Comments on: Keyboards are Backwards http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/ Ye Olde Computer Science Blogge Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:23:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Peter http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/comment-page-1/#comment-9956 Peter Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:15:56 +0000 http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/#comment-9956 As a southpaw, I see absolutely no problem here :-) Finally, ONE FREAKING THING that works for us. Nice post. As a southpaw, I see absolutely no problem here :-)

Finally, ONE FREAKING THING that works for us.

Nice post.

]]> By: Lysbeth http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/comment-page-1/#comment-9908 Lysbeth Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:42:44 +0000 http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/#comment-9908 Jake, you have the right idea! Not only does left mousing make you more centred, it frees your dominant hand for things like writing. I am a left-handed right-mouser. It allows me write with my left hand while mousing, which is not only good for RSI prevention, but super convenient! I did find my mouse to be too far right though. I did not want to switch my mouse to the left for reasons I just mentioned. My job involves writing and mousing and numbering. So I got a "left-handed" keyboard that is actually called a "mouse-friendly" keyboard. So now I write and number with my left, and mouse with my right. It's ideal, in my opinion, and you are lucky that, being a rightie, a simple mouse-switch accomplishes that for you! Keep spreading the word! Jake, you have the right idea! Not only does left mousing make you more centred, it frees your dominant hand for things like writing. I am a left-handed right-mouser. It allows me write with my left hand while mousing, which is not only good for RSI prevention, but super convenient! I did find my mouse to be too far right though. I did not want to switch my mouse to the left for reasons I just mentioned. My job involves writing and mousing and numbering. So I got a “left-handed” keyboard that is actually called a “mouse-friendly” keyboard. So now I write and number with my left, and mouse with my right. It’s ideal, in my opinion, and you are lucky that, being a rightie, a simple mouse-switch accomplishes that for you! Keep spreading the word!

]]> By: anom http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/comment-page-1/#comment-6947 anom Fri, 23 May 2008 21:14:21 +0000 http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/#comment-6947 Just get one of those: http://www.amazon.com/A4-Keyboard-without-Numeric-Keypad/dp/B000F6UUXQ Just get one of those:

http://www.amazon.com/A4-Keyboard-without-Numeric-Keypad/dp/B000F6UUXQ

]]> By: Nick http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/comment-page-1/#comment-2796 Nick Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:53:45 +0000 http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/#comment-2796 The QWERTY design is actually designed to be flawed. It was originally developed to slow down typers on typewriters in order to prevent constant jamming. It just keeps sticking because nobody wants to change after years of QWERTY! Plus the fact that not all keyboards have numpads. There are still a few non-extended keyboards on laptops and such. Also, the mouse isn't used in CLIs, and for them the general usage is optimal. The QWERTY design is actually designed to be flawed. It was originally developed to slow down typers on typewriters in order to prevent constant jamming. It just keeps sticking because nobody wants to change after years of QWERTY! Plus the fact that not all keyboards have numpads. There are still a few non-extended keyboards on laptops and such. Also, the mouse isn’t used in CLIs, and for them the general usage is optimal.

]]> By: sam http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/comment-page-1/#comment-2795 sam Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:32:18 +0000 http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/#comment-2795 I did all this when I was 10... How many if you seriously use a computer for years before thinking about this? I did all this when I was 10… How many if you seriously use a computer for years before thinking about this?

]]> By: Kevin http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/comment-page-1/#comment-2794 Kevin Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:48:06 +0000 http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/#comment-2794 You could always cut your keyboard into three pieces, which would allow for easy configuration. You could always cut your keyboard into three pieces, which would allow for easy configuration.

]]> By: Jake http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/comment-page-1/#comment-2770 Jake Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:35:47 +0000 http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/#comment-2770 @Tyler: If I were to be guaranteed to not be using the mouse very frequently, I would agree with you.. that ergonomic keyboard would probably be optimal, with exception to the people who would have to cross either their right or left arms over awkwardly to use the numpad frequently. If I had to use a mouse a lot with such a keyboard, there is still no convenient place for it. Gaming would also be hard.. with my current setup, I can always revert to normal to make gaming easier. When I set my mouse to the left of my current keyboard, holding both arms out straight puts me on the extremes of what I control: mouse and numpad. With my ergonomic keyboard, moving my arms inward remains comfortable, as the keyboard is designed for such things. @Tyler: If I were to be guaranteed to not be using the mouse very frequently, I would agree with you.. that ergonomic keyboard would probably be optimal, with exception to the people who would have to cross either their right or left arms over awkwardly to use the numpad frequently.

If I had to use a mouse a lot with such a keyboard, there is still no convenient place for it. Gaming would also be hard.. with my current setup, I can always revert to normal to make gaming easier.

When I set my mouse to the left of my current keyboard, holding both arms out straight puts me on the extremes of what I control: mouse and numpad. With my ergonomic keyboard, moving my arms inward remains comfortable, as the keyboard is designed for such things.

]]> By: Tyler http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/comment-page-1/#comment-2766 Tyler Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:34:35 +0000 http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/#comment-2766 Wouldn't it just make more sense to split the alpha keys so that your hands were separated most of the time (as you point out, your arms naturally fall further apart than current keyboards) and have the keypad in the middle, between the split keys? Then you could have the mouse on either side with no difference in convenience - and the keypad would be just as immediately available to either hand... Something like this: http://masterblog.front.lv/wp/files/willbe_ergo_kbd_1.jpg Wouldn’t it just make more sense to split the alpha keys so that your hands were separated most of the time (as you point out, your arms naturally fall further apart than current keyboards) and have the keypad in the middle, between the split keys? Then you could have the mouse on either side with no difference in convenience – and the keypad would be just as immediately available to either hand…

Something like this: http://masterblog.front.lv/wp/files/willbe_ergo_kbd_1.jpg

]]> By: Richard http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/comment-page-1/#comment-2583 Richard Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:53:28 +0000 http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/#comment-2583 I switched to left-hand mousing a few years ago, after a bout of RSI in my right arm. I find I can now seamlessly switch between mouse, trackball, and trackpad in either hand, which is a handy skill when sitting down at a strange computer. The fact that keyboards seem designed to be used with a mouse on the left side is simply a happy coincidence! Work through the discomfort. It's a good choice. I switched to left-hand mousing a few years ago, after a bout of RSI in my right arm. I find I can now seamlessly switch between mouse, trackball, and trackpad in either hand, which is a handy skill when sitting down at a strange computer.

The fact that keyboards seem designed to be used with a mouse on the left side is simply a happy coincidence!

Work through the discomfort. It’s a good choice.

]]> By: Greg Molyneux http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/comment-page-1/#comment-2359 Greg Molyneux Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:38:06 +0000 http://www.jakevoytko.com/blog/2008/01/13/keyboards-are-backwards/#comment-2359 For changing up your Shaolin Mouse Fu I salute you. This is dedication to futility at its finest, and applaud you loudly. A number pad on the left side would solve all of our problems. However, I lack the intestinal fortitude to convert to left-handed mouse usage. My poor attempts at Photoshop design are pathetic enough when guided by my dominant hand. Nice post! For changing up your Shaolin Mouse Fu I salute you. This is dedication to futility at its finest, and applaud you loudly.

A number pad on the left side would solve all of our problems. However, I lack the intestinal fortitude to convert to left-handed mouse usage. My poor attempts at Photoshop design are pathetic enough when guided by my dominant hand.

Nice post!

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