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I'd love to see a rigorous analysis of whether this type of keyboard layout really reduces repetitive stress injuries. The metrics presented are interesting, bu

by jimmar 6y ago

I'd love to see a rigorous analysis of whether this type of keyboard layout really reduces repetitive stress injuries. The metrics presented are interesting, but the reduced finger movement could be a bug rather than a feature. Small micro-stretching by having to reach for keys could actually be beneficial.

shawxe 6y ago
I think this is a very good and very underrated point. I'd like to see some evidence why there's any reason to assume repetitive movement with less stretching is somehow less harmful than repetitive movement with more stretching. I've been typing on the qwerty layout for about twenty-five years at this point, and I'm up to around 110WPM, so it would really take a gigantic amount of evidence for me to be bothered with trying to rewrite all of that muscle memory. There seems to be a tacit assumption that these alternate layouts improve something that qwerty is doing wrong, but as it stands I'm not convinced that premise has any merit. Still an interesting article, none the less.
jacobsenscott 6y ago
It would be very difficult to get enough people to switch layouts to do any kind of study. But you can probably look to gaming, where they optimize the layouts of the keys/gamepads and there's plenty of RSI. I think changing keyboard layout is unlikely to have any benefit. Especially since you need to spend an extra hour or two a day on typing drills to become productive. That must offset any benefit.
- toyg 6y ago
  Depends on your definition of “benefit”. You can drop regular practice after a while, so the penalty on speed and accuracy is effectively capped; while the benefit on wrist health is not, because it will stay with you for life. Imho a month or so of lower productivity is worth the long-term effects.
thomastjeffery 6y ago
That would be interesting. That being said, RSI isn't there only reason to use an alternate layout. I've been using workman for a few years now, for comfort. I find it much more comfortable to use.

by jimmar 6y ago

shawxe 6y ago

I think this is a very good and very underrated point. I'd like to see some evidence why there's any reason to assume repetitive movement with less stretching is somehow less harmful than repetitive movement with more stretching. I've been typing on the qwerty layout for about twenty-five years at this point, and I'm up to around 110WPM, so it would really take a gigantic amount of evidence for me to be bothered with trying to rewrite all of that muscle memory. There seems to be a tacit assumption that these alternate layouts improve something that qwerty is doing wrong, but as it stands I'm not convinced that premise has any merit. Still an interesting article, none the less.

jacobsenscott 6y ago

It would be very difficult to get enough people to switch layouts to do any kind of study. But you can probably look to gaming, where they optimize the layouts of the keys/gamepads and there's plenty of RSI. I think changing keyboard layout is unlikely to have any benefit. Especially since you need to spend an extra hour or two a day on typing drills to become productive. That must offset any benefit.

toyg 6y ago
Depends on your definition of “benefit”. You can drop regular practice after a while, so the penalty on speed and accuracy is effectively capped; while the benefit on wrist health is not, because it will stay with you for life. Imho a month or so of lower productivity is worth the long-term effects.

thomastjeffery 6y ago

That would be interesting. That being said, RSI isn't there only reason to use an alternate layout. I've been using workman for a few years now, for comfort. I find it much more comfortable to use.