In 2000, Kinesis entered a strategic alliance with Cramer, Inc. of Kansas City, which manufactured ergonomic seating. Kinesis took over production for the Cramer Interfaces chair arm-mounted split keyboard, [4] releasing a revised version as the Kinesis Evolution in 2001. [5] Products [ edit ] Kinesis keyboard lines At my last job, however, after a while, my colleague sitting next to me exploded: “If you type any more on that noisy keyboard, I will throw it out of the window!”. They all make such noise (but I guess I also hit the keys quite hard while typing :)). The two keywells are “ tented” at an optimal 20 degree angle moderately raising the thumb side of the hand. Tenting puts you in a more neutral, “handshake” posture and reduces the stresses caused by forearm pronation. How do the keys feel? Some ergonomic keyboards have surprisingly high-force keys and/or low-travel keys that cause finger fatigue when typing. If you’re interested in learning more about various types of key switches, read our Mechanical Keyboards Guide. The Advantage360 keyboard uses the open-source ZMK engine and is not designed for novice users. ZMK does not support onboard programming so users who rely on that feature may not be satisfied with the Pro. Kinesis Technical Support can help point you in the right direction and provide written documentation, but we cannot provide individualized ZMK training and custom programming help.

Though different models tweak different things, such as relocating the Alt and Control keys, ergonomic keyboards generally break down into two categories: (1) single-piece/unibody ergonomic keyboards, which rotate the keys on the layout of a one-part chassis, and (2) as mentioned earlier, split-chassis models that physically separate into two adjustable halves. Mechanical switches aren’t just better for you and more satisfying to type on — they are often rated for millions more key presses than rubber dome and membrane-only switches. Ergonomic keyboards come in a few different shapes and configurations, which operate on a sliding scale between the investment you need to put in (both in terms of adjustment time and cost), and what structural changes they’ll make to offer you a more supportive experience.Rectangle keyboards can make you tingle, and not in a good way. Image via Kinesis Ergo, I Must Go Ergo The Ergonomics of the Interfaces Keyboard". Cramer, Inc. Archived from the original on October 10, 1999.

Subjects indicated substantial preference for the Kinesis in areas of comfort, fatigue, and usability. It's not cheap, but neither was my initial Advantage2. However, it's something I use daily, sometimes up to 8 hours, and I think purchasing and spending this kind of money is OK if it's part of your daily job. At least for me. Wireless Split Design a b "Kinesis announces first-ever fully adaptable ergonomic keyboard" (Press release). Kinesis Corporation. July 21, 2008. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. The Kinesis Evolution Desktop Keyboard". Kinesis Corporation. Archived from the original on June 10, 2003. The Advantage2 is our flagship keyboard and has been the choice of ergonomic enthusiasts for 25 years. If you need a powerful tool, and are willing to invest 2-3 weeks to learn the contoured layout, then it will reward you with incredible comfort and significant productivity boosts. The Advantage2 boasts mechanical switches, onboard programmability with our new SmartSet Engine, and its designed to work on all major operating systems.

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Right Ctrl is mapped to Esc, and I think it's the perfect place for the Esc key. Close to when you need it, but not so close that it hinders you. Battery: 1500 mAh rechargeable Lithium Ion (Estimated Lifespan: 3 years, we plan to offer replacement batteries for sale) Of course I want to make my own, but that will take a while, and I have to keep typing in the meantime. So I had to act fast. While the world of DIY ergo keyboards is mind-boggling, the number of off-the-shelf options is nearly as bad. I’ve never typed on anything crazier than a Microsoft Natural, so how am I supposed to know which one is right for me? Or what keys I would want on the thumb clusters? Which switches? My head was swimming. Yesterday’s Keyboard of Tomorrow, Today When it comes to a truly split keyboard, there are two basic types to compare – Fixed Split and Adjustable Split.

Second, the thumb keys on the Advantage2 had unique, taller keycaps for the Ctrl, Alt, Cmd/Win keys. They were much easier to reach. They replaced them with a shorter keycap or, let's say, normalized it with all the other keycaps. Because my Raycast/Alfred (finder applications) and the ESC key are on those keys, I immediately found it cumbersome. Six new hotkeys There is nothing more frustrating about using a split keyboard than finding it won’t stay put. You figure out the perfect positioning to reduce ulnar deviation and forearm pronation and then, as soon as you start typing, the keyboard slips or collapses altogether! Freestyle2 Convertible Keyboard for PC" (PDF). Kinesis Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2014.Kinesis Introduces the Freestyle2 Ergonomic Keyboard, the Award-Winning Ultra-Thin Update of the Original Freestyle" (Press release). Kinesis Corporation. July 10, 2012. Archived from the original on June 16, 2014.

a b c "User's Manual: Kinesis Maxim USB Adjustable Ergonomic USB/PS2 Keyboard". Kinesis Computer Ergonomics. 2006 . Retrieved 7 October 2022. While one version may be more beneficial than the other depending on your specific situation and use case, I find it's best to judge ergonomic keyboards on a sliding scale based on need. If you're already experiencing pain or numbness when you type, a split keyboard is bound to give you the most relief. (You should also see a doctor if you haven't already.) Likewise, you should go for a split keyboard if damage down the road is a serious concern, you type a lot, and superior ergonomics is your goal for your next keyboard. Kinesis Introduces Bluetooth Freestyle2 Fully-Splittable Ergonomic Keyboard with Multichannel" (Press release). Kinesis Corporation. February 10, 2015. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Sounds reasonable. However, in practice I have benefitted tremendously from a split keyboard design. So somewhere there is a flaw in your suspicion. Probably the issue that to do all that you’re saying means that you constantly have to pay attention to your posture, and then you’ll be fine with a normal keyboard. However, with my split keyboard I don’t have to pay attention to my posture. Does the keyboard have other productivity-boosting tools? For example, hotkeys for common shortcuts, operating system specific commands like those found on an Apple keyboard, or an embedded numeric keypad.

Which model will you choose?

The F key is a layer tap and holding the F key switches to the Keypad kp layer. That way, I can tap any output number by holding down the F key and pressing any of the keypad keys on my right keyboard halve. The Advantage360 features low-force tactile “brown” mechanical key switches and premium PBT plastic keycaps with dye-sublimated legends. Since I was never a right-Shifter and I recently started using a foot pedal for it anyway, I took five seconds and copy-pasted the Enter key on to the right Shift, right by the mouse. Sometimes I even remember to use it. Do You Really Own Your Keyboard?