Questions tagged [ergonomics]

Questions about optimizing your workspace and computer setup to reduce effort and strain or to improve your physical performance on a computer task when using it. Questions that are not talking about the ergonomics of computer hardware are off topic.

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With Insomnia, is there a way of going back to a previous request?

For clarification, I'm talking about the REST/URL entry app Insomnia, a Postman alternative, or a way of doing cURL requests easily. So for my simple REST request needs, this is just pretty much what ...
mike rodent's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
68 views

Stacking taskbar and toolbars horizontally

I went to my cousin today and when I played on his PC I found the way he organized his taskbar very practical but forgot to ask him how he did it (and he never answers messages). Basically he has no ...
machomuchacho's user avatar
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0 answers
21 views

Can I limit the frequency of tab switches?

I am looking to reduce the number of context switches I make in order to reduce mental strain I put on myself. I notice that I sometimes switch between different browser tabs very frequently within a ...
Tim Kuipers's user avatar
-2 votes
2 answers
121 views

The keys on my microsoft natural ergonomic 400 keyboard are very loud, is there a way to adjust the key pad noise?

I use it docked to an MS Surface when in my home office. All of the keys are loud / noisy, not just the space bar.
David Fabyonic's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
115 views

Graphics Tablet with "click + drag" capabilities without driver installed

I'm looking to use a graphics tablet at work as a mouse alternative, but their lame IT department won't let me install any drivers. Although my monoprice and huion graphics tablets can be used without ...
SnowyPlover's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
772 views

What monitor features are good for my eyes?

I am looking for monitors that are good on my eyes. What is most important: high resolution, large screen size, or high refresh rate? Or something else?
Jacky Wang's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
233 views

Firefox - use right-click then `b` to go back (or rebinding context menu shortcut keys)

Once upon a time, right-clicking on whitespace in Firefox (to bring up the context menu) and then pressing the keyboard's b button, was equivalent to pressing the browser's back button. IMO, this is ...
user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Is there any evidence that alternative keyboard layouts prevent injury? [closed]

When people proselytize DVORAK or COLEMAK and I ask them whether it actually prevents RSI, they usually point to metrics such as the following: Your fingers on QWERTY move 2.2x more than on Colemak....
Maarten's user avatar
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2 answers
2k views

Would a mechanical keyboard strengthen weak fingers? [closed]

I've been noticing for the past few years that after typing relatively exclusively on laptop keyboards at home for nearly a decade, certain fingers are somewhat weaker when typing, to the point that ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
44 views

Adding a column of code on right in Visual Studio

How can I add the picture of all my code minified on right of my code view in Visual Studio? Here is what I mean:
Yaroslav's user avatar
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0 answers
71 views

When using smaller headphones, how can I minimize pressure-related pain in my auricle?

I have noticed that when using on-ear headphones that lay against my auricles, instead of covering it and laying against my temples, my auricles start to feel painful after an hour or so. It doesn't ...
Nzall's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
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How can I measure the shock absorption of a key switch?

One common criteria when choosing a keyboard is looking at the shock absorption of its key switches. How can I measure the shock absorption of a key switch? E.g., the actuation force can be measured ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
2k views

Painful hand positioning on a laptop

I guess most of heard about wrist pain, and so did I. Im having a problem and I think its not the typical wrist pain since its mostly caused by friction and it mostly happens on the side of the hand. ...
SOMN's user avatar
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0 answers
103 views

Why is straight-on viewing of inexpensive LCD screens no longer the best angle?

I bought several inexpensive tablets in a range of sizes. Each is from a different manufacturer. I have not taken them apart, but using a magnifying glass, I can tell that each screen appears to be ...
RockPaperLz- Mask it or Casket's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

Not disable, but make the windows button on sculpt ergonomic mouse send XBUTTON2 message (winapi prespective)

As expected, the two extra buttons on all mice send XBUTTON1 and XBUTTON2 messages. However with a Sculpt ergonomic mouse, the Windows button does not send this. Apparently it sends the right Windows ...
Noitidart's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
667 views

How to get a better contrast on Windows taskbar buttons?

I have two problems with the Windows taskbar buttons in Windows 7 (the taskbar is aligned to the left side of the screen): 1) There is almost no contrast between the focused window and other windows ...
user1580348's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
170 views

How large should a monitor be if you sit 9 feet away [duplicate]

We sit closer to monitors than TVs because we need to concentrate on small text and icons. That is why monitors cause more eye strain than TVs. I wonder if there is a comfortable monitor for 9 feet ...
Babak Karbasi's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
146 views

Standing and sitting while using a computer at work [closed]

I would like to be able to comfortably switch between sitting and standing while at work (I'm a software developer, so I spend most of my day in front of a computer). For the past couple of months I ...
Adam Batkin's user avatar
6 votes
6 answers
3k views

Split mechanical keyboard [closed]

Is there any sensible solution to the "Shoulders are wider than the keyboard" wrist-pain issue? I am currently spending 6-8 a day in terminal/vim, and I would be willing to invest in a solution to ...
krystah's user avatar
  • 1,637
6 votes
5 answers
2k views

Can I stop the keypress beep on my Kinesis Advantage keyboard?

I'm a bit of an ergo freak and recently bought a Kinesis Advantage keyboard. The manual says to press Program+\ but that doesn't stop the keyboard's speaker making that awful noise; in fact it changes ...
Chuppa Chump's user avatar
-2 votes
2 answers
369 views

Is this a good computer chair for everyday computer use? [closed]

This is the computer chair I use: I'm a web developer who sits in this chair from morning until I sleep. Recently, I started to get back pains. I know I'm too young to have them. Can it be due to ...
THpubs's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
233 views

Are there any recommendations for optimal placement of the computer monitor within a room? [closed]

I have a vague memory of reading something from the Joel Spolsky's blogs regarding the need to have something distant to look at to avoid eye strain. Are there any studies or recommendations ...
TheOne's user avatar
  • 1,365
4 votes
1 answer
427 views

How to make Windows Explorer release focus on a file without the mouse?

I always try to use my computer without touching the mouse and keep both hands on the keyboard at all time. It really boosts my productivity because I do not need to move my hand over to the mouse for ...
marco-fiset's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
3k views

How to calculate the ideal keyboard layout for programmers?

I'm thinking about creating a new keyboard layout for programming. Now I mostly program in HTML, JavaScript/jQuery/CoffeeScript, CSS/LESS/SASS, though I may dabble in shell scripting & RegEx soon,...
tomByrer's user avatar
  • 217
6 votes
2 answers
882 views

How can one-handed work in Emacs be eased?

My right hand is temporarily immobilized and I would like to do some minor work in Emacs, mostly in Org-mode, but also in AUCTeX. Are there ways to ease one-handed work in Emacs, such as some mode or ...
N.N.'s user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
3k views

What is the optimal way to position three identical monitors (in landscape view)?

I have recently upgraded from a dual-monitor setup to a tri-monitor setup, but after adding the third, I often find the overall placement to be awkward as I tend to readjust my position to what I was ...
prusswan's user avatar
  • 338
3 votes
5 answers
39k views

How can I mount my non-VESA display on a VESA arm?

I have a non-VESA 21" LCD display from 2003, and I want to put it on a VESA arm. I figured I would at least find some sort of overpriced industrial solution for this, but so far I've found absolutely ...
John Bachir's user avatar
  • 1,359
47 votes
15 answers
46k views

How do I hit the “Ctrl” key without straining my pinky?

When I'm using Chrome, Powerpoint, Notepad++, etc. I take a lot of advantage of the keyboard shortcuts in those programs. However, this gets a bit tedious and straining, having my pinky stretch down ...
digitxp's user avatar
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2 votes
4 answers
2k views

How can we minimize the amount of mouse clicking and key pressing?

I want to reduce the amount of unnecessary mouse clicking and key pressing for the health of my fingers. How many ways are there to reduce the number of them? I've already switch the amount of ...
6 votes
8 answers
2k views

HP x22LEDc LCD, and the eye strain that won't go away

What I am about to ask is related to a similar question I asked. Several people suggested several solutions, but nothing worked for me. That particular LCD (ViewSonic) continues to cause immense eye ...
ayaz's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
2k views

Should LCD Brightness Match Environmental Lighting?

I have a new T410 laptop and ever since I've been using it, I've discovered that my eyes don't stress as much when I adjust the brightness to my environmental lighting. For example, during the day, I ...
Gio Borje's user avatar
  • 395
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

MacBook Air screen is too bright even on the lowest setting

Is there a tweak, hack, or piece of software that can adjust the brightness of the MacBook Air's screen below the settings that MacOS X allows by default? In low light the lowest brightness setting ...
Johan's user avatar
  • 269
1 vote
1 answer
220 views

Is a standard keyboard tray ergonomic? [closed]

Is a standard keyboard tray ergonomic, like the ones found in generic Staples computer desks? Or is it better to have a larger desk with room for both the monitor and keyboard to rest?
TheOne's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
10k views

Removed space bar to clean, now it doesnt want to work!

I removed the space bar to clean my MS Natural Ergonomic 7000 and now I cant get the thing to work effectively when I type! I have to hit directly in the center, and it's hard to push. What the heck ...
rebecca's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
3 answers
1k views

Should I use a rollermouse? [closed]

I have been using computers for many years now and i'm starting to feel some pain, especially in my arm and shoulder. I'm using my mouse for approximately 4 hours a day, sometimes more. I do think ...
Racket's user avatar
  • 13
42 votes
4 answers
22k views

Setting mouse sensitivity per device in Windows 7?

Is there any way (built-in or 3rd party application) to set per-device mouse sensitivity settings in Windows 7? Two mice behave differently and constantly need to switch sensitivities when switching ...
pithyless's user avatar
  • 541
11 votes
4 answers
5k views

Solutions for one-handed typing on a regular keyboard [closed]

Are there any well-estabilished solutions for using a computer efficiently with the left hand on the keyboard exclusively, and the right on the mouse; optimized for, but not limited to programming? ...
Kos's user avatar
  • 863
2 votes
1 answer
602 views

Any laptops with curved keyboards? [closed]

My wife has an old-ish Acer Aspire. She really likes the slightly-curved keyboard. However, the newer models I've looked at don't seem to have this anymore. Her current laptop is on the way out, ...
JW.'s user avatar
  • 557
7 votes
7 answers
5k views

Using laptop in sunlight

Riding to work on the bus this morning, I found it difficult to use my laptop when the sun was shining on it. Are there any solutions to this problem? Are there any laptops that have screens which are ...
dmr's user avatar
  • 255
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

What are the pros and cons of using ErgoEmacs? [closed]

I've been trying to learn Emacs lately and really like it so far... except for some of the less familiar key bindings (copy/paste and arrow keys for instance). I've read that ErgoEmacs mode modifies ...
Olivier Lalonde's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
223 views

Looking for ergonomic Windows shortcut utility

A few years ago I found and installed a small Windows utility that enabled me to navigate by using keystrokes instead of the mouse. It ran in the background, and with a keyboard shortcut it brought up ...
Shimon Amit's user avatar
16 votes
6 answers
27k views

Adjust screen brightness automatically at night

Can anyone tell me how to automatically dim my monitors when it gets dark at night?
Nifle's user avatar
  • 34.2k
2 votes
4 answers
284 views

ergonomic mouse recomendations [closed]

I've searched the site and did not find this exact question asked, so I'm going to ask it. Does anyone have a recommendation, or can point in the direction of resources, for a good ergonomic mouse? ...
Zachary's user avatar
  • 296
-1 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is there a good dual monitor arm solution for iMac 27" i7s? [closed]

I currently have an iMac 27" and am considering purchasing another to run in target display mode. My desk space is a little limited. Is there a dual monitor arm solution that can support the weight ...
Darren Newton's user avatar
8 votes
9 answers
6k views

What kind of eye wear can I use to protect my eyes from being irritated from staring at a screen all day? [closed]

Many of us stare at computer screens all day. Lately, my eyes have been irritated from prolonged staring at my computer screens. Does anyone use or know of any eye wear technology that helps with ...
dr dork's user avatar
  • 370
28 votes
5 answers
114k views

How far from the computer screen is it recommended to sit?

I would like to know if there is any recommendations about how far from the computer screen it is good (healthy) to sit when I work in front of the computer long days. In an ergonomic perspective.
3 votes
3 answers
6k views

What is the most optimal viewing distance for different resolutions (or sizes) monitors?

I'm using a 17" TFT at 1280x1024 at home and work. I'm also using 14" TFT at 1024x768. What is the least stresfull distance for the eye to work with it? What is the general connection between screen ...
Ivan Petrushev's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
5k views

Keyboard similar to laptop keyboards for a desktop

I want to use a keyboard that requires minimal effort pushing down with minimal (if any at all) space between keys. I like the new Apple keyboards, but I want something closer to the feel of a laptop ...
3 votes
1 answer
558 views

Are "ergnomic" keyboards good for you? [closed]

I currently own the Logitech Classic Keyboard 200 USB Keyboard: It is pretty comfortable, keys are soft, pretty standard layout. Only problem is that sometimes it feels like my fingers get a little ...
TheOne's user avatar
  • 1,365
2 votes
2 answers
5k views

Can a verical laptop stand damage the laptop?

I have replaced my desktop workstation with a 17" laptop, and it is ergonomically terrible, the solution was to use an external keyboard and mouse, but still it would stay way below eye level, some ...
OldJim's user avatar
  • 8,114