Trev said:
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.
In those days, people who wanted to become 'clerk typists' actually went
to school to learn the craft. As part of the required course material,
ergonomic work methods were taught. These people learned what furniture
(chairs and tables etc) was best suited to the job and as well, they
were taught basic things such as correct posture and how to always use
the center of the keyboard as the rest/start point. This prevented the
hands from having to travel all over the keyboard. On modern computer
keyboards these are the F and J keys. Untrained people suffered the
same so-called syndromes as most untrained computer keyboard users
suffer today.
The properly trained person could go to the office and work a full 8
hours with minimal discomfort, in general, while untrained persons would
be lucky if they could type continuously for 30 minutes without severe
pain especially around the neck and shoulders.
The same courses should be required today, for people who use keyboards
continuously all day long, minus the hard whacking of the keys.
