Correct angle for keyboard

[Archie]

Is there a generally-accepted best angle for the slope of a regular
keyboard? One web page says this:

------------------ BEGIN QUOTE -----------------
"angle of the keyboard relative to the angle of the wrist. Most
keyboards slope upwards from front to back, and this means that users
bend their hands upwards when they are typing on the keyboard. This
posture is called wrist extension, and we know that it is a source of
injury risk for the wrist. Once the hand is extended beyond about a 15°
upward angle, there is a very significant increase in the compression on
the median nerve and other structures inside the wrist. So it is
extremely important to type with the hands as flat as possible.

From <http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/AHTutorials/ckd.htm>
------------------ END QUOTE --------------------

Which I interpret as being zero to 15 degrees. But my Compaq keyboard
permits either:

(1) flat or maybe 5 degrees
(2) about 30 to 35 degrees.

 

[EDM]

Is there a generally-accepted best angle for the slope of a regular
keyboard? One web page says this:

------------------ BEGIN QUOTE -----------------
"angle of the keyboard relative to the angle of the wrist. Most
keyboards slope upwards from front to back, and this means that users
bend their hands upwards when they are typing on the keyboard. This
posture is called wrist extension, and we know that it is a source of
injury risk for the wrist. Once the hand is extended beyond about a 15°
upward angle, there is a very significant increase in the compression on
the median nerve and other structures inside the wrist. So it is
extremely important to type with the hands as flat as possible.

From <http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/AHTutorials/ckd.htm>
------------------ END QUOTE --------------------

Which I interpret as being zero to 15 degrees. But my Compaq keyboard
permits either:

(1) flat or maybe 5 degrees

That's the best option, unless you usually use a computer
while you're kicked back in a chair, or otherwise extended
away from a desk/keyboard.

(2) about 30 to 35 degrees.

See above

 

[Rod Speed]

Is there a generally-accepted best angle for the slope of a regular keyboard?
Nope.

One web page says this:

------------------ BEGIN QUOTE -----------------
"angle of the keyboard relative to the angle of the wrist. Most
keyboards slope upwards from front to back, and this means that
users bend their hands upwards when they are typing on the keyboard.

Nope, the hands just move over the keyboard with the arms doing that instead.

This posture is called wrist extension, and we
know that it is a source of injury risk for the wrist.

No we dont. In spades when the arms are what moves.

Once the hand is extended beyond about a 15° upward angle,

Pity that doesnt happen.

there is a very significant increase in the compression
on the median nerve and other structures inside the wrist.

Wrong again.

So it is extremely important to type with the hands as flat as possible.

Wrong again.

From <http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/AHTutorials/ckd.htm>
------------------ END QUOTE --------------------

Which I interpret as being zero to 15 degrees.

Nope, they are clearly saying that last that zero is best. They are wrong.

But my Compaq keyboard permits either:

(1) flat or maybe 5 degrees
(2) about 30 to 35 degrees.

I doubt you type enough to matter.

 

[Trev]

How on earth did those typists manage with three hights of keys, no wrist
pads and having to put even force behind the key's.

 

[thoss]

How on earth did those typists manage with three hights of keys, no wrist
pads and having to put even force behind the key's.

How on earth do organists manage with up to six or so keyboards stacked
one above the other?

 

[Phisherman]

I prefer my keyboards flat, without any wrist pads. I use the
keyboard less than in the past--more mousing around, plus speech
recognition.

 

[Strange lad]

How on earth did those typists manage with three hights of keys, no wrist
pads and having to put even force behind the key's.

They were girls and as we know they can multi-task, so moving hands and
fingers to different heights while depressing keys with enough force to
matter is natural to them. All whilst slagging off their boyfriend to the
typist next door, drinking coffee and answering the phone to said boyfriend.

hth


strange lad

 

[Jon Danniken]

They were girls and as we know they can multi-task, so moving hands and
fingers to different heights while depressing keys with enough force to
matter is natural to them. All whilst slagging off their boyfriend to the
typist next door, drinking coffee and answering the phone to said

boyfriend.

And while fending off drunken advances from the boss after his three martini
lunch.

Jon

 

[John Doe]

Is there a generally-accepted best angle for the slope of a
regular keyboard?

... I interpret as being zero to 15 degrees. But my Compaq
keyboard permits either:

(1) flat or maybe 5 degrees
(2) about 30 to 35 degrees.

If you can manage it, the best thing for repetitive strain injury
(RSI) is speech recognition. NaturallySpeaking is the only viable
program currently (version 8 uses pesky product activation, and
forget about ViaVoice which is no longer being developed). The
professional version of NaturallySpeaking also allows command and
control of your computer.

Have fun.

 

[John Doe]

Troll


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From: "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa gmail.com>
Newsgroups: uk.comp.homebuilt,alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Subject: Re: Correct angle for keyboard
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 19:49:46 +1000
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Is there a generally-accepted best angle for the slope of a regular keyboard?
Nope.

One web page says this:

------------------ BEGIN QUOTE -----------------
"angle of the keyboard relative to the angle of the wrist. Most
keyboards slope upwards from front to back, and this means that
users bend their hands upwards when they are typing on the keyboard.

Nope, the hands just move over the keyboard with the arms doing that instead.

This posture is called wrist extension, and we
know that it is a source of injury risk for the wrist.

No we dont. In spades when the arms are what moves.

Once the hand is extended beyond about a 15° upward angle,

Pity that doesnt happen.

there is a very significant increase in the compression
on the median nerve and other structures inside the wrist.

Wrong again.

So it is extremely important to type with the hands as flat as possible.

Wrong again.

From <http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/AHTutorials/ckd.htm>
------------------ END QUOTE --------------------

Which I interpret as being zero to 15 degrees.

Nope, they are clearly saying that last that zero is best. They are wrong.

But my Compaq keyboard permits either:

(1) flat or maybe 5 degrees
(2) about 30 to 35 degrees.

I doubt you type enough to matter.

 

[kony]

Is there a generally-accepted best angle for the slope of a regular
keyboard? One web page says this:

------------------ BEGIN QUOTE -----------------
"angle of the keyboard relative to the angle of the wrist. Most
keyboards slope upwards from front to back, and this means that users
bend their hands upwards when they are typing on the keyboard. This
posture is called wrist extension, and we know that it is a source of
injury risk for the wrist. Once the hand is extended beyond about a 15°
upward angle, there is a very significant increase in the compression on
the median nerve and other structures inside the wrist. So it is
extremely important to type with the hands as flat as possible.

From <http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/AHTutorials/ckd.htm>
------------------ END QUOTE --------------------

Which I interpret as being zero to 15 degrees. But my Compaq keyboard
permits either:

(1) flat or maybe 5 degrees
(2) about 30 to 35 degrees.

1) Keyboard tilt is mostly to help those who can't type and
need to see the keys best. The normal keyboard position is
almost flat for someone who can type.

2) The issue is not keyboard tilt at all (not to do it) but
rather, keyboard height. Sitting straight in the chair with
arms at near parallel to the floor, wrists should bend
downward slightly, that is where the keyboard should be. If
it isn't, the table/desk/whatever needs changed.

So you want #1 above, but it's not as important as the
correct keyboard (table) height, OR the correct chair height
to match the keyboard height BUT there are other issues for
chair height like proper ergonomics for your upper legs so
it is typical to adjust table height to the correct level
for a properly fitting chair (to the user), not adjust chair
height.

 

[Rod Speed]

****wit.

Troll

Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa gmail.com> wrote

 

[Rod Speed]

How on earth did those typists manage with three hights of keys,

The fingers do have quite a bit of flexibility.

no wrist pads

Those are relatively recent, and the original typewriters
clearly didnt have the keyboard flat on the desktop.

and having to put even force behind the key's.

You dont have to do that with an electronic keyboard.

 

[Don Freeman]

****wit.

You give him way too much credit

John Doe <[email protected]> wrote:

Abosolutly never, ever anything worth reading.

 

[Rod Speed]

You give him way too much credit
True.

Abosolutly never, ever anything worth reading.

True.

 

[Rod Speed]

1) Keyboard tilt is mostly to help those who
can't type and need to see the keys best.

Bullshit. Have fun explaining the keyboards on typewriters
that were designed to be used by professional typists.

The normal keyboard position is almost flat for someone who can type.

Bullshit. Have fun explaining the keyboards on typewriters
that were designed to be used by professional typists.

2) The issue is not keyboard tilt at all (not to do it) but
rather, keyboard height. Sitting straight in the chair with
arms at near parallel to the floor, wrists should bend
downward slightly, that is where the keyboard should be.
If it isn't, the table/desk/whatever needs changed.

It isnt that black and white, particularly if you are only
typing spasmodically as is the case with most PCs.

So you want #1 above, but it's not as important as the
correct keyboard (table) height, OR the correct chair height
to match the keyboard height BUT there are other issues for
chair height like proper ergonomics for your upper legs so
it is typical to adjust table height to the correct level
for a properly fitting chair (to the user), not adjust chair height.

I have never bothered with that crap, used to type with my feet up
on the desk with detachable keyboards in my lap, and now I only
ever use a full armchair with my feet up and the keyboard in my lap.

 

[Osiris]

How on earth did those typists manage with three hights of keys, no wrist
pads and having to put even force behind the key's.

**DID** they manage ? Or was injury not recorded ?
I can imagine, that in the early days, ppl were just dismissed when
ill...

 

[Rod Speed]

Osiris wrote

Trev <trevbowdenHATdsl.pipex.com.invalid> wrote

**DID** they manage ?

Corse they did.

Or was injury not recorded ?

That was a much later fad/hysteria.

I can imagine, that in the early days, ppl were just dismissed when ill...

Fraid not.

 

[Osiris]

Is there a generally-accepted best angle for the slope of a regular
keyboard? One web page says this:

------------------ BEGIN QUOTE -----------------
"angle of the keyboard relative to the angle of the wrist. Most
keyboards slope upwards from front to back, and this means that users
bend their hands upwards when they are typing on the keyboard. This
posture is called wrist extension, and we know that it is a source of
injury risk for the wrist. Once the hand is extended beyond about a 15°
upward angle, there is a very significant increase in the compression on
the median nerve and other structures inside the wrist. So it is
extremely important to type with the hands as flat as possible.

From <http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/AHTutorials/ckd.htm>
------------------ END QUOTE --------------------

Which I interpret as being zero to 15 degrees. But my Compaq keyboard
permits either:

(1) flat or maybe 5 degrees
(2) about 30 to 35 degrees.

Undoubtedly there is a generally accepted etc.

ISO has standards, and I'd say ISO is the nearest you can get to
"generally accepted".
However: the most imporantt thing is to educate people to start
FEELING.
Feel how you sit, does your back start to hurt, pain in the legs maybe
? Do your arms feel "folded" too strongly... How do the wrists feel
after 15 mins of typing ?
many people just keep plowing on during a work day, racing the rat
race.
Then: writsts are different from person to person. So why exactly 5 or
6 degrees tilt ? A general guideline... no more.
In the early 80's we had IBM keyboards of maybe 10 cm THICK on the
table.
I was not hurt, because my work had enough variation: no full day of
typing, but programming meant: type a line, think, type a line,
think...
Enough rest periods.
I can imagine the wrist angle makes a difference. But that does not
immediadtely translate in keyboard tilt. Subtract the angle of the
lower arm first.

I'd say, the first thing to do to avoid injury is to define the
persons function description. And tune in to the feeling.

Nowadays, typing requires so much less forcce than in the era of the
Remmington typewriters. The effect is, that people keep going on,
thinking that the physical load is less. But maybe load x time is the
same as before... And the repetition is a lot higher..

BTW: forget about Rod Speed: he only has opinions, no arguments. He
even thinks the VW beetle is a great car... go figure. Nothing to
learn there.

 

[Osiris]

I have never bothered with that crap, used to type with my feet up
on the desk with detachable keyboards in my lap, and now I only
ever use a full armchair with my feet up and the keyboard in my lap.

And look at the crap that comes out of it now...