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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."
The only technology you need is in your body. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a symptom; not the root of a problem. Your hands are taking a beating because likely your back, shoulder and pelvis are all out of alignment. I've been using computers since I was 9 (I'm 26 now) and having been working full-time at a computer for the last 8 years. I've found the only thing to fight of musculoskeletal dysfunction is Pete Egoscue's Pain Free for the PC
Maybe some form of weightlifting would help you.
I never have any pains other than sore muscles, and I routinely log 12-14 hours daily on a computer. A big part of that is time spent in the gym. You don't have to be a bodybuilder, just exercise 3 or 4 times a week at some light to medium weights. Figure out what the maximum weights you can lift are, then do about 60-70% of that weight for 4 sets of 8 repititions. Recheck your maximum weights every couple months, and adjust accordingly.
It will make you feel better, and improve your concentration when you have to sit still and type all day. Also, the women like guys with a little muscle on them
"If you think you have things under control, you're not going fast enough." --Mario Andretti
When my girlfriend, a professional writer and editor, got carpal tunnel, her doctor prescribed a wrist brace that she had to wear for x hours per day for y weeks (don't remember the exact numbers). We also made four other changes:
1. Traded in the stick-shift for an automatic.
2. Got her a smaller and lighter purse (less crap in it).
3. Went to a trackball.
4. Went to a split keyboard (Microsoft Natural).
The carpal tunnel has not returned in the intervening years.
I started to get carpal tunnel syndrome myself and went with a split keyboard and a trackball. That did the trick for me.
If you have wide shoulders, I strongly recommend the split keyboard. The wider your shoulders, the worse the angle on the wrists to use a conventional keyboard. As to mice or trackballs, trackballs rock and mice suck -- especially if you do much graphics (e.g., Photoshop) work. Get a good one and don't get one of those idiotic ones that you operate with your thumb. I recommend the ones by Mouse-Trak. Very high quality, ball size and weight is substantial, and price is reasonable at around the $100 mark.
Good luck and don't ignore the problem or it will just get much worse. Treat it early.
Quickie... STRETCH!
Every hour or two and before you start in the morning, stop working and stretch your hands and arms. http://www.mydailyyoga.com/yoga/rsi.html
I had problems a few years ago with these types of symptoms, and after seeing a physiotherapist (and performing these types of exercise) for a while they went away.
Unfortunately, if you are experiencing numbness you may have damaged some of your nerves. I would recommend seeing a doctor/physiotherapist very soon or you could completely lose use of your hands.
I was developing numbness in my mousing hand at work, was sent to workers comp, and found out I had tendinitis (lucky it was only that). A few things I found out:
/. crowd), your primary one should be directly in front of you. Look on the back of your LCD screen if you have one - you will see a mounting area with 4 screws. These are all the same, and you can buy a monitor arm for them.
1) The computer screen should be directly in front of you, at eye level. Should be obvious, but quite a few people don't do it. If you are one of the dual-screen types (I expect there are a lot in the
2) Your knees should be at a 90 degree angle. This might mean a new chair.
3) Your forearms should be parallel to the ground when typing on the keyboard. This might mean a keyboard tray, which is a wise investment.
4) Your forearms should also be parallel to the ground when using the mouse. No putting it on the top of the desk.
5) If you read from documents while you are working, you should seriously consider a copy holder that puts it near eye level (many monitor stands have this feature, or you can get a model that puts the document next to the monitor).
6) Look for ergonomic equipment. For mice, I use a Humanscale mouse, which forces my wrist to be straight when I use it. Trackballs are good for people as well. The split keyboards are very useful for some. You can actually get mice you can operate with your feet as well.
7) Learn to use the mouse with your opposite hand, and trade off.
8) Learn keyboard shortcuts.
I'm not a doctor, don't take this as medical advice, blah blah blah.
Get a wacom graphics tablet with a stylus (works with linux also). Then download dasher for doing long sessions of text entry. You spell out words by "driving" the cursor in the direction that the characters come flying toward you (see the animation). Also get xstroke to do graffiti like handwriting recognition. My next goal it to start looking into voice recognition.
Considering that CTS and all the rest of those annoying ailments are a direct result of repetitious exercises, arguing whether the chicken (musical instruments) or the egg (computers) came first is pointless.
My wrists start to hurt after a few hours of playing piano, but so far I haven't had any significant problems on computers. My symptoms usually occur in the evenings after I leave work.
I find it absolutely hysterical that my CTS developed within one year after I started using computers on a frequent basis, but my symptoms (aggravated when I use pens/pencils) disappear when I use computers. (Some mice do cause problems, but usually I am able to avoid them.)
On the up-side, I have a medical release to avoid push-ups, pull-ups, and all other exercises that induce stress on my wrists. While in university, my professors allowed my to type my essay exams instead of typing them. Considering I think better when my fingers are on a keyboard instead of pen/paper, I count that permission as a huge blessing!
I'm still pain-free after 10 years. For me, variety in my movements was the key. YMMV.
I am the very model of a modern major general!
I've been computing since the early 80's (an Apple ][+) and mousing since 1986 (an Atari 1040ST). Somewhere around the early 90's I started having pains in my right wrist. I tried a wrist brace and supportive pads for my keyboard and mouse usage and they reduced the discomfort, but didn't eliminate it. What finally worked (and still works) for me is some wrist stretching exercises I learned for Aikido. There are some fairly clear descriptions here. The most effective (for me at least) is the kotegaishi, with nikkyo a close second.
"I'm a scientist! I don't think, I observe!" - Dr. Clayton Forrester