The Ultimate Guide to Ergonomic Keyboards

The keyboard is an essential input-interaction tool, whether we are playing games or typing text. However, using the keyboard for a long time may cause health problems such as wrist pain. To solve these problems, ergonomic keyboards came into being. Through scientific and reasonable design, the ergonomic keyboard allows our hands to maintain a natural and comfortable posture when typing on the keyboard, reducing the burden on the wrist. Today let us learn more about ergonomic keyboards.

What Is an Ergonomic Keyboard?

An ergonomic keyboard is designed to make you more comfortable, encourage a more natural wrist position, and improve your overall posture. In other words,  it can withstand long-time use without causing severe discomfort.

There are many ways that keyboards can be ergonomically designed, so you'll find a variety of keyboards with different shapes, heights, keys, and so on. One thing all ergonomic keyboards have in common though is that they're more comfortable to type on.

Types of Ergonomic Keyboard

Ergonomics is not a completely quantifiable attribute; thus, there is no clear conclusion on which one is a true ergonomic keyboard. All keyboards can provide us with a comfortable typing experience for a long time and can be good ergonomic keyboards. 

Type	Features	Pros	Cons	Examples
Split Keyboards	Divided into two separate sections	Reduces strain, customizable layout	Steep learning curve, awkward at first	Kinesis Freestyle Edge
Tented Keyboards	Slight tilt in the middle to keep wrists neutral	Neutral wrist position, reduces strain	Initial discomfort, limited adjustability	Logitech Ergo K860 X-Bows Lite
Contoured Keyboards	Curved shape designed to match hand angles	Comfortable, familiar layout	Limited wrist relief	Logitech Wave K350 Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
Vertical Keyboards	Arranged vertically, promoting a "handshake" position	Reduces wrist rotation, minimizes strain	Major adjustment time, slow typing	Microsoft Sculpt Vertical ErgoDox EZ
One-Handed Keyboards	Compact design for single-hand use	Efficient for gaming, compact layout	Not suitable for regular typing	ErgoDox EZ One-Handed
Keyboards with Adjustable Angles	Adjustable tilt for personalized comfort	Flexible angle adjustments for comfort	Limited ergonomic benefits without other features	Kensington Ergonomic Split Keyboard Perixx Periboard-512
Ergonomic Keypads	Compact keypads for natural wrist positioning	Convenient for limited use, space-saving	Limited function for full work setup	Logitech K400 Plus Perixx Periboard-512

Of course, there are other ergonomic keyboards not listed above, just like some people think the 60% compact keyboard is ergonomic. Because these keyboards have a smaller form factor, reducing the distance your fingers have to travel to reach keys.

Benefits of Ergonomic Keyboard

1. Improves wrist comfort

Ergonomic keyboards are designed to help your wrists naturally reach a position that reduces overall stress on your wrists and hands. Of course, different ergonomic keyboards take different approaches to determining the position of your hands and wrists for maximum comfort.

2. Promotes shoulder comfort

Generally, ergonomic keyboards keep your arms straight in front of you, which makes it easier to keep your shoulders back and your back straight. Even if you move your arms from an inverted "V" position to directly in front of your shoulders, you can feel the difference in your shoulders and overall posture.

3. Increases typing speed ​​and productivity

A new ergonomic keyboard will come with a learning curve as you adjust to its shape and key layout. During this period, your typing speed and productivity may drop. However, once you adapt, you’ll likely type faster, as your hands and wrists will be more comfortable, reducing the need for frequent breaks. With improved comfort, your productivity will naturally increase.

How Long Does It Take to Adjust to an Ergonomic Keyboard?

I’ve listed the different types of ergonomic keyboards above, each with unique designs, and the difficulty of adaptation varies.

Just like the split keyboard, divided into two parts, the hands can be separated naturally, reducing the twisting of the wrists. However, for users who are used to the traditional one-piece keyboard, this design requires some time to adapt to the typing method of separating the hands. 

Tented keyboards, like X-Bows Lite, can put the wrists in a more natural position; the change in the key layout also requires time to get familiar with it. 

In addition, for some ergonomic keyboards with special function keys or custom key layouts, users may need extra time to learn and adapt.

While initial discomfort is common, most people adapt within one to three weeks, reaping the comfort and health benefits of an ergonomic design.

How to Choose the Right Ergonomic Keyboard?

1. Understand the ideal typing position

Firstly, when related to choosing the right ergonomic keyboard, we have to know which typing position is ideal.

• Stand up, relax your arms by your sides, and rotate your elbows.
• Your forearms and palms should align, with hands slightly narrower than shoulder-width.
• Palms should face forward, with fingers naturally bent.

This is the ideal ergonomic posture for comfortable typing.

2.  Choose key features based on your habit

You can choose the most important feature you focus on from the following, or combine them, to find the keyboard that suits you.

• Raised Center: Ensures your wrists remain in a neutral position, preventing strain.
• Split Design: Allows your hands to be separated, reducing shoulder and wrist tension.
• Wrist/Palm Rest: Supports your wrists to avoid strain during long typing sessions.
• Customizable Layout: Tailors to your finger length and typing style, ensuring comfort and efficiency.

3. Consider the brand and price

Well-known brands of ergonomic keyboards are usually more reliable in terms of quality, design, and after-sales service, but the price may also be relatively high. While some niche brands or unknown brands of keyboards may be cheaper, there may be certain risks in terms of quality and performance. 

Therefore, when choosing, you need to consider your budget and quality requirements. If you have high requirements for the quality and user experience of the keyboard and have a sufficient budget, you can choose high-end products from well-known brands.

If you only use the keyboard occasionally or are more sensitive to price, you can also choose some niche brand products with high cost performance.

4. Test before you buy

We always recommend you test the keyboard before you buy it. It’s best to try the keyboard in person. Feel the key softness, responsiveness, and overall comfort to see if it suits you. Trying it out allows you to check the ergonomics and make sure the keyboard feels right for you.

Conclusion

Ergonomic keyboards improve comfort and productivity by conforming to users' natural posture and actions. They encourage a healthy typing experience by making hardware and software more suited to human needs. These keyboards continue to develop as a result of continuous ergonomic and technological developments, providing better options for frequent keyboard users looking for increased comfort and support.

FAQ

Can ergonomic keyboards help with wrist pain?

Yes, by encouraging a more natural wrist position, ergonomic keyboards can reduce wrist pain. By maintaining the wrists in a neutral position, features like split and tented designs lessen strain. When typing, wrist rests offer extra assistance. But when worn with proper posture and frequent rests, they work best.

Are split keyboards really more ergonomic?

Yes, many users may find split keyboards to be more ergonomic. They lessen shoulder and wrist strain by enabling a more natural hand position. They lessen discomfort by maintaining your wrists in a neutral position. They might not be required for everyone, though, and there is a learning curve. Split models might not be very helpful if you don't have problems with a conventional keyboard.

Are Alice keyboards ergonomic?

The Alice keyboard is somewhat ergonomic. The left-right split design of Alice keyboards typically helps to enhance wrist posture during typing and lessen wrist fatigue and twisting. Simultaneously, Alice keyboards shift some keys to new locations without altering the overall normal QWERTY layout. This makes it easier for fingers to reach these keys, lowering the force and distance of finger movement and, ultimately, the strain on the wrists, arms, and shoulders.