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I can't use a mouse either, but more because of pain in my back and shoulders. For years I've used an Easy Cat attached with Velcro just above the numeric keypad. Once attached, you can recline in your chair, bringing your mouse with you. In this position, you can hover your hand motionless over the pad using your ring finger and pinky for support. The thumb rarely moves because the left button is positioned directly below. Or you can tap the pad for left or right mouse clicks. http://www.cirque.com/products/desktop_easy.htm

http://www.cirque.com/products/desktop_easy.htm

Pop off the numpad keys and stick this in place with velcro.

Tapping does the clicking if you don't want to use the thumb buttons.

Most people have horrible posture when typing, resting their arms on corners, extending their hands far out to the right (past the vestigal number pad) to mouse, keeping their head at an awkward angle that distorts their spine's natural curves..

First off, she should listen to her body. If something hurts, stop doing it. This is the fair warning that her body is giving her. She can take breaks-- walk once around the building, refill her water glass, stretch in place, shake her hands. Use a timer in Outlook that goes off every twenty minutes at first until the symptoms show continued improvement.

Second, she should avoid Repetive Motions as much as possible. Break the habit. Mix things up frequently.
* Switch mousing hands regularly.
* Always rest hands in the lap.
* Adjust or fix the lighting. (reduces muscle tension and eye strain)
* Adjust the monitor height.
* Switch out the effing keyboard for something without an attached number pad.
* Get a keyboard that is the right size for her body frame.
* Attach multiple mice to her system for instant switching.
* Get an adjustable keyboard tray.
* Learn and use keyboard shortcuts.
* Change positions several times a day.
* Get an adjustable monitor stand. (and replace the monster CRT with an LCD)
* Automate her crap work.

Touchpad mice let her use her thumb, pinky, palm, even her knuckles if her hand is being too sensitive. It's easy enough to attach both a touchpad and a normal (but ergonomic) mouse to the system so that she can switch between them according to the action/gesture and what her hand is feeling that moment.

I'm pissed that I missed the boat on the Touchstream keyboard/mice/touchpads, but the TypeMatrix keyboards are a great second-place winner. The keyboards come in a small and large size, with the small one suitable for most people. They also fit correct posture more naturally, by getting rid of the oh-so-stupid staggered key layout, and by separating the left and right sizes a little, and adding extra enter/backspace keys in the center for good measure.

I got one for someone at our work with chronic pain, and she had no problem adjusting to the new layout in hours. Her condition has improved a lot, and she credits the keyboard and better lighting. (I tried to get her to use a touchpad mouse, but it completely ignored her touch.)

At my desk, I have the TypeMatrix keyboard, a regular mouse for precision-work, and a Cirque touchpad for normal mousing. (The touchpad is 9 years old, and still works great.) I put a large box on the side table so that I can also stand and use my personal laptop for the 40% of my work that is internet crap and web-development. When I'm web browsing (er, researching), I can actually kick back in my chair, and do everything just with the touchpad. Change positions!

(I have considered the Kenesis split keyboard but it was too big and pricey for me at the time. I call it a fine third choice.)

Turned this up:

http://www.cirque.com/products/desktop_easy.htm

There are undoubtedly other make/model options, but this is a surefire way to not use one's thumb.

Also, depending on the type of work the user does with the computer, you may also be able to consider installation of a touch screen overlay for the monitor...

- SK

adesso
cirque

Well, it kept me from posting regularly, took about two weeks to plan and occupied nearly every night for about three weeks, but the big project I've been promising to post on is done...finally. I actually finished it last week, but wanted to make sure I had covered all the bases and that everything was working properly before putting the car back together and photographing it (thanks to Ryan for the quick shoot).

When the dimensions for the MacMini were announced, I immediately got to work figuring out what the best way to integrate one into my own car would be. If I was going to put a Mac in my car, I wanted to make sure it had all of the functionality that it would have in a home environment while still maintaining an easy-to-operate interface so that distractions could be kept to a minimum. So the researching, planning, sketching and disassembly of my cars interior (to see what would fit where) began. After taking the thought process to every extreme imaginable, I decided on the following equipment list:

- 1.42GHz MacMini with 512mb RAM, Superdrive, Bluetooth and Airport Extreme
- Xenarc 700tsv 7 USB touchscreen monitor with VGA and dual composite video inputs
- Cirque EasyCat USB trackpad
- Griffin PowerMate assignable USB control knob
- Lacie 8 in 1 USB flash card reader
- Belkin USB 7-port powered hub
- Belkin USB four-port bus-powered hub
- Belkin Firewire 6-port mini hub
- Alpine PXA-H701 Multimedia processor with RUX-C701 controller
- MonsterCable MCPI300 300watt power inverter
- Female USB, Ethernet and Firewire ports
- 40gig iPod dock
- Griffin RadioShark USB FM/AM tuner

Over the next few days, I will be putting up a post on each general aspect of the install to more closely cover how I did what where and any problems I encountered, as well as the solutions I came up with for these problems as they arose. More detailed pictures of the process will accompany these posts as well, for those interested in the more technical aspects of the install - such as removing the power button and indicator from the MacMini and relocating them to the switch panel in the dash, extending the Apple power supply's cable to locate the "brick" in the rear side panel of the car, fabricating the brushed aluminum trim bezels and rebuilding the glove box interior to accomodate the MacMini. So, enjoy and please check back over the next few days to check out these posts and two new iPod dock installs from last week...

Actually, this is the exact one I was thinking of. They did this about four years ago... http://www.cirque.com/products/cruise.html

I have two Cirque touchpads too. They're so much nicer than a mouse and work great. The one I use all the time (here) is $70.00, but worth the price. Check it out...

My hand seems to hurt more when I use the mouse alot, but typing doesn't seem to be a problem.

Have you tried something like a touchpad? Unlike mice you don't have to pick'em up and put'em down all the time, so less of a workout for your wrist. Just zip your finger along the surface.

I use the Cirque Glidepoint, and I like it much better than a mouse.

I don't work for them, but a friend does

I haven't had any problems with it since I bought it (except lack of Win 2000 drivers for the cool extra stuff, they're finally beta testing them). If you're using it with Linux, just get the cheapest model touchpad they have and it will emulate a regular old mouse. You can wipe it off with a damp rag if it gets too dirty, but dirt doesn't seem to affect how it works.

It's really great for internet browsing because along with being able to scroll pages like a mouse w/ a wheel, you can also go back and forth between pages with out having to cursor up to the arrow keys at the top of the window.

I know it's not a mouse, but it's a pretty indestructable pointing device and it's really nice to use. It takes up way less desk space than a mouse too.

Another cool feature is (from the web site) -- And that's not all... a fourth hot button on the touchpad allows access to many other shortcuts including copy, paste, minimize, maximize, close application and more. These easy, fast-action commands are like nothing you've every seen in a pointing device. Touching the button brings up Cirque's new "Touch Gestures" feature, a unique benefit in our 5th Generation touchpad that lets you quickly "draw" any letter or symbol on the surface with your finger to activate a command. Drawing an "X", for example, might close an application; "F" might open your financial spreadsheet; "Hi" might bring up the last version of your letter to Mom; and so on. You can build on Cirque's default Touch Gesture settings or create your own.

I've been using MS ergo, Logitech Ergo and Cirque WaveKeyboard. I didn't like the MS keyboard at all, it was better than normal Keytronic but missed 'the touch'. Then I bought Cirque for home use, which I found excellent from the very beginning. At work I use Logitech keyboard, which looks like the MS model but has better touch and layout.

www.cirque.com

My preference is for the Cirque keyboards (http://www.cirque.com). They make the funky little touch pads to replace mice. Their older Wave Keyboard 2 is nice and comfy, and has an integrated touch pad. it has the keyboard feet below the front of the keyboard letting you position your hands and wrists nice and flat. nice big platform to rest your wrists on too.