User Interface and Carpal Tunnel - Tech Solutions?

the_REAL_sam asks: "I've been using computers since the apple 2+. I've played many games, and worked in silicon valley. I can't even guess how many hours I've logged at a keyboard. Now I'm 32 years old, and my hands sometimes shake and get numb after using a keyboard/mouse for too long. So I'm asking Slashdot what, if any, affordable technology exists to circumvent the traditional (potentially RSI-inducing) means of human-computer interface."

Comments

Hand Shaking

[Carlos Silva]

That shaking hand problem has another cause.. frequent exercise.. not that i know anything about that.. ;)

Get a kid

[jvj24601]

I am also 32, and I've also been using computers since the Apple ][ days, and I've found that regular excercise that uses my hands (basketball, baseball, throwing a football around) is invaluable. Having a 9 year old son who is active in sports helps a ton, too.

Re:Use emacs for everything

[JohnQPublic]

The Real Reason Unix Hackers Get R.S.I.

From: Patrick Sobalvarro <pgs@pa.dec.com>
Subject: RSI epidemic
Date: Sunday, August 13, 1995 1:26PM

Friday I was talking to my friend Johnson from the CDC, who told me that the CDC had been doing an epidemiological study of clustered RSI cases among computer scientists. He said that they've been waiting to act until their internal review process is completed, but it seems that there is indeed an infectious agent causing RSI. But it's not a biological agent. It's software.

"In particular," Johnson told me, "the significant vector among academics is Emacs."

"Emacs?" I gasped.

"Oh yes," he continued; "Didn't you ever notice that two of the first people in the computer science community around MIT who suffered from RSI were Richard Stallman and Bernie Greenberg? What were those people implementing fifteen or twenty years ago? That's what tipped us off."

We were having lunch at the cafeteria at Moffett Field. Johnson watched my hands throughout the meal. "Hey buddy. You're still doing okay anyway, aren't you? It's good to see that. Really good." He smiled, then looked at his watch and asked, "Walk me to the terminal, will you?"

I accompanied him to the little facility where crew-cut young men in uniform and their dependents, trailer-park girls with squawling babies, sat around waiting for MAC flights to other military facilities. A black helicopter, curiously silent, was waiting on the tarmac outside, its rotors turning lazily in the sunlight. "Ah, that'd be my flight," said Johnson. "Old Uncle Sam always sends you first-class, ha ha."

We shook hands. A little anxiously, I asked, "But what will you do about it? About the epidemic?"

Johnson paused before answering. He looked outside at the black helicopter. The pilot had seen him now; in his helmet and visor he appeared strangely insectile as he regarded Johnson patiently. I noticed the booms extending from the sides of the helicopter, where standardized weapons pods could be attached. "Patrick, old buddy," said Johnson playfully, "Back in high school people said you were smart, but I never thought you had an ounce of sense in your head. Listen: our charter is to protect the people of the United States of America by containing epidemics and eliminating disease. We have many... tools... at our disposal. Why don't you take a break for a while? Go someplace where people don't use Emacs. Where they never heard of Emacs. Don't take it with you. Go to Hawaii -- better yet - -- go to Redmond. Okay?" He punched my shoulder, smiling. I winced.

Then he strode out onto the tarmac, giving a thumbs-up to the pilot, who spun up the turbines. There was almost no noise. I didn't wait to watch them take off.

Re:Take up music?

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe breathing would help you. Seriously. Most people I know who are IT and breath, tend to have wrists in perfect shape.