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Ergonomic Keyboard And Mouse Solutions For The Mac
PC users have traditionally enjoyed a far more expansive selection of so-called “ergonomic” input devices than the Mac community. However, Apple’s switch to USB from ADB has broadened what’s available for Macs in the category substantially. “Ergonomic” refers to applied science concerned with the nature and characteristics of people as they relate to design and activity, with the intention of producing more effective results and greater safety. Strictly speaking, “ergonomic” is not a term exclusive to keyboards and pointing devices developed specifically to accommodate users suffering from repetitive stress injury (RSI), or other physical handicaps. Ergonomics should play a substantial role in the design of any user interface device, whether it be a computer keyboard or an automobile gear lever or whatever. Nevertheless, the term is popularly associated with computer input devices designed to minimize user stress and pain, so we shall not buck convention here. This roundup is not intended to be exhaustive, and includes either devices that I personally have used, or that I just ran across, usually while researching something else. Keyboards Being a typing pain sufferer myself due to recurrent and to some degree chronic polyneuritis and Fibromyalgia, I have a keen personal interest in ergonomic input devices. In terms of keyboards, my strong preferences are for a light key touch with very short and smooth travel and a soft, resilient landing. I’ve found that while novel keyboard shapes and layouts such as that of the Kinesis keyboard described below can be comfortable and helpful, the keyswitches themselves are, well -- key -- to comfortable typing for me. One of the most comfortable keyboards I’ve used is the one in my WallStreet PowerBook. which meets all of the criteria I cited. However, I don’t have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and some users who do, find that split, splayed, arched, or otherwise modified keyboard form factors are more comfortable for them than the standard flat computer keyboard. Here are a variety of ergonomic keyboard approaches currently available for the Mac. Kinesis Contour Keyboard One of the more radically innovative approaches to ergonomic keyboard input is the Kinesis Contour Keyboard family, which comes in several models including a Macintosh/PC MPC Switchable version of the Classic model. 
The central distinguishing feature of Kinesis keyboards is that the alphanumeric keys are separated into two concave, bowl-shaped wells, with smaller, subsidiary, thumb-operated keypads for operations like shift, space bar, delete, command, option, and control. This patented design is claimed to minimize stress on hands, wrists, and shoulders that users experience from heavy use of conventional computer keyboards. While it appears very funky at first, Kinesis reports that within a couple of hours practice, most new users are at 80% or more of their previous speed and accuracy. Within 2-3 days, speed and accuracy are usually 90-105%. Within 3-5 days, new users are typically up to full speed with both alphanumeric typing and using the thumb keys and arrow keys for editing. I found the Kinesis MPC unit I tested surprisingly relaxing and comfortable to use. The contoured keywells minimize the need for long finger movements and stretching -- even for the numbered function keys which live on the far side of the keywells. Giving the thumbs more work to do seems like a logical way of spreading typing stresses more evenly. The mechanical keyswitches used by Kinesis have a pleasantly light touch and smooth action, although my personal preference would be for an even shorter travel, more like the keys on the G3 series PowerBooks. Quality of construction and materials on this keyboard seem first rate, as befits a premium-priced unit. 
The Kinesis keyboard has a compact footprint since it has no dedicated numeric keypad. Instead, a numeric keypad is embedded in the right hand keywell, a function you switch on and off by toggling Num Lock or Shift + Num Lock. I rarely use numeric keypads except for the handy Enter key, so I’ll have to take their word for it that one would adapt to this arrangement. You use the same fingers as with a conventional keypad. Classic Mac/PC Switchable Contoured Keyboard - $315.00 For more information about Kinesis Countour keyboards, visit: The iGesture Keyboard The iGesture Keyboard is an enhanced PC keyboard with a permanently attached iGesture Pad. The combination of iGesture Pad right next to the keyboard cuts way down on how far you have to reach when you switch between typing and mousing. The iGesture Pad provides the full functionality of a standard mouse and number keypad in addition to easy-to-learn multi-finger gesture input for faster and more effective control of applications. Does not currently work with Macs. 
Technical Details 
Price: $199.00 For more information, visit: The Retro Keyboard The Retro Keyboard has the same functionality as the iGesture keyboard but is executed in a Microsoft Natural Pro keyboard. Works with Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs through the USB port. 
The Retro keyboard combines a large MultiTouch surface with the familiar mechanical keyboard. It brings to the user unparalleled control of applications, windows, and graphical objects by using minutes-to-learn multi-finger gesture input. The Retro also provides the full functionality of a standard mouse and number keypad. No longer will you have to reach beyond the keyboard for the mouse. • System Requirements Price: $249 For more information, visit: TouchStream Stealth Say goodbye to the mechanical keyboard and its mouse companion. Enter the TouchStream where Zero-Force touch-typing, pointing, and gesturing combine to give you unparalleled control of applications and graphics. Two-handed gesture set includes text formatting and Photoshop commands, plus game mode. Works with Mac, Windows, or Linux PC. 
The Stealth is a standalone user interface that includes a full keyboard, standard mouse, and two handed gesture set. The Stealth completely replaces your existing keyboard and mouse with a fully integrated package. With the Stealth (and all Touchstream products), key, mouse, and gesture input all occur in the same overlapping area of the MultiTouch surface. This means that when you switch between typing and mouse, for example, you don’t have to move your hand to grab the mouse since it’s always under your fingertips. This benefit is only fully appreciated after using a TouchStream product for a few minutes. The Stealth’s large surfaces are more than big enough for full-range pointing, touch-typing, and gesture input. The Stealth’s Zero-Force key layout is tilted and split to provide a relaxing and stress-reduced posture for both hands and body. The default key layout for the Stealth is standard-size QWERTY. If you plan to do a lot of high-speed typing on the Stealth, or have limited finger mobility, you may want to consider the DVORAK or QWERAK optimized layouts. Touch typing Mouse emulation Gesture recognition command sets for Web browsing File manipulation and editing Advanced Editing and Search Text Formatting and Alignment Zero-Reach Modifier Chords Desktop management Advanced graphics Macintosh, Windows, Linux and Sun system’s must have • one spare USB port 
Price $ 329 TouchStream LP Price: $ 299 For more information, visit: Goldtouch USB Adjustable Ergonomic Keyboard The Goldtouch USB Adjustable Ergonomic Keyboard allows you to adjust the two alphanumeric sections both horizontally and vertically to suit your individual body requirements. This helps you assume a more natural posture that is conducive to improving comfort and productivity while using your computer. 
Features Include: Price: $159.95 Mac Adapter - PS/2 to ADB - $ 140.00 PS/2 to USB for Keyboard and Mouse for PC and Mac - $ 62.50 For more information, visit: FenTek Ergonomic USB Keyboard with Touchpad For your USB Macintosh This split-key, contoured ergonomic keyboard that integrates a Cirque Glidepoint Touchpad (se separate description in the mouse section below) in the center of the wrist support. The graphite color is extremely rich looking, stays clean and blends with most work environments. 
Features: Price: $124.95 For more information, visit: Mice, Etc.. I find mousing at least as physically stressful as keyboarding, and my personal workaround is a combination of using a variety of input devices and spreading the stress. As a rule, I keep three pointing devices hooked up to my computer; a mouse or trackpad on either side of the keyboard, plus a foot mouse for clicking. My foot mouse is just an old standard Apple ADB mouse with a longer cable spliced in, working in native ADB on my older Macs, or through a Griffin iMate adapter on my Pismo. I don’t use the foot mouse for pointing, as I am not that well-coordinated -- at least with manipulating (pedipulating?) a hand mouse with my foot. However, the No Hands mouse described below is intriguing. I have neuritis in my legs and feet too, but they don’t take the beating from computing that my hands and arms do. Contour Perfit Mouse The Contour Perfit Mouse is somewhat unique in that it comes in a variety of sizes, five right handed versions, and three left handed versions which Contour claims permits performance and ergonomic benefits that simply can’t be achieved by any “one size fits all” mouse. The Mouse is available in extra-small, small, medium, large, and extra-large for the right hand and small, medium and large for the left hand, and is designed to fit the hand so precisely that multiple sizes are necessary to maximize the total impact of the ergonomic design. 
The Perfit Mouse is also designed to minimize biomechanical load and to reduce hand and arm deviations from the neutral pronation position. The mouse’s top surface is contoured to fit the palm of the hand to disperse pressure across the palm during use, and the thumb side of the mouse is higher than the other to minimize pronation strain. There is also a support provided for the thumb, which allows movement of the mouse with reduced Pinch Force which is known to increase the risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Trying the mouse out at first it seemed almost clumsily large, but upon reading the instructions on proper and positioning, I discovered that my initial inclination had been to hold the mouse incorrectly. The prescribed way is to lay your hand more or less flat on top of the mouse, with the weight of your hand and arm resting on your palm, your fingers together rather than spread, with your index, middle, and ring fingers resting lightly on the Contour Perfit Mouse’s three buttons. The buttons are elevated and shaped to reduce load on the fingertips. The elevated wrist support reduces pressure on the wrist by keeping it off the desk top, maintains a straighter wrist alignment, minimizes lateral deviation, balances the hand in a neutral, tilted posture, and prevents static grip by allowing the hand to rock freely. This posture allows mouse clicking pressure to come mainly from the whole finger being depressed from its base joint, which, once you get used to it, begins to feel quite correct and natural, as well as less stressful on the muscles of your fingers and wrists. From this perspective, the big mouse began to make “perfit” sense. 
Insert link name here on Contour’s Web site allow you to determine the proper size of Contour Perfit Mouse for you before ordering. For more information, visit: Cirque Easy Cat Touchpad For the past couple of years, one of my favorite pointing devices has been the nifty éCirqu Easy Cat USB trackpad. Theoretically, trackpads are ergonomically superior to other pointing devices because little or no movement is needed from the shoulder, arm, wrist or hand. I’ve never been especially enamored of the trackpads built into PowerBooks. éCirqu’s technology and engineering in their trackpads is different from that used in the units Apple installs in the PowerBook and iBook. (Memo to Apple; éCirqu makes OEM trackpad units -- how about it?) 
Thanks to “GlidePoint Control,” Cirque’s touchpads require NO finger pressure, as opposed to semi-conductive or resistive types of touch devices which detect pressure only. Cursor control is effortless and smooth, at twice the resolution of a typical mouse. My Easy Cat is much more tolerant, for example, of moisture on one’s fingers than the PowerBook trackpads are. The Easy Cat’s long cord and two buttons also make it easy to alternate hands in order to spread the stress. The pad surface itself is about one-third larger than the trackpad on my PowerBooks, and there are two buttons on the near side of the housing. On Macs, these both work is standard mouse buttons. (More on this in a moment.) The real beauty of the Easy Cat is its precise responsiveness to finger tapping. It responds to the lightest feather touch for clicking, but still does not “misfire”-- a superb bit of engineering. To drag, draw, or highlight text, you just double tap rapidly and begin the motion in one smooth movement on the second tap without lifting your finger. Left mouse “clicks” are performed by lightly tapping a finger on the touchpad surface; right mouse “clicks” are activated by tapping in the pad’s shaded upper corner. The slightly textured areas at the pad’s edge indicate when the finger has entered the “GlideExtend” region, a “smart hardware” feature that allows the finger to reposition after reaching the edge while the cursor is held in place. “GlideExtend” allows you to drag farther than the margin of the pad surface. There is a textured margin on all four sides of the trackpad. If you are dragging something and you get to this textured edge zone, GlideExtend will hold a drag for three seconds while you reposition your finger to complete the operation. To adjust settings such as tracking speed, use the Mouse Control Panel (not the Trackpad Control Panel, even on PowerBooks). The Easy Cat does not ship with any software of its own, and a couple of the trackpad’s advanced features supported on Windows PCs are consequently disabled on Mac installations (a result of Apple’s prejudice against multi-button mice). However, there is a theoretical workaround. USB Overdrive by Alessandro Levi Montalcini is recommended (although not supported) by Cirque for users who wish to enable the Easy Cat Trackpad’s “wheel mouse” scrolling and right-click submenu access features, (which respectively allow you to scroll through documents or web pages by gliding your finger along the trackpad’s right margin). USB Overdrive enables button reprogramming, submenu launching vertical scrolling and more. You can download the USB Overdrive software from: http://www.usboverdrive.com The éCirqu Easy Cat USB Touchpad for Mac or PC sells for $44.95. For more information, visit: 3M Renaissance Mouse This leaning, joystick-shaped mouse has been around for several years, and also sold as Dr. Mouse, Doctor Mouse by Animax, Anir Mouse, and Vertical Mouse 
This is a simple idea; a pistol-grip on top of a conventional, albeit flattened, mouse base, with a thumb-button for clicking. Unlike conventional mice, which force your hand and forearm to assume a stressed, unnatural, flattened attitude, the 3M Renaissance Mouse allows your hand to remain in a relaxed, thumb-uppermost posture, which reduces muscle loading and relieves pressure on the median nerve. 
Mouse movement with the Renaissance Mouse is accomplished by sweeping forearm movements rather than wrist flexing, and the thumb, your strongest digit, takes over button-clicking tasks. 
Features: I have been using one of these mice off and on for more than three years. It does take some getting used to compared with conventional mice. I liked it from the start, although I was a bit clumsy mousing with it at first. I now have no problem switching back and forth -- sort of like going from a manual shift car to an automatic and back again. Mousing in the thumb-up position does not feel quite as direct and precise as with a conventional mouse, and people who do critical on-screen work might not find the Renaissance Mouse an adequate solution (although it does resolve a respectable 400 dpi). Sweeping forearm movements from the elbow are not quite the ideal body-English for picking out individual tiny pixels. However, for word processing, finder navigation, and Web work, there should be no problem adapting to this device. The 3M Renaissance Mouse is available in two sizes. The large size fits hands measuring 3.5 to 4 inches across the palm of your hand at the base of your fingers (where your four fingers meet your palm). The Medium size is for persons with hands measuring 2.75 to 3.5 inches. The model I have is the large size, and although my hand measures only about 3.5”, I found it none too large for a snug grip. System requirements: Macintosh iMac/eBook Macintosh/iMac/iBook-operate using Apple O/S 8.1 or higher with USB upgrades 3M Renaissance Mouse sells for $79.99 For more information, visit: No Hands Mouse Designed by both engineers and physicians, the NoHands Mouse is not only easy and efficient to operate, it helps avoid carpal tunnel syndrome caused by desktop mice with the simple use of your feet instead of your hands. 
The system utilizes two interchangeable foot pedals: One pedal features a proprietary 360-degree pressure-sensitive mechanism, allowing the user to control both cursor speed and direction with one foot, while the second pedal is used as a clicking device. You can type and control the cursor, point and click, and drag and drop without taking your hands off the keyboard. ‘There is virtually no learning curve with the NoHands Mouse,” states Dr. Aaron H. Sones, President of Hunter Digital. “To operate it, you simply use the muscle memory you naturally developed when you learned to walk.” 
The NoHands Mouse eliminates stress on the delicate hand-wrist area by moving mouse control to the feet. This prevents awkward wrist, elbow, and shoulder positioning before chronic pain develops. The NoHands Mouse also eliminates wasteful, repetitive “keyboard-to-mouse” hand movements increasing productivity. With the NoHands Mouse, you can have complete control of the cursor without having to take your hands off the keyboard, or your eyes off the monitor. 
The NoHands Mouse has the following features: The mouse is made of durable molded plastic and is easily configured for movement and speed. It attaches by a six foot cable to your computer and there is over two feet of cable between the pedals. It can be teamed with voice activated software. Comes with a “Y” cable attached so you don’t have to give up your existing mouse. Each interchangeable pedal is ten inches long, one and one half inches in height and four inches wide, The NoHands Mouse is compatible with Windows, Windows ‘95, OS/2 and Macintosh mouse drivers. 
System requirements: Price: Mac Compatible with ADB Connector - $289.95 $225* For more information, visit:
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