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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?"

10 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. Insurance? by DieNadel · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think about this some times: what if I can't type for some time and loose a great deal of money because of that?
    In your case, what if you've broken both of your arms? (hope this never happens :-) ) Is there any insurance that we can get on this cases (like accident insurance or similar) that would save our asses on this kind of misfortune?

    --
    Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!
    1. Re:Insurance? by beerits · · Score: 3, Informative

      Is there any insurance that we can get on this cases (like accident insurance or similar) that would save our asses on this kind of misfortune

      I think this is what that damn duck sells.

    2. Re:Insurance? by allanj · · Score: 4, Informative

      I've got one of those insurances - it's called a "Loss of Work Ability" insurance where I come from, and covers up to 6 months in hospital/retraining at full pay, and a price-index regulated income compensation ad infinitum if it turns out I'm no longer able to work at all does to my injuries. This pretty much boils down to me forever getting a pay similar to my current not-so-bad pay. After retirement I'm not sure what happens, but you'd better have that taken care of anyway.
      It's looks expensive at ~USD70/month, but it's all tax deductable(sp?), so it boils down to ~USD30/month, which is not all that much actually. And yes, I *AM* actually taxed that heavily :-(

      --
      Black holes are where God divided by zero
  3. 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

  4. One Handed Input - HandyKey by 4of12 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Sorry about your wreck and being laid up.

    Even though I have two fairly functional hands, I've often thought how nice it would be to use one of these devices, particularly at meetings, where it would gauche to layout a laptop and using a PDA pen is less than satisfactory. I'll have to admit that furiuosly chording one of these devices in your lap under the table could look kind of suspicious.

    Using chorded input on the one handed device seems to allow something like 4K possible input "characters", so even if you needed to map every emacs major mode's lisp function to a key you'd have an easier time than with a typical QWERTY board.

    The advertisement suggests you can learn to use one of these in about a weekend. If you do, let me know if you like it or not.

    --
    "Provided by the management for your protection."
  5. Lucky Not The Other by Red+Pointy+Tail · · Score: 3, Funny

    Left it's ok, only wank with the other. But its a bugger if you can't use Alt-F4 to close those damn pop-ups ....

  6. 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.

  7. and now for some useful info... by HarryLeBlanc · · Score: 3, Informative

    www.naturalpoint.com -- this is a hands-free mouse that you aim by head motion, and click with an add-on footpad. I've been using it for about a year because of rms (the medical syndrome, not the guy). I also have an ergonomic keyboard-cum-chair from ErgoKinesis, and they might have some adaptive keyboard products you'd find useful.
    BTW, the comments on the order of "just whack off with the other hand" are pretty damn insensitive, if you ask me.

  8. Twiddler by MountainLogic · · Score: 3, Informative

    There is a one handed mouse/keyboard combo, more of a hocky puck with buttons on it that you hold called Twiddler from Handy Key . I've not trieded it, but I've always been meaning to.