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The columnar layout thesis ("your fingers move vertically, not horizontally!") is wrong. Your fingers can move both vertically and horizontally, but moving them
by ohazi 6y ago
The columnar layout thesis ("your fingers move vertically, not horizontally!") is wrong. Your fingers can move both vertically and horizontally, but moving them vertically requires tensioning and releasing the tendons that travel through the carpal tunnel, while moving them from side to side does not. It's the exact opposite of what you want to be doing if you have wrist RSI.
I got partway through an Ergodox build before realizing this and will probably never use this thing.
- StavrosK 6y agoI switched to a columnar layout split QMK keyboard a few months ago. The columnar layout was easily the worst decision, it took me months to learn to be fast on it again, for basically zero benefit. Yes, I was typing "wrong", but who defines what's right when it works fine for me? I would definitely recommend getting a QMK split keyboard with extra keys, I love mine, but I would advise that people get a staggered one to avoid having to learn to type again from scratch.
- erikerikson 6y ago> It's the exact opposite of what you want to be doing if you have wrist RSI. Do you have a reference for this? I don't have it but use ergonomic tools to avoid such in the long term.
- frank2 6y agoI don't understand what you are saying. It seems to me that the finger tips have to move both horizontally and vertically regardless of the layout.
- Asooka 6y agoWell, from personal experience, normal keyboards give me wrist pain, even mechanical ones, while the ergodox does not. Obviously everyone is different and the movements that cause me pain may be comfortable for you, but it's not right to say that the columnar layout is inherently flawed. If it were cheaper, I would advise you to try for yourself and see, but as it stands if a normal keyboard works for you, there is probably no reason for you to switch.