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Coders Working Without the Use of Their Hands?

Posted by Cliff on from the typing-problematic dept.

Hagmonk asks: "Recently I crashed my motorbike at the racetrack and severely broke my left arm (sorry, nobody caught it on camera). I had a week in hospital, which was a problem since I'm contracting and you don't get paid for sick leave. Furthermore, I have my arm in a cast for 6 weeks (possibly another 6 again after that), which severely cramps my hacking style - no fast switches to other windows to make quick changes, and you should try operating emacs without two hands! Luckily, my employer was generous enough to purchase a hinged keyboard that allows me to type two handed. So I'm interested to hear from other hackers: how have you coped with injuries that stop you doing what you were born to do? Could you find a work around? Did you experience prejudice in the work place as a result, or were you supported?"

4 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. Dvorak by Crutcher · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There are two alternate Dvorak keymaps, in addition to the one that most people refer to (and I'm typing with now) when they say 'dvorak'. Dvorak developed a right and a left keymaping, which were designed for the physically handicapped.

    These keymaps are set up to be minimal for english text with one hand. Give it a look-see, you might have them on your platform.

    --

    -- Crutcher --
    #include <disclaimer.h>
  2. Short-term disability by mjpaci · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is why God invented short-term disability insurance. Also, try not to engage in activities that would cramp your work style. :)

    --Mike

  3. Quadroplegic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    A former colleague was paralized from the neck down in an accident. He had some movement of his arms, but his hands where quite useless. At least he could manouvre the joystick of his electric wheelchair. He had some tools that could be strapped to his hands, i.a. to hold cups, cutlery and the telephone receiver. Also 2 metallic "fingers" with rubber tips that allowed him to type and mouse. Not as fast as 10 fingers, but he got through his workload.

    Talk about an expensive lifestyle, what with all the adaptations to house, vehicle etc., medical costs,...!

    Anyhow, back to topic: At some stage I moved the mouse to left of keyboard so that I could use my strong (right) hand for typing and still keeping the mouse ready. Saved a lot of time when switching between mouse-input and keyboard-input (which I did a lot at the time). Since I have fairly big hands, one-handed input was not too hard.

  4. Try your feet by bluGill · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You can't type with your feet, but you should be able to rig up some foot pedals for the meta keys (meta, alt, control, shift, and perhaps others) that will help in emacs.

    I've met coders who prefer a trackball on the floor with foot pedals instead of a mouse, that might help too.