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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

Hi, I've been meaning to make a travel-friendly ergonomic keyboard setup for a couple years ago after starting /r/ergomobilecomputers, so far just been on a raised tablet setup with a regular keyboard (a setup I've enjoyed, but will confess I've some slight pain from using a standard keyboard with it)

What kinds of recovery stories have you experienced yourself or heard from others in using a certain ergomechkeyboard?

Were there things outside of having a more ergonomic setup that helped (i.e. just better sleep, diet, hygiene, mood) too?

Basically curious to hear some stories of how these things have helped fellow jank-embracers!

I did try searching around the original sub for 'pain' and 'rsi' but feel like it may be worth asking again on here.

UPDATE: Thanks again for all the stories so far both here and on the related reddit thread! Made me revise a brainstorm keyboard idea that could facilitate redirecting pinky use on the left control key + right arrow keys to something that uses the thumb + index finger instead.

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[-] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I could have stopped with a Microsoft Natural keyboard and been fine pain-wise, but I had already started down the mechanical rabbit hole and missed the feeling of mechanical switches. The basic ideas of split, tenting, and reverse tilt helped a ton, but I could have been fine without column stagger or a reduced layout.

I now use a 40-key low profile column staggered split with Colemak-DH and it’s a joy to type on. Learning Colemak-DH was probably the lowest benefit to effort of all the changes I’ve made, so I don’t exactly recommend it. Now that I’ve already spent the time to learn it, though, it’s definitely comfy to type on. If you want a mobile setup though, I think a split board like a Corne, Sweep, or Totem, or one of the many derivatives would be a great upgrade for your tablet setup. There are a few solutions for tenting but you may find you don’t need it - while it was essential for me at first I’m now fine using a split board flat on the desk.

I also found a vertical mouse made a big difference- I used the $15 one from Anker for a few years. Trackballs can be good too. I also noticed holding my phone put my wrist at an awkward angle, so I got a pop socket and that was helpful too.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Interesting to hear the pop socket helped with the phone! Been meaning to just wean my phone use but may consider that.

this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2023
34 points (97.2% liked)

ErgoMechKeyboards

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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

Rules

Keep it ergo

Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)

i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²

¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid

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