Kinesis MPC Switchable "Ergonomic Keyboard"
Approaches to designing a more ergonomically sound computer keyboard range from adding a simple palm-rest to an existing keyboard model, to wild-looking departures like the DataHand units that involve a whole new approach to typing body-English, and everything in between.
Not nearly as radical as the DataHand, but still pretty funky-looking, is the Kinesis Contoured Keyboard family, which comes in several models including a Macintosh/PC MPC Switchable version, which I recently put through its paces.
The central feature of Kinesis keyboards is that the alphanumeric keys are separated into two concave, bowl-shaped wells, with smaller, subsidiary, thumb-operated keypads for operations like shift, space bar, delete, command, option, and control.
This patented design is claimed to minimize the stress typists experience from heavy use of conventional computer keyboards.
The Kinesis design resulted from two years of research and testing and has proven itself in six years of commercial use. Kinesis keyboards have been prescribed by physicians and placed by therapists dealing with keyboard-related overuse injuries. However, Jon Biggs of Kinesis also notes that the contoured keyboard was designed "not only to reduce the known risk factors associated with repetitive stress injuries but also to provide a more comfortable platform than other keyboards."
|