]

This solution, while far from pretty, does give an interesting idea. Having the arms hanging down HAS to be the ideal position. Observe where the completely relaxed hands end up and at what angle, and put the keyboard halves there.

[Lanx]

oh good idea, ide cable i think i'll use that to get a "clean" look for my mod.

[chop]

Looks like a nice setup. Could freely hanging arms compromise the flow of blood though?

I've been brought up to believe that elbow and forearm support is essential, but after my bout with RSI I've undergone a paradigm shift in ergonomic thinking.

[Infinite north]

There are always the chairmount split keyboards. kinesis used to have one in production, but they are somewhat rare. two recently sold on ebay for under $100.

[kill will]

I think that it would produce too much blood flow to the hands.  I could be wrong tho.

[J888www]

你好 and Welcome.

Looks like a nice setup. Could freely hanging arms compromise the flow of blood though?

Constant long term usage in this position may result in varicose veins.

[cbf123]

My reason for making this thread was to try to siphon some, if any, experiences others have had with a split keyboard, vertical keyboard positions and/or chair mounted solutions.

I just visited a local ergonomics supplier to test out some keyboards.  If you haven't already, take a look at the Kinesis Advantage and Freestyle.  The Freestyle is easier to learn, but the Advantage is supposed to offer better ergonomics.

One thing that they did say was that most people require forearm support in order to use the fully-vertical keyboards for extended periods of time.  They had a funky articulated padded armrest for this purpose.  Apparently the recommend the fully-vertical boards only for people with injuries preventing them from using their wrists in the normal position.

If you haven't already, you might consider a trackball instead of a mouse.

[chop]

你好 and Welcome.

Constant long term usage in this position may result in varicose veins.

Don't want that!

I can't see why it should be more harmful (i.e that the ergo-guy recommended ONLY the injured a vertical position) than typing on a regular flat keyboard though. If anything I'd think the handshake-position is less injurious.

[Rajagra]

I would think half way through the range of motion would be the safest starting point. That would be around the 45° 'tented' position, at least for a desk-based keyboard. Fully vertical feels like it would cause strain to be honest, it's just beginning to induce stretching.

I don't see why allowing your arms to hang down would be bad. If it is then that's an extreme fail of the evolutionary system.