[RandomTiger]

A few months after starting working for a games company I started experiencing aches and pains and other strange sensations in my hands and arms. It became very obvious that I was doing a lot of damage by programming all day and then coming home and playing games.

It just came out of no-where, for years I had no problems at all until I took programming up as a full job. I had to give up all extra computer usage for a month and give myself lots of rest at work.

I know others (mostly programmers) who have had the same problems, one even had to take time off work.

Its not all bad though, eventually I got a natural keyboard at home and at work. I never liked them before but I was getting desperate. Surprisingly it made the world of difference and I would urge anyone who will in their life or job use computers a lot to get one as soon as possible.

[Ryx]

hmm.. I will have to lool into this, as I use a computer at home and at work (Helldesk)

[Redfang]

I seem to have Natural Keyboard Elite, made by M$. Got it free. Bah, I don't like it. It's not too bad but it's having some bugs, like keys pressed when actually not, and the other leg is broken, Guiness World Records 2000 fell from the shelf to the keyboard, that broke the leg.

[CP5670]

I tried using a "natural" keyboard once but did not really like the layout, especially when playing games, and I have not had any wrist problems with a standard keyboard anyway. The normal keyboard seems more "natural" to me, but I guess it is just a matter of getting used to it.

[RandomTiger]

It does take a bit of getting used to but once you get it you'll never be able to go back. When ever I try to use a normal keyboard I can 'feel' the discomfort of the angle of my wrist and spacing of my fingers.

Natural keyboards are to an extent preventative, this why I recommend you switch before any problems appear. It really depends on how much time you spend on them however.

[Knight Templar]

if by natural you mean the slanted keyboards then yeah that should help, my dad started having problems with his wrists and such and after he got one of those, he said it was great. I personally hate it but i guess it's prefrence and how you like to type.

[Dranon]

I had a MS natural keyboard for 2 years.  I think my brother or sister got something wet in it, and fried part of the circuit as my ESC, A, Z, and a few others on that side no longer work.  Sadly i had to go back to a regular keyboard as i couldn't afford a natural at the time.  Hope to switch back to one soon though.

I loved that keyboard.  Felt so comfortable once i got used to it.  Pain in the a$$ using this regular one...

[Kamikaze]

I've had wrist problems before (and layed off of the games for a bit) and would use a natural keyboard (if it works) but I don't have the desk space... (rather, keyboard sliding thingy space) I'll look into it though. (how much do these things cost?)

[Gortef]

the way you sit affects quite a lot too. Try to find a good height so that your arms are in goo position... also finding something to support your arms and wrists helps too. I've seen chairs which have movable arm supporters, I didn't like them so much, but it's been a while so I guess they have evolved too.... propably. Ok that propably sounded like I think you're a 10 years old child... sorry

hmm... somethign like this could help too...



I hope you get the ergonomy of your desk in good condtion

[RandomTiger]

Originally posted by Kamikaze
I've had wrist problems before (and layed off of the games for a bit) and would use a natural keyboard (if it works) but I don't have the desk space... (rather, keyboard sliding thingy space) I'll look into it though. (how much do these things cost?)

A natural keyboard wont stop problems if you use computer 24 7 but it will increase the amount of time you can go by a lot. Mines is not that much bigger than a normal keyboard. It cost me about £50 but thats only because I went for a fancy one with media buttons.

They tend to cost a bit more than a normal keyboard but it is more than worth it.

Mine looks a bit like this:



Gortef is right, how you sit is very important as well. I think your not meant to lean your wrists on the keyboard while your typing, you should move them to help your fingers hit the keys so they they dont have to streach too much. I also find that drinking lots of water helps. If things get really bad there are also exercises and stuff you can do but I dont know much about them.

[Redfang]

Originally posted by RandomTiger

 
I have keyboards just like that. No differences whatsoever.
 
I think this is good for typing, but for playing games I don't think that this is that good. Maybe if the game doesn't have too many keys to use, then it doesn't matter but if I have to use "Y" or something like that it matters. Though I seldomly use Y, H, or N, but the numbers above them matter when playing.
 
Also, can't they have the arrow keys even positioned right? Same goes with the 6 keys, which are; Home, Page Up, End, Page Down, Delete and insert. Those are also positioned badly.
 
Well, at least I got this free. Anyone else having a problem that when you press a key and then release it it might be still pressed down, even if it's up? :wtf:The "effect" will not go away unless you press that key again, I think. It can really matter in some two-player games on same computer, though it's not that annoying in single-player, doesn't seem to happen very often in SP.

[RandomTiger]

Originally posted by Redfang

Also, can't they have the arrow keys even positioned right? Same goes with the 6 keys, which are; Home, Page Up, End, Page Down, Delete and insert. Those are also positioned badly.

They can be difficult with a few games but you just need to remap a key or two.

Your right about the Insert etc keys. The above deisgn is basically flawed, looks like they werent willing to make the keyboard any longer so they squished the remaining keys in where they could.
My one is not quite the same as shown in my post above. It has:

Insert,  Home, Page Up
Delete, End,    Page Down

And the arrow keys are OK as well, however I moved over to WSAD ages ago.

And you're only going to notice a difference unless one hand uses a natural keyboard and the other doesnt for years. Its like teeth, if you dont brush them for a week they'll be OK but if you dont look after them for years then you'll be in trouble.

[Stunaep]

I have used an MS natural ergonomic keyboard for the last 3 years. Only problems is though, that I cannot type at all on normal keyboards.  I regularly play UT on the computer of a friend. I remapped jump from ALT to Spacebar, because every time I tried to press Alt, I ended up pressing the spacebar.

[RandomTiger]

Originally posted by Stunaep
I have used an MS natural ergonomic keyboard for the last 3 years. Only problems is though, that I cannot type at all on normal keyboards.  I regularly play UT on the computer of a friend. I remapped jump from ALT to Spacebar, because every time I tried to press Alt, I ended up pressing the spacebar.

That is the one real problem.