jklp: a 36-key ergonomic keyboard (opens in new tab)

(github.com)

13 pointsteaspoon5y ago6 comments

6 comments

I wonder why most ergonomic keyboards have the halves pointed in, so your hands are like /\, rather than V. When I used a Freestyle I greatly preferred the V shape, quite spread apart, to reduce pectoral tightness.

rovr1385y ago

I think it’s because they’re so tiny.

I have a kinesis advantage and love it. Tried others and I don’t like that they feel to me too cramped.

I’m not small either at 6’2” with broad shoulders... I might not be the target audience.

NoSubstitute5y ago

Yeah, tiny keyboards are a menace.

I had a Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro for many years, the one with full size arrow keys, and I loved it.

The thing with the angle-in is because that's how most people's arms and wrists naturally fall when they put them in a relaxed position (on a table, in their lap) in front of them. Having your wrists at the same width as your elbows is for many people not a natural relaxed position.

I do like the Kinesis "fall-down" button position, though. I imagine your wrists don't bend back-/upwards as much? Today I have a large/wide armrest to avoid the wrist-bend. No ergonomical keyboard, though. A Corsair Strafe Silent RGB.

astine5y ago

It's to keep your wrists straight. Bad wrist positioning is one of the bigger causes of major discomfort or repretive strain injury. Unless you have a keyboard that is wider than you are, your hands are going to be closer together than your elbows when you type, so having the halves of the keyboard point inward rather than outward is what will keep your wrists straight.

rjeli5y ago

Yeah, the freestyle has the 2 halves of the keyboard disconnected and freely movable, so really it's like \___/. Set up at a slight outward roll, my wrists were straight, and you avoid the effects of being hunched over, tightly crowded around your keyboard for x hours a day.

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6 comments

rjeli5y ago

rovr1385y ago

I think it’s because they’re so tiny.

I have a kinesis advantage and love it. Tried others and I don’t like that they feel to me too cramped.

I’m not small either at 6’2” with broad shoulders... I might not be the target audience.

NoSubstitute5y ago

Yeah, tiny keyboards are a menace.

I had a Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro for many years, the one with full size arrow keys, and I loved it.

astine5y ago

rjeli5y ago

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