[gui-talk] Still hassling with my laptop keyboard

[Joel Deutsch]

Lloyd,

That's a very interesting observation you found in that article. Obviously, 
though I don't mean anything argumentative by this, it contradicts the 
entire tradition of how typewriters used to be built and then  how computer 
keyboards have usually been provided with little fold-down jacks on their 
rears, so as to provide a simulacrum of that familiar hand position thing.

So the article saying that flat or even tilted downward, away from the 
typist, would be ergonomically better, is pretty moot, when generation upon 
generation of typist have learned to hold their hands to accommodate the 
upward tilt. It's sort of like saying that a model other than the QWERTY 
keyboard would have been better, when the fact is, that keyboard design won 
out and became the standard, something over 100 years ago.

The trick is, you've got to try to accommodate to how something is even if 
it means considerable discomfort, as in my case with the laptop keyboard. 
And let's not forget the confusing lack of space between keys and so forth, 
which the fingers unconsciously use as geographic markers.

But it is what it is, like they say. I'll either master typing on that Acer 
of mine or it'll just sit there, maybe used as a backup of my desktop's hard 
drive or something. It was a holiday gift from a dear friend, so I'm trying 
still to learn to use it, out of gratitude.


Thanks again for that input. Very interesting.
Joel
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lloyd Rasmussen" <lras at loc.gov>
To: "NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 6:35 AM
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Still hassling with my laptop keyboard


One article I read about ergonomics several years ago pointed out that the
upward slant of a typewriter keyboard was to accommodate the
mechanism.  This expert stated that it would be better if computer
keyboards were lying flat, or even sloped downward toward the rear, for
better wrist positioning.  I usually run my laptop on a table, even if it's
a TV tray.  I clutter up my work areas so much that I don't have a lot of
flat surfaces, either.

At 12:55 PM 1/2/2010, you wrote:
>David,
>
>You've got me smiling broadly. So I've been making the challenge
>unnecessarily difficult by trying to go by the book. Holding the laptop on
>my lap when using it. I'll bet normally-sighted folks accomplish this more
>easily, right out of the box, because they can glance down to see where
>their fingers go on the tight little keyboard.
>
>But I think you've got a very good point. I barely have enough room on my
>writing desk to accommodate the laptop right beside the desktop, and it 
>must
>look a bit silly. And to put it on the coffee table will require me to bend
>forward in a way that isn't good touch typing posture, but then neither is
>holding it on your thighs, I guess. I know, by the way, that they sell
>accessories that will tilt the thing up a few degrees at the back, and
>although the product descriptions on Amazon all stress that this allows for
>a better viewing angle of the screen, I'm sure it tilts the keyboard up at
>its rear more like the conventional instead of flat way, although that huge
>blank slab beneath the keyboard sure isn't much help. I never needed
>anything like a palm rest before when typing. You're taught to keep your
>hands elevated and just strike with your fingertips. Sort of like piano.
>
>Well, good suggestion, and heartening. Thanks. Now I'll open your second
>message with this subject line to see what else you might have thought of 
>to
>say, a moment later.
>
>Joel
...

Lloyd Rasmussen, Senior Project Engineer, Engineering Section
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress    (202) 707-0535   <http://www.loc.gov/nls>
HOME:  <http://lras.home.sprynet.com>
The opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily represent
those of NLS.


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