deskthority

Ever since I started learning more about mechanical keyboards during the last month or two, I keep reading every now and then that the way we are supposed to type is with our hands in the air and not with our wrist on the desk while typing. And with the keyboard laying flat as well.

Well for some time the back of my left hand was starting to hurt after doing many sessions of typing on various forums. So after reading about the above, I laid my keyboard flat and begin to keep my hands in the air as I type. Well it worked. The soreness and stiffness went away. I also take breaks every so often from using my computer on top of this. Even if it is only for a few minutes.

My new AZIO-Retro keyboard laying flat is noticeably higher then normal boards which is forcing me to keep my hands up in order to reach all the keys. Now while i do find this to be somewhat tiring due to the effort I have make to make my hands floating, at least they are not sore and stiff like they were. Maybe I just need to get use to using my keyboard correctly?

What about using a wrist rest? What is the proper way to use one?

You're on your way to better typing already, congratulations. It will take a little time for your forearm strength to build. What helps me is also stretching my hand and forearms during breaks.

You can get a wrist rest made of any material you like for when you get tired or to rest your hands while you're not actively typing.

Your posture in general and the height of your desk are also worth taking a look at. Your arms should be bent at 90 degrees or slightly downwards.

Thanks. Now how come I didn't hear about this stuff until after I started doing research on mechanical keyboards? Then again I did learned to type on actual typewriters which forces their users to keep their hands up in the air back in the early 90's. .

After watching a few YouTube videos on proper typing, I'm trying to keep my posture straight with my feet flat on the floor. However bad habits die hard. I'm also forcing myself to get up and take a break and move around every so often as well. Is every 20 to 30 minutes the right amount of time to do this?

You touch type hands floating ing in the air, this is the proper technique to a long and happy typing life without RSI! Use a trackball too instead of mouse (necessary evil sometimes).
The wrist rest is also very nice when you use the arrow keys, or navigate, or just for typing a few keys now and then while monitoring something else. It rests your wrist when you need to while preserving a good angle for your wrist. It should not be used as an anchor to type regularly as I see often in youngsters video. Seeing all the tensions it induces in their hands, I feel so sorry for them in the future if they keep this habit.

I went over to Walmart Sunday to get a wrist rest and they told me I will need to go over to the Walmart Supercenter or to the local business supply store to buy one as that store didn't have any.

I knew I should have have added one to my order when I ordered my keyboard last week from Newegg. Now I'm kicking myself.

I brought a gel wrist rest from a local business supply store yesterday and it is almost forcing me to relearn how to type again. It kind of feels like it is in the way as I type, so I'm having mixed feelings on getting this. On the other hand this does make a nice arm and elbow rest for me when I'm not typing.

Is this normal to have mixed results when using a wrist rest?

whm1974 wrote: ...
Is this normal to have mixed results when using a wrist rest?

Yes, especially when using these gel wrist rests that feel like getting your keyboard a boob job.

Wodan wrote:

whm1974 wrote: ...
Is this normal to have mixed results when using a wrist rest?

Yes, especially when using these gel wrist rests that feel like getting your keyboard a boob job.

Now that you mention it, it does feel almost like a boob but not as soft.

Now I noticed that my typing speed and accuracy has improved quite a bit over last week since I started using my new AZIO Retro. A nice keyboard does really help and is well worth spending the money on. However I suppose at times some of us have to make do with what we have and/or can afford.

I was using my dad's cheap Dell notebook when I was over at his place yesterday and the whole time I cussing the POS keyboard it has. I have a really strong dislike for using laptop keyboards. Of course I didn't really like the keyboard his desktop has either, but at least that was much more usable.

I generally type with my wrists suspended but my forearm rested on the desk.

The only time when I would type with my wrists rested is on a laptop.

As long as the posture does not potentially incur unnecessary injuries, e.g. no raised shoulders, elbows angle < 90° (a result of how high one's typing surface / keyboard platform is, this also affects wrist angles), straight and relaxed wrists (this one related to the use of wrist rest and 'flipped' space bar), straight and relaxed back and neck, top of monitor at around eye level and slightly below, etc. I personally think it should be fine to type in whatever ways one finds comfortable.

I notice more and more people who type well above 120wpm are not using the 'proper' fingering in canonical typing methods.

Fast or proper? If I can choose only one, I think being fast is better.

Menuhin wrote: As long as the posture does not potentially incur unnecessary injuries, e.g. no raised shoulders, elbows angle < 90° (a result of how high one's typing surface / keyboard platform is, this also affects wrist angles), straight and relaxed wrists (this one related to the use of wrist rest and 'flipped' space bar), straight and relaxed back and neck, top of monitor at around eye level and slightly below, etc. I personally think it should be fine to type in whatever ways one finds comfortable.

I notice more and more people who type well above 120wpm are not using the 'proper' fingering in canonical typing methods.

Fast or proper? If I can choose only one, I think being fast is better.

Well I'm thinking "proper" as in avoiding RSI later in life. It will suck big time if one couldn't any longer use a computer or earn a living due to injuries that could have been prevent earlier by learning and using proper typing methods to begin with.

Besides the proper methods, the biggest step one could take is to use a comfortable keyboard if possible. Hell if I knew how much difference a good mechanical keyboard made when I was younger, I would have went out of my way to get one.

About RSI, I saw some people in my career with carpal tunnel Injury, and it's not funny. Buy the trackball dudes!

Proper desk and positioning is important. But what is even more important is to recognize the first signs of RSI and ask for help. Nowadays I think any computer geeks or heavy typists is acknowledged about RSI, so if you want to type academically or DIY style is up to you, and be reminded that you can increase your typing speed in both styles! I choosed the first when I was 12.

Orpheo wrote: About RSI, I saw some people in my career with carpal tunnel Injury, and it's not funny. Buy the trackball dudes!

Proper desk and positioning is important. But what is even more important is to recognize the first signs of RSI and ask for help. Nowadays I think any computer geeks or heavy typists is acknowledged about RSI, so if you want to type academically or DIY style is up to you, and be reminded that you can increase your typing speed in both styles! I choosed the first when I was 12.

So how hard is it to adjust to a trackball after using mice for some over 20 odd years? And what about gaming?

For everyday or work situation, trackball is slower, but it's fine as you want to rest your arms.

For gaming this is not OK at all. I don't know how people achieved to play, but for me it's CS Go or the likes I prefer the mouse. But for Civilization trackball is actually pretty good.

Alternating between mouse and trackball is good for your arms! At least it's way better than mouse all the time!

Thanks, I might look into getting one.

Out of curiosity, do you set the trackball on the left and leave the mouse on the right?

Right handed so on the right. With a split keyboard, like ergodox, in the middle it's works very well, but I prefer having a touch pad when I want a middle tracking device like the Logitech one. It's good!

I'm using my Kensington Expert Mouse in between the two halves of my Matias Ergo Pro. That works really well because you can then alternate between using the left and right hand.

When I had pain in the right hand only I used a trackpad on the left at first. That worked pretty well. Then later switched to a trackball. I have tried using a mouse with my left hand but that didn't work that well.

Trackballs can be very precise and fast. But for FPS games they are not well suited because of the sudden changes of direction and speed. The feeling is also very different if you have a small trackball for your thumb or a large one. I consider the large ones to be more ergonomic, since they allow many different ways to position your hand.