Like buying an ergonomic chair or a standing desk, an ergonomic keyboard is an investment in yourself.
David Rempel, founder of the University of California’s ergonomics programme, says that if you use a keyboard more than 10 hours a week and already experience this discomfort or pain, you should consider an ergonomic keyboard.
An ergonomic keyboard can help you position your body more properly, with your shoulders relaxed, your upper arms close to your torso, and your forearms level with the floor. Standard keyboards force you to hold your wrists and arms at stressful angles, which can cause discomfort or pain in your hand, arm or shoulder.
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The ErgoDox EZ is for people who want their keyboard to fit and feel just so – and are willing to put the time and effort into relearning how to type. But the ErgoDox EZ’s unique layout and blank modifier keys take time to learn, so it’s not for someone who just wants to plug in their keyboard and start typing. This is the ergonomic keyboard for tinkerers: You can adjust the legs on the fully split keyboard halves to any tented and negatively tilted angle, you have your choice of 12 different switch types, the keycaps and switches are easily replaceable, and the open source firmware lets you remap keys and modify the backlight to your liking. If you want the most adjustable and customisable ergonomic keyboard and don’t mind paying more and dealing with a steeper learning curve, we recommend the ErgoDox EZ.