Some of you know that I am a little strange. I type in a non-standard keyboard layout called Dvorak. Which has befuddled many a techie as they have tried to pull a Nick Burns on me.
I also prefer to type on a Microsoft Natural Keyboard, you know one of those split in the middle keyboards that is about 2 inches taller than the standard. I also enjoy experimenting with keyboard input devices and trying to improve the ergonomic layout of my work area. I feel that this is important if I am going to be sitting on my duff for 8 hours a day for the forseeable future. So I did a little research and I would like to share it with you:
Ergonomic Chairs
I was spoiled in my first job, at the Trace Research and Development Center, in that I was issued a fantastically comfortable and ergonomic chair, The Aeron chair. Since that time I have been scuttled about in less comfortable chairs of varying degrees, from tolerable to god awful. I still haven’t found a worthy replacement. But I did find some useful tips, if you have to deal with a lesser chair.
Ergonomic Desks
Biomorph is intriguing with it Circle of Power ideas, and it’s easily adjustable desks from seated to standing positon. “Oh, to have dual monitors again!” And there always in my fantasies is the PCE, which seems eerily similar to the chair that Pierce Brosnon sat in The Lawnmower Man.
Ergonomic Input Devices
I came across some unusual bits in this category including the Datahand Pro II , and also the Kinesis Contoured Keyboards. I would love to try both of those devices and see if they are any good. I also came across a nifty product which I had seen and heard of before called the FrogPad. I was poking around on the FrogPad site and I was pleased to see that it is now available with Bluetooth, it can easily be worn , and it can be used as a better interface to PDAs.
But then I found a page on the FrogPad site that freaked me out! The FrogPad and Disabilities Page connected Spokane, Wa where I used to live and work, with the Trace Center, Madison, Wi where I also used to live and work! Is this page my digital nexus of the universe? The corner of 1st street and 1st street? Bizarre.