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

Variety of Motion

[John_Booty]

I'm not a doctor, but two things have helped me... 1. Try to have a variety of motion. I think the key part of "repetitive stress injury" that most people overlook is "repetitive". Think about it- human bodies are designed to be in motion as long as you're awake. But evolution has not designed our bodies to make the same, small, twitchy, repetitive motions over and over again for 8, 9, or 10 hours a day. So rather than trying to reduce the amount of motion your body and hands do, switch it up a bit-change chair, armrest, and keyboard positions. 1a. For the reasons listed in #1, I suspect that "hunt and peck" typing might be better than "correct" typing for one's hands and wrists in this regard- I have a greater variety of motion as my hands roam around the keyboard like a piano than a "proper" touch-typist. And, after many years of practice, I can even do it without looking. :P 2. Get an AWESOME wristrest. Seriously. Drop $20 on a niiiiiice thick, gel-filled wrist rest. Also, and this is KEY - get the kind with a nice, soft, shiny, synthetic cloth (neoprene or whatever) surface that is pleasant to slide your wrists across. If it does not have that property, you will not use it properly, because you will then LIFT your wrists off the wristrest while they move around, thusly defeating the purpose of the wristrest. The idea is to have the wristrest constantly supporting as much of the weight of your wrists as possible. Hope this helps. BTW, I'm 27 and these things have worked for me so far. Around 4 years ago I started to get some pain and tingling; adopting these practices has left me comfortable and symptom-free since then.