4 ms·

I agree, I don't like key travel. I guess I am in the minority of people, because my RSI symptoms are actually lessened by lowering my key travel and trigger fo

I agree, I don't like key travel. I guess I am in the minority of people, because my RSI symptoms are actually lessened by lowering my key travel and trigger force. How I differ though is that I really would prefer a more quiet key than the Butterfly style. It's hard to type quietly on the toilet or in a meeting.

gen220 6y ago
Just trying to help, since I’ve been there! Your RSI symptoms might be correlated with but not caused by key travel / force. I’ve found that the dominant cause of RSI is wrist pose (position + orientation), which is mostly influenced by keyboard height (relative to your body), and also to a lesser extent by key pose. Using a split, rising-away keyboard at a position where elbows are bent 90ish degrees and the wrists are in a neutral position is a game-changer. Lower key travel/trigger times change the orientation of your wrists, but not the position. So it might make things better, but no laptop keyboard will provide the optimal typing environment.
- brigandish 6y ago
  Is there a picture showing this? (or these) I find it hard to be sure I'm visualising what you're describing.
  - gen220 6y ago
    I think this article [1] does a pretty good job. (#1 result when I Google for “optimal typing posture”). Only thing I’d disagree with is I prefer to have my horizontally aligned with the midpoint of my monitor, to ease pressure on the neck. Another thing it mentions but doesn’t visualize is the effect of having a split keyboard. Without the split, your shoulders are in a strained position while typing. You can practice this with a “ghost” keyboard and paying attention to your shoulder muscles, it makes a big difference! [1]: http://ergonomictrends.com/proper-ergonomic-typing-posture-at-computer/ http://ergonomictrends.com/proper-ergonomic-typing-posture-a...
- birdyrooster 6y ago
  I totally agree with your points. I should have mentioned earlier that I reached my conclusions about key travel and force from comparing the Apple Magic Keyboard 2 with the Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate in similar angles in front of a Contour Rollermouse Pro 3. The cherry mx brown switches in the Das Keyboard cause more pain than the proprietary scissor switches in the Magic Keyboard 2. Fatigue sets in quicker. I tried moving myself and the Contour Rollermouse up relative to the Das Keyboard keeping good ergonomics, but it still seems to have the same effect for me. I am still shopping for a split keyboard, I definitely want to try it but I see it as a hail mary for reducing pain given that they typically use cherry switches.
headmelted 6y ago
Its so subjective isn’t it? I really like the larger surface area of the BF keys, but I also quite like the loud clacks of the keyboard. I came from Cherry MX blues back in the day and for whatever reason came to find the obnoxious nature of the super-clacks (which the BF keys also deliver in spades) oddly satisfying.
skocznymroczny 6y ago
How do you type on the keyboard? I think butterfly keyboard (and scissor switch keyboards too) appeals more to people who gently tap the keys. High-rise keyboards appeal more to people who whack the keys from a distance.

gen220 6y ago

Just trying to help, since I’ve been there! Your RSI symptoms might be correlated with but not caused by key travel / force. I’ve found that the dominant cause of RSI is wrist pose (position + orientation), which is mostly influenced by keyboard height (relative to your body), and also to a lesser extent by key pose. Using a split, rising-away keyboard at a position where elbows are bent 90ish degrees and the wrists are in a neutral position is a game-changer. Lower key travel/trigger times change the orientation of your wrists, but not the position. So it might make things better, but no laptop keyboard will provide the optimal typing environment.

brigandish 6y ago
Is there a picture showing this? (or these) I find it hard to be sure I'm visualising what you're describing.
- gen220 6y ago
  I think this article [1] does a pretty good job. (#1 result when I Google for “optimal typing posture”). Only thing I’d disagree with is I prefer to have my horizontally aligned with the midpoint of my monitor, to ease pressure on the neck. Another thing it mentions but doesn’t visualize is the effect of having a split keyboard. Without the split, your shoulders are in a strained position while typing. You can practice this with a “ghost” keyboard and paying attention to your shoulder muscles, it makes a big difference! [1]: http://ergonomictrends.com/proper-ergonomic-typing-posture-at-computer/ http://ergonomictrends.com/proper-ergonomic-typing-posture-a...
birdyrooster 6y ago
I totally agree with your points. I should have mentioned earlier that I reached my conclusions about key travel and force from comparing the Apple Magic Keyboard 2 with the Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate in similar angles in front of a Contour Rollermouse Pro 3. The cherry mx brown switches in the Das Keyboard cause more pain than the proprietary scissor switches in the Magic Keyboard 2. Fatigue sets in quicker. I tried moving myself and the Contour Rollermouse up relative to the Das Keyboard keeping good ergonomics, but it still seems to have the same effect for me. I am still shopping for a split keyboard, I definitely want to try it but I see it as a hail mary for reducing pain given that they typically use cherry switches.

headmelted 6y ago

Its so subjective isn’t it? I really like the larger surface area of the BF keys, but I also quite like the loud clacks of the keyboard. I came from Cherry MX blues back in the day and for whatever reason came to find the obnoxious nature of the super-clacks (which the BF keys also deliver in spades) oddly satisfying.

skocznymroczny 6y ago

How do you type on the keyboard? I think butterfly keyboard (and scissor switch keyboards too) appeals more to people who gently tap the keys. High-rise keyboards appeal more to people who whack the keys from a distance.