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Kinesis Evolution, "ergonomic" keyboard
`I'm typing this message on a Kinesis Evolution split keyboard mounted
to a workstation chair. I'm adapting quickly to its key layout, but I'm not sure I want to adapt. Some key groups such as the arrow group are relocated, similar to keyboards of laptop/notebook PCs. I prefer frequently used keys to be more forward-upward in location rather than toward my wrists. I probably type many tens of thousands of keystrokes as a daily average as a software programmer, and as an annoying author in online forums. This keyboard places the editing group of keys (e.g. Insert, Delete) crammed below the lower right palm area. With no key teets in this editing key group, and with arrow keys normally preceding use of the edit group, I'm trying to train myself to feel the perimeters of the edit group with my thumb or small finger, and it's a chore to return my right hand into the normal typing position -- performance penalty. Because the keyboard is in two halves, the position of the left hand is of no referencial help in adjusting the position of the right hand, such as the need to return the right hand's index finger to the J key after using the edit arrows -- another performance penalty. I like the #6 key being on both the right and left keyboard halves, as I prefer using the right hand for the 6. A problem for me is the 5% loss in speed because now my body motor control must make small corrections in remembering which keyboard I'm using, between this Kinesis keyboard or standard IBM 101. I don't like the proprietary Windows logo keys, which I remove from all my keyboards as they complicate use of Ctrl and Alt keys, occupying valuable keyboard real estate. Instead of leaving them to increase typing errors, I pry off their keycaps. I cannot budget a US$400 Kinesis keyboard for each of the workstations among employers, friends, and home, and this keyboard is heavy and bolt-on, not portable. The result is a vast improvement in ergonomic physical comfort, yet a constantly steep and annoying performance penalty. As I type, I'm not permitted to slightly overshoot the following keys without the touchpad housings occasionally snagging my index fingers to a dull halt. The commonly troublesome keys a T, G, Y, H; and lesser-used keys 6 and F5. The keys are recessed, lower than the touchpad housing, so the sharp edge of the housing interrupts the finger preventing a full stroke to type the key. These troubled keys cause me to typo and backspace/delete to more carefully type the missed characters. The word "carefully in the previous statement caught my righthand index finger causing a typo. I may adapt, but I'll probably remain 5% slower than on a standard 101, and an estimated 30 hours of lost annual productivity, but all during improved seating posture. |
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