I've long thought I probably should stand vs sit in front of the computer, but never made it happen. Now it looks like a sore tailbone will force me to, at least for a while. I have so many questions, and will appreciate any thoughts and advice.
Ideally I'll find a way to keep using my beloved Captain Kirk Chair which is ergonomic for my hands and wrists if not my butt, but maybe I'll need to mount the keyboard on a standing desk.
@judell I will not argue for staying sitting - I wish I had a standing / convertible desk, myself - but, I’ve been using coccyx cut-out cushions for quite a few years, a previous employer provided them for me specifically, e.g. https://www.posturite.co.uk/posturite-coccyx-cut-out-wedge
A common #ergonomics question I hear is if someone should get a standing desk.
With few exceptions, I'd say they’re great, but not for the reasons you think.
Most furniture is designed around the concept of the "average person" which was defined ages ago as male, around 80kg, 175cm tall, and right handed.
Adjustable height desks are just better because you can change the height to your own dimensions, but also adapt it to what you're doing at the moment. Even if your desk is the perfect height for typing, you're probably also doing other things at your desk.
If you're reading a book or writing with pen and paper, you'll want the table surface higher so you're not hunched over. If you're doing crafts or delicate repair work, you'll want that surface even higher so your elbows are fully supported and you can move more easily and see better.
Ergonomics is about adapting your environment for the task at hand. It's not a set form factor. What's ergo in one situation isn't in another.
@lispi314 definitely and we could also add that you don't need an adjustable desk of any kind to change your working environment to better meet your needs. The motorized standing desks just make it easier.
If someone wants to get a standing desk because they intend to do a lot of standing, the first thing they should do is just toss some boxes, books, and whatever on their desk and simulate that desk they want to buy.
So many aspects of proper ergonomics do not necessarily have to be done through the purchase of expensive devices. If you're clever, you can experiment with boxes, foam, and tape before deciding whether you should (or need to) plunk down the cash to get that shiny ergo accessory.
Also, people should experiment. Take advice, but try lots of different things for yourself and make up your own mind. We can only give advice based on norms, but nobody has a fully normal body or normal habits or normal health.
@sysop408 I rarely use my standing desk actually standing up but it's one of the only desks I can sit properly comfortable at. I'm above average height, but my torso is also a lot longer than my legs. I would usually have to set my chair all the way down and be hunched over just to be able to see my computer screens at any other desk.
I only wish I could get countertops adjustable in the same way 😩
In sci-fi shows when the captain says to the second in command, “you have the bridge”, there’s never an uncomfortable period of chair adjustment. 🤔 #ergonomics
I keep seeing a career training ad with this photo.
All I see is the bad posture, straining to reach out to the keyboard. That's going to lead to a lot of back and neck pain. Arrrrggghhh.
Arms should be at your side with your elbows at a right angle.
Do not rest your wrists on anything.
IMHO
Spent some quality time with my Glove80 and Engram-based layout yesterday. I think this is, in fact, the end game. I’m still at 0 wpm on MonkeyType (having not used it or practiced for a couple of weeks), but it just feels really nice.
@AAMfP I’m still mostly using my Keychron K6 Pro with Dvorak layout as I learn.
I started training on keybr.com, but have switched to monkeytype.com , as they can show an engram (or many others) layout on screen, and optionally highlight keys to be pressed next.
After many years, I've discovered the reverse tilt setup for my desktop keyboard. I've been using it for about a year this way. While I can't say for sure that it's more ergonomic, it does make sense to me that it should be.
@louis ha I had one a long time ago… I can’t even remember where I was living then, or why I thought it was a good idea 🙄 I think I never really got used to it… though I really wanted too …
How do you press all left shortcuts, like Ctrl W? I have a habit of pressing Ctrl with my left pinky which works well in many cases, but in case of those left shortcuts it's really painful to bend it that much while extending the index finger to reach W.
So I'm trying to teach myself to press modifiers with my thumb instead, and same goes for capital letters on that side... that's more brainpower I'm used to allocating to #typing! #ergonomics#keyboard
@Bitnacht It has two Ctrl keys, of course. It's a laptop keyboard. And why left Shift is wrong all of a sudden? I use one hand for a shortcut if I can reach all they keys with it, since when is it wrong?
Please don't dramatise trivial matters, this is never constructive.
@Triffen on Mac I usually press command with a left thumd when I also need to press a different button on the left side of the keyboard… on a Windows/Linux PC command is more to the left, so I had almost no problem with pinky method 😅
If any of you own a Kinesis Advantage 360 & a 3D Printer, I've just uploaded my "wide bridge" to keep them separated farther than the one Kinesis provided. Also helps to keep them from slowly wandering around your desk as the day progresses.
Easy to snap on, and off. I've also included a model of the clips at the ends that hook on to the keyboard. That way you can easily make a wider / different one for yourself.