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I think having a split keyboard so my mouse can be in the middle would really help my comfort at the desk. Is there a style that doubles up the middle keys? My typing style means sometimes I use my right hand to hit T, left to hit Y, etc.

Is this a style already, or would I need to build my own?

I am completely new to this domain and would appreciate advice from knowledgeable enthusiasts.

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[-] evo@sh.itjust.works 56 points 9 months ago

Not that I am aware of. However, one thing I learned is that moving to a split keyboard fixes bad typing behavior like tapping T or Y with the wrong hand very quickly.

[-] thanks_shakey_snake@lemmy.ca 24 points 9 months ago

That's my experience, too. When I switched to split, I noticed a few quirks in my typing habits. They cleared up quickly with just a little bit of thoughtful practice.

[-] Starglasses@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 9 months ago

Cool. Maybe all I need is to jump in and it won't end up an issue I notice. I dont understand the hostility at this quirk from some people. Not everyone is an expert, and being snubby of newbies is very unwelcoming.(not you)

[-] Radium@sh.itjust.works 7 points 9 months ago

I was really bad about it before I went split. I even found myself moving my left hand to the right split sometimes but eventually my muscle memory remapped itself to respect the split.

[-] Copernican@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago

I think the "bad" typing behavior for those stretches has a bit to do with PC gaming. In the old days of CS and other games before voip, T was all chat and Y was team chat. So my left hand was used to migrating to that specific key very quickly to open a prompt as my mouse hand transitioned over to the keyboard. As a gamer on a split keyboard, it's usually fine, but sometimes I wish my left half had an extra column of keys.

[-] alvvayson@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Indeed, OP should just switch and quickly learn more ergonomic typing.

This is like asking the internet if they have a diet that can accomodate a lot of sugary drinks.

Just, no.

[-] Starglasses@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Accessibility. Most people can use things as they are. A limited amount of people need accommodations.

Your analogy is extreme. It is more like asking for a diet that can accomodate my desire to keep eating a cookie once a week.

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[-] drudoo@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

I love the extra B on my Alice but when using Corne I keep wanting to press B with my right hand, which I shouldn’t 😂

[-] Starglasses@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Aw, why call it bad behavior? It's faster to type T with the ~~left~~ right hand when its ready to go and the ~~right~~ left hand is all the way down where I just hit C. I save a whole microsecond :D

Maybe it's not official typing rules, but it isn't bad. Different :)

It is a habit i could unlearn though.

Edit: left vs right omg

[-] ook_the_librarian@lemmy.world 8 points 9 months ago

Some people use a different hand for T depending on whether they also need to hold shift or control. It's not wrong to want redundant keys. I like the idea of having some overlap in on the halves. (not that I plan to implement it)

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[-] evo@sh.itjust.works 7 points 9 months ago

The time saved is irrelevant when compared to the extra strain you put in your body. It seems small but the less you move out of an ergonomic position the better. Stretching your fingers sideways, moving your wrist, etc all add up when you do them hundreds of times a day.

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[-] mark3748@sh.itjust.works 2 points 9 months ago

Because RSIs are life changing and you should change your behavior rather than making it more convenient to harm yourself. Assuming you’re getting a split for the ergonomic benefits, adding an unergonomic feature is extremely illogical.

You can do whatever you want obviously, and a lot of the other commenters are doing a terrible job of explaining any sort of reasoning, but the advice is sound. Several members of my family have had fairly severe RSIs, my mother and my sister-in-law have had to have surgery to regain function in their hands due to carpal tunnel syndrome. I have some constant low-level pain due to similar bad habits when I was young.

I got some training and corrected my workstation and behavior as much as I could to limit the damage, but what’s done is done. If you learn from the mistakes of others, you can avoid those consequences.

this post was submitted on 12 Nov 2023
137 points (80.4% liked)

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