Ergonomics
Doug
thought it was interesting to see a sponsored link (an advertisement)
on the side for this company http://www.safetype.com/ (link just in
case it isn't there later).
They claim that their keyboard is perfectly ergonomic and is backed up
by science. Too bad its ugly, and expensive. Does any body have one of
these? Its three times the cost of an alphagrip, so I definitely won't
be getting one.
Of course, that one needs a desk I assume, so that would probably be
the biggest difference. I like the mirrors too (not really).
I think we need some Universities to do some studies with the
Alphagrip.
--Doug
Scott
time touch typist and that gadget is extremely unappealing, as is the
web site and the especially the cost. I like the fact that the AG
doesn't have to sit on the desk. Easy on the body or not, that
vertical typing idea seems highly unintuitive.
I don't have an AG yet. I follow the group to see how others are
finding it.
Scott
Avery Sawaba
regardless of what they're selling, or how bad I need it. I just had my
earbuds in, listening to some Ray Charles, clicked on the SafeType
link, and KLICKETY-KLACK-KLACK-KLACK-KLACK!!!
Now my ears are ringing (played at the system volume, not the soft
volume I had set for media player...). Makes me want to klickety-klack
someone in the face for thinking it would be cute to put audio on the
front page.
Ok, I'm done ranting.
--Avery (Adrian)
On Oct 13, 5:10 pm, "Doug" <wdsim...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I know Mike hasn't made any claims about the AG being ergonomic, but I
> thought it was interesting to see a sponsored link (an advertisement)
> on the side for this companyhttp://www.safetype.com/(link just in
Doug Sims
I forgot about that. I had the same thing happen to me, except it came
out of my main speakers while I was "working". Luckily, it was the end
of a Friday for me, so it wasn't a big deal.
I hate sound on web pages. Is there a CSS tag/option that will mute
sound in your browser? That would be great.
Didgers
> I think we need some Universities to do some studies with the
> Alphagrip.
>
> --Doug
Ask and ye shall receive. Well, it isn't a full fledged University
ergonomic study, but it's for an ergonomics class. In fact, here's the
proposal that I'm turning in today. By the way, Cornell's Safetype
study doesn't list the authors name or title, which means that it could
have been done by a group of students, just I'm about to do. So help
out and send those pictures.
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alphagrip/browse_thread/thread/4c50a05b51b222f4
Proposal for the AG-5
The makers of the AG-5 say that it is the world's most comfortable
computing. However there hasn't been any ergonomic analysis to
accompany this claim. The goal of this group is to do a study into
just how the AG-5 holds up against an ergonomic analysis. This
analysis will be based on an examination of the group's usage of the
AG-5 as well as pictures submitted by volunteers. Other keyboards will
be briefly examined so that a comparison can be included.
Carl Andersen
input device is ergonomic or not?
One difficulty, it seems to me, is the different ways a device might be
ergonomic. To my mind, the AG-5 is beneficial in the following ways
(and I may have forgotten some):
-minimal keystrike force needed, because your fingers start on the
keys, not above them.
-minimal keypress distance, for the same reason
-beneficial for back/arm strain, because you can lean back in your
chair
-beneficial for wrist strain, because you don't have to hold your arms
over a keyboard
-minimizes arm movement required for mousing because the trackball is
built in
-mouse clicks may require less effort because one's hand/wrist is in a
relaxed position, unlike a mouse
But how does one quantify or test these proposed benefits?
Didgers
there are A LOT of these methods. Some methods revolve around posture
(i.e. RULA), some revolve around effort level and frequency (i.e.
Rodgers), and some use both (i.e. Moore-Garg). Those are just some of
what was covered during the first half of the semester.
In a nutshell, the task is looked at closely, with numerical values
assigned to this and that. Each method has its pros and cons, but when
used properly, they are able to do a decent job of comparing tasks.
While you, me, or any other single person can look at things x and y,
use x and y, and know whether x is better or worse than y. However,
any group of investors or customers, a company or jury won't just
believe you. You have to give them numbers, because they believe
numbers.
That's one reason that I like this project already; I have a good idea
which keyboard the the numbers will endorse, because the AG-5 (insert
list from above post here).
gudny
as
- the side movement you have to make with the index finger with the 4
keys pr. finger.
- the mouse is a bit loose in it's socket so that you can't very well
hold it up to your chest while lying back, which is a much less strain
on the back of my hands.
- the fact that you are actually holding it also adds strain that you
dont get from a normal keyboard.
- the layout and that it comes in one size also probably suggest that
it´s more ergonomic for certain hand sizes than others.
But overall a good keyboard and I look forward to the outcome of the
ergonomic study.
Didgers
help: to get a large study group and see the variety of usage it gets.
Study of my usage will only be valid for people 6 foot 1 inches tall,
with hands that are 7.5 inches long, and are familiar with the Dvorak
Layout.
One of the students on my team is Indian, so he his typing needs are
probably very unique, but will probably offer some good insight.
Lastly, we got a 50th percentile American male on the team, who only
knew qwerty before, and is doing really well with the AG-5.