Inspiration

I end up spending between 8 and 12 hours in front of the computer, typing… and using the mouse. I program, write documents, and draw pictures, and browse the web, and send emails. Lots of typing, and lots of mouse usage. After I started working for myself, I ended up spending way too much time using mice and keyboards, and after 4 months of doing this I had shoulder, neck, wrist, and arm strain. It started off as aches, and then it graduated to pain, and then all kinds of stiffness… and it started to affect my posture. I realized that my work setup was causing me bodily harm… and I started my quest for finding a more ergonomic work setup. Keyboards and mice are just part of the equation, having a proper desk and chair are critical parts of the equation. I intend to post reviews of all these things over time – I decided to start with the keyboard first. If you are learning more about RSI and how to fix it, read this book. For more information on our ergonomic footwear review (Vibram FiveFinger shoes) click here.

Background

For some background information on anatomical terms of movement, check out this wikipedia link. I will try to refrain from using these terms as much as I can, but check out the link for reference, if some of the physical descriptions of wrist and elbow placement doesn’t make any sense. To measure how ergonomic a work station is, you really have to take into account the type of keyboard, it’s placement on your desk, the desk, the chair, and of course the type of pointing device, and it’s placement on your desk. For this review, I’m going to look at the keyboards separately, and rate them on their effectiveness in reducing all kinds of strain patterns from extended use.

General rules of thumb

As a rule of thumb, an ergonomic keyboard shouldn’t cause you to place your elbows too close together, so that your hands are almost touching when they are placed on the keyboard. Lots of smaller keyboards on laptops are this way, and they end up causing shoulder and wrist strain because it’s not natural to hold your elbows that close together. Wider keyboards are generally more comfortable.

Wider is better?

Here’s the catch, if wider is better, then how do you place the keys on the keyboard so that you don’t have to move your hands (left and right) just to be able to reach keys while you’re typing. Yet another constraint is key layout (regardless of wether it’s Dvorak, or Qwerty). The keys have to be laid out in a way that is optimized for your typing task (programming or writing documents or emails). For example, if you have to press the Shift key a lot, and you use the left Shift key, then you may end up rotating your left wrist to the left a lot to press the shift key and hold it down. So if you have to type Shift + A, you might have to hold down both the Shift key and A key with your left hand – this is very bad ergonomically speaking, since you’re putting all the strain on one hand. You have to rotate your hand, and hold it there while you type in Shift and A.

Best key layout

So, even with a layout that works for one set of tasks, you may find that the layout doesn’t work very well for a different task. Also, you may have to change the way you enter key combinations to avoid doing combinations with one hand… To type Shift + A, you might press the Shift key with the right hand and press the A key with the left hand. Depending on the operating system you use, you may have something like Windows Sticky Keys feature enabled, which would allow you to press a modifier key (Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Windows, Option, etc) and have it "stick", so that you no longer have to keep it depressed, while you enter you key combination… this reduces the amount of time you have to hold a key pressed while putting your wrist in an awkward position. Windows Vista has a whole host of usability and accessibility features that are very useful if you put the time into learning them.

Curvature of the keyboard

Finally, there curvature of the keyboard’s shape can make it more or less ergonomic. If a keyboard’s shape is a simple rectangle, then it’s not very ergonomic, because of the unequal length of human fingers on each hand. In order to be able to keep your wrists in a relaxed position, and keep them stationary, it would be difficult to rotate your wrist to be able to reach every key on the keyboard without having to move your wrists.

Curved keyboards are a little easier to use, since they keys are not laid out on an even grid pattern. Depending on the size of your hands, you might favor one curved keyboard over another.

 

Wave keyboards

In addition to the curvature of the keyboard, which determines the layout of the keys, most ergonomic keyboards have a "wave", which means that they keys are not all the same height. Here’s a picture to illustrate this.

The idea with the wave is that it’s easier to reach and press keys since humans have different size fingers on each hand. Since different people have different size wrists, a specific combination of keyboard layout (curvature) and depth of the keys (wave) will determine if the keyboard is comfortable for you.

Products reviewed & Scores

Product	Score
Kinesis Advantage	5 out of 5
Kinesis Freestyle VIP	5 out of 5
Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite	4 out of 5
Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000	2 out of 5
Adesso Tru-Form Pro Contoured Ergonomic Keyboard	1 out of 5
Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 v2	3.5 out of 5
Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave	2.5 out of  5

Detailed review

Having provided some background information, I’m going to delve into the specifics of each keyboard that me and two other people have used extensively for a few weeks. One thing to note when you’re reading this review is that people come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes. So regardless of the rating and recommendation, these are just rough guidelines, you really have to get the keyboard you think you might like, after reading this review and try it out. Most retailers have 30 day money back guarantees, so be sure to buy a keyboard from a reputable vendor with a return policy.

Kinesis Advantage – Rating 5 out of 5

The Advantage keyboard is the strangest looking keyboard of the bunch in this review. It also requires the most training to learn how to use effectively, and it takes the most time to get trained on this type of keyboard. Having said all that, it gets the highest rating because it’s got the most human friendly attributes of any of the keyboards reviewed. It was designed from the ground up with ergonomic requirements in mind, which is different from the other keyboards in the review, which are like regular keyboards with some ergonomic functions tacked on to them as part of their design evolution.

The most striking feature of this keyboard is it’s strange shape. Unlike ‘wave’ and ‘contoured’ keyboard, this keyboard has a very non traditional keyboard shape. There are no keys in the middle of the keyboard, and there’s a clump of keys on either side of the empty space in the middle of the keyboard, for use with your thumbs. And all the remaining keys are clustered on the top left and right hand sides of the keyboard. They also have an integrated wrist rest. They also come with foot pedals, which can be wired up to this keyboard, to be used as Shift, Alt, Ctrl keys (modifier keys) or even Enter keys, etc. You can have 2 foot pedals attached to each Advantage keyboard.

The space in the middle of the keyboard makes it so that you don’t have to rotate your wrists to press certain keys that normally appear on the edges of normal keyboards (Shift, Enter, Q, P, ). This empty space is much larger than what you see on ‘normal’ ergonomic keyboards, and unlike those keyboards, the keys are clustered together on either sides of the keyboard for easy reach. Look at this picture to see the extreme ‘wave’ of the keyboard… these recessed keys are awesome for reach, when you use the keyboard you will see how the non rectangular layout of the keys makes it a natural fit for humans with unequal length fingers on each hand .

Here’s an image that depicts how you would use this keyboard on a desk:

Contrast this to most traditional keyboards, including traditional ergonomic keyboards:

By not having a numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard, there’s plenty of space for placement of a pointing device (a trackball or mouse). You are free to place the pointing device on either side of the keyboard. Here’s a research paper that’s published on Kinesis’ site that talks more about research on keyboard usage.

Here’s a video of someone typing on the keyboard, from youtube.

Another great feature of this keyboard is that you can remap any of the keys on the keyboard to anything else! It’s easy to do, and it doesn’t require any software, and works on all operating systems, and types of computers. You can also map keys to macro combinations. This is an extremely powerful feature, since you can optimize the keyboard layout to your exactly needs! The keyboard also works with OSX and Windows (it has a Windows key and an Option key). The keyboard also comes with a built in USB hub so that you can attach pointing devices to the keyboard itself. You can also switch the keyboard layout between Qwerty and Dvorak on the fly.

You can order this keyboard from Amazon, and try it out. If you don’t like it you can return it. I suggest giving it a week to get trained on using this laptop. It’s worth the investment in time required to become proficient with this keyboard. We’ve been using them for over 4 months now, and they are excellent!!! The expensive is the most expensive of the bunch reviewed here.

The only areas of improvement I can think of with this keyboard is inclusion of a pointing device in the area between the cluster of buttons for use with your thumbs. Also, Kinesis is a good company to deal with if you have issues with warranty repairs and replacements.

Kinesis mod, with touchpad

I’ve found a solution for myself with pointing devices and the Advantage keyboard. It turns out that you can take a Cirque Glidepoint touchpad and tape it to the middle of the Kinesis Advantage keyboard and it works great! I’ve found that using a mouse, or trackball that’s positioned to the left/right of the keyboard was still causing me grief, since I had to move my right/left arm every time I reached for the pointing device, causing shoulder/neck strain.

With the touchpad in the center, it makes things a lot better. I can operate it with my left/right hand, and since it’s in the center, it reduces shoulder/neck strain. It works for me, so try it out and see if it works for you. Also, you can have multiple pointing devices that you use for different things… this touchpad in the middle works great for general computer activities.

Here are some pictures to clarify:

Kinesis Freestyle VIP – Rating 5 out of 5

The Kinesis Freestyle keyboard is the best of both worlds: it’s really ergonomic and it has no learning curve (if you can use a regular QWERTY keyboard then you’re already trained to use this one). And it costs 66% less than the Advantage. The unique design of the keyboard allows it to be as wide or as narrow as the user desires. Here’s a picture:

There are 2 versions of this keyboard, one that allows the 2 keyboard halves to be separated 8 inches apart, and another one that allows them to be separated 20 inches apart. You have a tremendous amount of flexibility in tailoring this keyboard to fit your posture and seating and desk position.

There is no curve to this keyboard, and neither does it have a wave. In that, it has a somewhat traditional keyboard key layout. There are some major differences of course. First, the keyboard is like a QWERTY keyboard that’s broken in half. But keys like PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, and Delete are placed very close to the right side of the keyboard. On the left side, there are keys like Cut, Paste, Copy, Delete, Back, and Forward – keys that are really useful, but you don’t find in most keyboards. There’s no need to do Ctrl + C for copy or Ctrl + V for Paste, since dedicated keys are available.

The keyboard is also not narrow. But it’s not wide either. There is no numeric keypad to the right of it, so you can place a pointing device to the right of it without any problems. It’s just like the Advantage keyboard in that regard. The keys require a soft touch, and they have tactile feedback, but they are not short throw keys (like on a laptop keyboard). You can pound on the keys or you can touch type, the keyboard will suit you either way.

There are some accessories that are provided with this keyboard that allow you to configure how much it tilts. Here’s a picture:

This VIP accessory allows you to clip on a few things. You can add a wrist rest, something that I recommend. And you can also attach a little strut to tilt the keyboard (so that it’s higher in the middle than on either side). There are 2 adjustments to this tilt mechanism. I highly recommend that you purchase the VIP accessory along with this keyboard.

Overall, this keyboard is a joy to use. It’s so flexible and customizable! It’s simply amazing how many different configurations can be applied very easily to this keyboard to make it suit your needs. And it’s relatively inexpensive, when compared to the Advantage. It’s more expensive than what you would pay for a wired keyboard, but I think it’s totally worth it. For the price, it can’t be beat. If you have the time and the money, the Advantage is tough to beat, but if you want something that’s easy to learn and really comfortable and will not cost a couple of hundred dollars, then this is the keyboard for you! You can buy the keyboard and VIP accessory from Amazon.

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite – Rating 4 out of 5

The Natural keyboard is fantastic. Microsoft made this keyboard over 10 years ago, and it’s still a great keyboard for the money. People like it so much that they’ve made a new version Elite 2.0, and it’s pretty much like the first one. I remember using this keyboard in the late 90’s and it was a great keyboard then, and it’s a great keyboard now. And it’s relatively inexpensive (you can buy roughly 10 of these for 1 Advantage).

Unlike the Advantage, this is a no-frills keyboard. It’s got a curve to it, which makes it better than a rectangular keyboard to use, and it allows you to place your hands on the keyboard more naturally, without having to bring your elbows really close to your body. It doesn’t have much of a ‘wave’, but the keys have great tactile feedback, while being easy to push. The integrated wrist wrest is quite nice. There is a way to tilt the keyboard from the back (not underneath the wrist rest) for minor adjustment.

My complaint with keyboard is the huge numeric keypad which juts out on the right side. It makes it very difficult to put a pointing device on the right side of the keyboard, without having to reach for it awkwardly, every time you want to use it, causing unnecessary neck and shoulder strain. If you place a pointing device on the left of the keyboard, then it’s no longer an issue. Another complaint is that the keyboard has a PS/2 connector, not USB… the keyboard comes with a PS/2 to USB converter, but it doesn’t have a USB hub. But given the low price of the keyboard, you can look over this deficiency.

I can’t really fault this keyboard for anything, given it’s really cheap price. You can order it from Amazon.

Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 – Rating 2 out of 5

The 4000 keyboard seems like a modern version of the Natural keyboard from Microsoft. Unlike the Natural though, it’s not very good. The price point is similar to the Natural, but given the choice, you are better off with the Natural.

The keyboard has a nice integrated wrist wrest, which is soft, and comfy. It also has as browser back and forward button in the middle of the keyboard. There’s also a scroll wheel in the center of the keyboard above the spacebar, which is nice, not cursor control though. It has a set of programmable function buttons, if you like that sort of thing. The keyboard has a little stand that you can attach to the front of the keyboard (below the wrist rest), that you can use to tilt the front of the keyboard up. The keyboard does have a ‘wave’ to them, and the placement of some of the keys are ok.

Here are the problems with the keyboard – the keys are very hard to press, and it’s tough to tell when you’ve pressed them. They feel very imprecise. It almost encourages you to pound on the keys with a lot of force, and that’s just frustrating after a few hours of using this keyboard. The spacebar is especially crap on this one. We’ve tested more than one unit, of this model, and they all exhibit these characteristics. They keyboard is also very large – it favors people with large hands and wide shoulders. For people with small hands and narrow shoulder, this keyboard is not very ergonomic.

You can order it from Amazon. Unless you are really big and like smashing your keys when you type, I don’t recommend it.

Adesso Tru-Form Pro Contoured Ergonomic Keyboard – Rating 1 out of 5

The Tru-Form keyboard has an integrated pointing device – a trackpad. This is positioned just above the space bar, and it makes it so that you don’t have to use an external pointing device. That’s the only good thing about this keyboard. Having said that, the pointing device doesn’t work very well, when you get the surface a little dirty, and it’s very imprecise.

The keys are not easy to press, they have poor tactile feedback, it’s very confusing to press a key and not know if it’s been pressed or not. The layout of the keys is not good. It doesn’t have a ‘wave’ to it either. The keyboard layout is crap for both large and small people.

You can order this keyboard from Amazon, though I don’t recommend it.

Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 V2 – Rating 3.5 out of 5

This 6000 keyboard from Microsoft is not a ’split keyboard’, there is no empty space in the middle of the keyboard. However, the keyboard is excellent. The only thing keeping it from getting it a higher rating is that it’s too wide (the numeric keypad and cursor keys stick out too far on the right side of the keyboard). If you place a pointing device on the left side of the keyboard, there’s an obstruction there too (there are scroll/zoom keys on the left).

The keys on the keyboard are a pleasure to press. They are very easy to press, the keys don’t travel very far, but it has excellent feedback! It rewards typists with a light touch. The integrated wrist rest is very soft and comfortable. There’s an attachment that’s provided to raise the bottom of the keyboard, to tilt it. Without using the attachment, you can also raise both the front and the back of the keyboard up, using built-in plastic stands. The keyboard is wireless, and it comes with a wireless mouse (which isn’t that great). The key layout is good, it’s wide and keys are positioned nicely. But it’s conservative in it’s ‘curve’… so though it’s easy to learn, it compromises the layout for best ergonomics. The keyboard has a ‘wave’, which enhances typing comfort.

You can order this keyboard from Amazon.

Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave – Rating 2.5 out of 5

The Wave is not a ’split keyboard’, just like the Microsoft 6000, however, unlike the 6000 the keys aren’t as precise. The keys don’t have a lot of feedback, though they are easy to press. The keys travel farther than the 6000 keys. The keyboard has an integrated wrist rest which is quite comfortable, and it has kick stands to tilt the back of the keyboard higher.

The keyboard has a slight ‘curve’, like the 6000. It has a different ‘wave’ than the 6000. The overall keyboard is narrower than the 6000, but the actual keys are the same width. It has a set of programmable keys (media control and zoom), similar to the 6000.

You can order this keyboard from Amazon.

Comments, Discussions

If you have comments or feedback you want to share about this article, please click here.

We do not just build mobile “apps”, we build mobile experiences

Let us build you mobile experiences for Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone. We can also build you cloud-connected experiences that span Mobile (Android, BlackBerry, iPhone), Web (Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer) and Desktop (PC, Mac, Linux) for a truly connected real-time experience. See our work in action: download RainOrShine for BlackBerry and CityRyde for Android.

• We provide full service, full lifecycle consulting services (planning, graphic design, architecture, marketing, support, and implementation).
• We provide Architecture guidance before implementation; marketing strategy after implementation. Click here to learn more.

Zen Application Framework

All our applications are built using our Zen Application Framework, which helps you avoid the common pitfalls around mobile development. Zen drastically reduces development time & cost for mobile, web, and desktop experiences. Click here to learn more.

Our training services make You self-sufficient & sustainable

Want to learn from the best? We offer Android and BlackBerry developer training programs. Whether you are just starting out, or want advanced training, we have courses for different skill levels & technology requirements. Contact us to learn more, and sign up.

Our values: Open-source. Democratization of knowledge. To lead, never follow

We are leaders in mobile technology. We have done and seen it all. We do not follow trends set by others & we do not make the mistakes made by others. We set the trends for mobile because we are mobile visionaries.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 at 6:56 pm and is filed under Ergonomics, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.