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0 pointsdeno7y ago0 comments

Practically all ergonomic studies start from the position of compromised wrist placement and measure what angle does least damage. That’s how you end up with split “ergonomic” keyboards.

This is the height you need for your monitor to not encourage slouching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S467Ck8uIsc . You also need to touch type which not everyone can. As a result most office workers have terrible postures.

I bet you would run into trouble just trying to find enough people that can both touch type and have good enough posture to do such study. But I would start with piano players.

0 comments

melling7y ago

I’ve got dozens of stories about people with RSI here:

https://github.com/melling/ErgonomicNotes/blob/master/README...

There doesn’t seem to be one cause or one solution.

denoOP7y ago

You can put everything in that list into 3 categories:

1. Fixing the problem: posture & monitor/keyboard height

2. Masking the problem: anything with the word ergonomic

3. Avoiding the problem: typing less/taking frequent (flow-interrupting) breaks

Of course most people with pain want quick solutions, so no. 2 is going to be over-represented. Fixing your posture actually takes work to stretch/compress different muscle groups over a period of time, otherwise you’re back to slouching after 10 minutes.

melling7y ago

There are some plenty of programmers who have dealt with problems for years:

http://ergoemacs.org/emacs/emacs_hand_pain_celebrity.html

I wouldn’t trivialize anything.

Happens to designers too.

This was on the front of HN a few years ago:

http://www.looknohands.me

1 more reply

hfdgiutdryg7y ago

Fixing poor ergonomics isn't making a problem.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsdeno7y ago0 comments

Practically all ergonomic studies start from the position of compromised wrist placement and measure what angle does least damage. That’s how you end up with split “ergonomic” keyboards.

I bet you would run into trouble just trying to find enough people that can both touch type and have good enough posture to do such study. But I would start with piano players.