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

What I do.

[damu]

I am not a doctor, but what I do is have various input devices, wheel mouse, regular mouse, split keyboard, regular keyboard and every couple of months change my main computer's devices. I don't know if this will actually help but the change feels nice.

Re:What I do.

[lerxstz]

Agreed. I had a similar problem (*very* bad numbness/tingling in my arms, going up to my shoulders at one time). Stretching my arms (before going to work), exercise, and variation worked wonders. I ended up getting a wacom graphics tablet and use it instead of a mouse on my desktop computer at work. It works great for me. I can work with that much much longer than a mouse. At home, instead of sitting at a desktop computer and using the tablet, I use a laptop and it's built-in trackpad. That way I can stretch out sloth-like on a couch and still work on computer stuff if I want. Haven't had any major issues (a year now) since doing this.

Take up music?

[JabberWokky]

Learn to play a musical instrument. Seriously. Most people I know who are in IT and play tend to have wrists in perfect shape. Both guitar and using a PC tend to cause RSI, but switching between both seems to counteract the effect.

--
Evan

Another book

[linzeal]

I have not read that book, but as employees of the school we have access to a bookshelf of contempoary workplace books and the most accolades I have heard is for this book .

It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome! RSI Theory & Therapy for Computer Professionals

missing the point.

[Spudley]

The injury is not caused by *what* you do, but how often you do it.

Any user interface method will suffer from this in exactly the same way - if you spend too much time doing the same action, you will cause damage - tennis players and coal miners will tell you that they also suffer.

The only long term solution is to vary your actions. (I guess I'm saying you should tear yourself away from the computer for a few minutes each day, but I know that's asking a lot of some folk here ;))

Eye Watcher

[KingRob]

I'm a user who has gone through serious pain due to mouse overuse.
I really want something that watches where my eyes are focused as a pointing device.

Then if I tap my index finger against my thumb, it's a left click.

Second finger against my thumb, it's a right-click.

Index finger stroking the thumb, it's a wheelie scroll.

I understand that there are issues. Like that eyes get "jitters", but surely these problems can be overcome.

Then there's the keyboard - but don't get me started on that!

Get yourself to a doctor

[winwar]

and get a proper diagnosis first.

Just because you have wrist pain and numbness does NOT mean you have carpal tunnel syndrome. I have had similar symptoms to what you state but not due to carpal tunnel problems. Heck, excessive bending of the wrists while typing for extended periods can bring on pain and numbness. From what I have read, carpal tunnel syndrome really sucks. And what is required to treat it (often surgery) is not required to treat run of the mill really painful wrist pain.

For a start, one of the other posts had a number of good points about proper computer posture. Keep your upper legs and forearms parallel to the floor. Feet on the floor. Bend your wrists as little as possible. Support your arms at/near the elbows (adjustable arms exist on good chairs for a reason). Let your fingers do the work of typing. Take breaks. Sit up straight.

Most of my problems went away after I improved my workspace. Most workspaces I have seen (or have worked at) are awful.

Raise your monitor

[pfafrich]

Postition of chair, keyboard and monitor is very important. By simply rasing my monitor by 6 inches greatly reduced my RSI. With a low monitor you tend to hunch down creating bad posture a high monitor means that your head is level and instantly produces a better posture.