Ergonomics and the Mouse

A few days ago, Jeff Atwood published an informative article on proper ergonomics for computer users. The article covers all the basics but there is one trouble area that a number of his commenters were quick to point out. Specifically, look at the following image:

With a full-sized keyboard, look how far you have to reach to use the mouse! A number of comments suggest using alternative form factor keyboard that either relocate or discard the number pad. My problem with these keyboards (and I own a few myself) is that all the ones I've seen lack a curved design. Case in point - the Evoluent^TM Mouse-Friendly^TM Keyboard:

Even though the mouse is closer, look at the awkward torquing of the wrists (ulnar deviation) - a classic cause of RSI. A friend uses a Maltron-style keyboard with a trackpad velcroed to the center. He used to have a really bad time with carpal tunnel and this setup works well for him now. Personally, I find the Maltron keyboard to be difficult to use. It's so tall that you can't use it on a desk - you basically have to place it in your lap. And unless you've also got a trackpad velcroed to your keyboard, it's even more awkward to type on your lap while mousing on the desk.

An alternative to switching keyboards is to switch hands and mouse goofy. I started doing this a few years ago and though it took some time to train my left hand, it now feels strange when I use my right. For those of you who've tried goofy and gave up - you can do it! Your brain doesn't like to create new habits, but it can and it will! The one requirement is that you need a symmetric mouse. This may be a deal-breaker for heavy mouse users that rely on more ergonomically crafted mice as I've never seen left-handed models. For these people, my only advice is to find ways to use the mouse less. Keyboard shortcuts are a great alternative. Just switching to the keyboard to launch applications and open files can significant reduce your mouse usage.

On Windows XP, I personally use Launchy. Enso seems nice but it's not free. Vista has launching functionality built-in. Just hit the Windows Key and start typing. On OS X, I am a big fan of Quicksilver. With all these apps, but Quicksilver in particular, once you get accustomed to using them for launching, you can delve into the more advanced features and further reduce your mouse dependency.

Lastly, If you're a serious serious power user, then you're on Linux and you're probably already running ratpoison, xmonad, or something similar.