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A Beginner's Guide to Choosing an Ergonomic Keyboard

a lot of ergonomic keyboards
source: technodot.ir
Are you spending 8+ hours in front of a screen? Do your shoulders, back and wrists feel tight? If they are, now it's the time to change this. By upgrading your regular keyboard with an ergonomic one, you'll see how much better your posture will be. You'll feel no strain on the muscles and be more prepared to take up the daily tasks and challenges.

What to Consider When Buying

person typing on a ergonomic keyboard
source: lifewire.com

Types of Keyboards

Compact

These types of keyboards were created because standard keyboards are too wide. As a result, the mouse is pushed further away from the body creating an uncomfortable working environment. The person working on the computer has to abduct their shoulders to reach the mouse. All of this creates an awkward posture which results in muscle strain. It also develops neck, shoulder and back pain.

Because they lack a number keypad, compact ergonomic keyboards are considerably shorter in length. Manufacturers managed to get the mouse closer to the body by just reducing the length of the keyboard. It's important that you buy ergonomic keyboards from a reliable supplier. Someone who has a lot of satisfied customers and good reviews. This will increase your chances of getting a high-quality product that will last for a long time.

Split

Split keyboards have a split in the middle. This split separates the two halves of the keyboard and it creates a V-shaped positioning. By moving the keyboard like this it creates a much better working environment for the body. It modifies the posture of the back and the wrists. Your wrists will no longer be twisted in an unnatural position. Traditional keyboards cause wrist deviation which can be very painful and uncomfortable.

Working with a persistent wrist deviation puts more strain on your wrist bones as well as your hand and forearm muscles. These pains oftentimes expand and can reach the elbows and forearm muscles. These split keyboards can have a fixed split or an adjustable split depending on your preferences. The adjustable ones give you more placement opportunities, but the fixed ones will give you the perfect V-shape split angle every time.

Number Pads

You'll find an ergonomic keyboard with or without a numeric pad. The absence of the number keypad on the right allows you to reduce your reach by keeping your mouse closer. However, if your job doesn't require you to use a lot of numbers, then it's a better idea to get a keyboard that has the numbers included. This means the numbers will be integrated on the top row on the keyboard over the letters. To activate or deactivate them you'll need to push a button. This clever design is very practical for people who don't use a lot of numbers.

Tenting & Negative Tilt

Tenting is the elevation in the middle of the keyboard. This brings your hands closer to a more natural position. Something similar to a "handshake" positioning. The Alice keyboards almost always angle up towards the middle. They always have a fixed degree because both sides of the keyboard are connected. There are plenty of keyboards that have an adjustable tenting degree. It can go anywhere from flat, to slightly tilted, to extremely tilted

Staggered vs Columnar

Choosing between a staggered or a columnar keyboard is one of the most controversial topics in the ergonomic world and its enthusiasts. A traditional keyboard has staggered keys. Every row is a little offset compared to the rows above and below. This means the A key is located around midway between the Q and W keys. This is a remnant of the old-fashioned mechanical typewriters, where there was a hammer striking each key and slamming ink into paper.

Columnar keyboards, also known as ortho-linear, arrange the keys in neat columns. Most of them have rows that are not linear. Some people say that this makes the keys easier to access compared to staggered keys. But this is a personal preference because not all bodies, palms and fingers are the same. If you're used to a staggered keyboard it may take you some time to get used to a columnar one and vice versa. But try them both and find out which one suits you better.

Programmable Keys

When you buy ergonomic keyboards, you'll see that most of them (with some exceptions) will work with both Mac and PC typing input. However, some functions and hot keys will need a bit of reconfiguration. This is simple to do. In most cases, you just download software to adjust the keys. In some cases, you can even buy additional keycaps to swap out the keys.

Benefits of Using an Ergonomic Keyboard

a person having pain in the wrist after long day on a laptop keyboard
source: paincareclinic.co.uk

Reduced Workspace Stress

The health condition of your body has an influence on your physical and mental health. When using a keyboard, people constantly stretch their hands, which can lead to wrist pain and other related issues like carpal tunnel syndrome. Ergo keyboards increase blood flow, reduce pain, and strengthen the muscles. It also raises perception, elevates mental insight, and boosts your mood.

Improved Comfort

Ergonomic keyboards were made to provide comfortable positioning for your hands and wrists by placing them in a neutral position. This increases your comfort levels a lot. The split keyboards, the adjustable tilting angle and the possibility of reconfiguration of some keys are what make these keyboards a valuable asset to any office worker. 

Boost of Speed and Accuracy

These keyboards were created with the human body in mind. That's why they're so comfortable to use. When your hands and body are in a natural position, the chances of getting injured are much smaller. Most of these keyboards also have wrist rests for more support and contoured key layouts that match the shape of your fingers. By having these useful features, you can improve overall typing efficiency and lessen physical strain on your body. They also have larger keys with more space between them which makes typing much easier and less straining.

Improved Productivity

Another advantage of having an ergonomic keyboard is that it will boost your typing speed because you'll be typing naturally and comfortably. You will be able to do more work in less time if your wrists, forearms, and fingers are in better alignment. This translates to increased output and performance as well as eventually less time spent at your desk.

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