Confounded by Keyboards
Why they make a bad thing worse
By Deborah Quilter
First published October 14, 1997

When it comes to typing, Woody Woodpecker has us all beat. His vise-like feet, bracing tail feathers, strong beak, and shock-absorbing skull equip him perfectly for high-speed hammering.

Unlike woodpeckers, humans aren't built for rapid-fire bursts of repetitive strokes, yet we're expected to perform this highly unnatural act with tools like computer keyboards. And computer keyboards are partially responsible for the skyrocketing incidence of repetitive strain injury (RSI) in recent years. Why is the computer keyboard culpable? Let me count the ways.

FROM QWERTY TO COCKAMAMY

Computer keyboard designers embellished the original QWERTY layout without considering the human hand. They added function keys above the top row, forcing fingers to stretch farther. Designers placed Enter, Backspace, and Ctrl near the pinkies, the weakest fingers.

Typewriters, with their sharply terraced rows of keys, prevented wrist resting, a leading factor in injury. But the modern standard keyboard is flat and, to make matters worse, has a kickstand that raises the back end. People often figure that since the kickstand is there, it must be used, so they hike it as high as possible. If they rest their wrists as they type, their wrists are bent at an extreme angle, which is a good way to get a rip-roaring injury.

While the typewriter balanced the work between two hands, the PC's keyboard forces the right hand to do more than its share of the work by placing Enter, Backspace, the number pad, and several other frequently used keys on the right-hand side.

WHY KEYBOARDS CAN'T CURE

With the advent of RSI, manufacturers have rushed to create "ergonomic" keyboards, with varying degrees of success. Despite the design flaws of the standard keyboard, many people assume manufacturers know what they're doing when they come up with so-called ergonomic designs. That's the first mistake.

The second mistake is assuming that using a different keyboard will cure your pain. Ergonomics is far more helpful in preventing problems. All too often, by the time people are willing to spend money on proper equipment, they should actually be under a doctor's care, relying on rest--not new gadgets--to treat their ailment.

And don't forget, even a keyboard that allows you to place your hands at a less stressful angle can't compensate for other equally potent risk factors, such as overuse, improper posture, and weak upper back muscles.

CHOOSE AN ADJUSTABLE MODEL

Ergonomic keyboards aren't a cure-all for RSI. But given the problems with standard keyboards, you are better off with an adjustable keyboard that has the following features.

• True split. Look for keyboards that split into two completely separate pieces. Standard keyboards force you to work with your hands close together, which requires twisting your wrists to strike keys. Avoid keyboards that are molded in one piece. Unless you happen to fit the preset dimensions, they'll restrict your movement.

• Tilt. A slight upward tilt in the center (like a drawbridge) allows your hands to work in a more neutral position, about 30 degrees above the horizon.

• Angle. Adjustable keyboards that let you point the upper center corners gently toward each other help keep your hands in more neutral positions: You move the keyboard, not your wrist. You should be able to adjust the two sides until the knuckle of your third finger is in line with the center of your wrist. Your elbows should remain relaxed at your side, not winged out from your body.

• Action. Any keyboard takes some getting used to, but don't buy a keyboard if the feel gives you the willies or sets off a pain episode. Spend enough time with a demonstration model to feel comfortable before you purchase it.

THE PACE ADJUSTABLE KEYBOARD

I tested one of the many "ergonomic" keyboards on the market, the Pace Adjustable Keyboard ($299; optional Mac interface, $99) from Pace Development (615/327-9169). The Pace Adjustable's keys are split. One-third are on the left, and the remainder--including the numeric keypad--are on the right. You can tilt and swivel these pieces using a ball-and-socket mechanism on the solid base. Unfortunately, you can't widen or narrow the space between the pieces because they're mounted on a fixed pedestal.

The Pace Adjustable Keyboard can't cure RSI, but its split, angle, and tilt features make it an improvement over standard keyboards.

The keypads are fairly easy to adjust, although the accompanying instructions are murky: "Do not rotate either keypad beyond 90 degrees from normal alignment." Most people have no clue what "normal alignment" is, much less what proper hand position is. Pace doesn't provide illustrations.

The added height of the pedestal forced me to lower my keyboard tray to my thighs to situate the keys at the proper height. A built-in, three-inch palm rest below the spacebar prevented me from positioning my hands over the keys without extending my elbows. The position put unnecessary strain on my neck muscles. This strain would be even greater if you used the Pace on a keyboard tray with a built-in wrist rest.

Pace moved the Insert and Delete keys to the bottom of the keyboard next to Alt and Ctrl. The keyboard has dual space bars, but because of these additional keys, the right-hand space bar is shorter. I occasionally struck the Alt key when I meant to insert a space. An additional Backspace key near the left space bar gives the left thumb something to do.

Recommendation. The split, angle, and tilt features make the Pace an improvement over the standard keyboard, especially for broader-chested people. Because you can't adjust the distance between the halves, I don't recommend the Pace if your shoulders don't comfortably align with the split keypads or if you have extra-long upper arm bones. It's also a pity the Pace perpetuates overuse of the right hand.

For reviews of four other keyboards, see this article.

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