7
8
Important:
Adjusting your keyboard for lateral inclination and pronation relief,
changes the height of the keyboard. Therefore, it may be necessary to also
adjust your seat and desk heights so that the elbows are at 90
o
and your
forearm horizontal.
WRIST EXTENSION & ADAPTING YOUR WORKSTATION
Another awkward posture to be avoided is the angling of the hand backwards
at the wrist (like a stop signal) - this is called wrist extension or dorsiflexion.
When typing, the wrists should be kept straight with the hand and forearm
aligned together.
It is important to ensure that your seat and desk heights are adjusted so that
your elbows are at 90
o
or slightly more when you place your fingers on the
keys. Ensure that your wrists are straight when you type. Wrist rests shouldn’t
be used while actually typing but can be used to rest on between typing bouts.
NUMERIC KEYPAD & FN LOCK
The Goldtouch
®
Keyboard has an added ‘Function Lock’ key (Fn Lock) to enable
the use of the embedded numeric keypad. When the Fn Lock is on, the keys
(UIOP etc.) which usually generate letters will perform numeric character
generation (456*) and the arithmetic functions usually found on the numeric
keypad.
This allows the keyboard to have a smaller footprint and lets you bring your
mouse much closer to the ‘comfort zone’ in front of you.
Figure 1.4
LATERAL INCLINATION & PRONATION ADJUSTMENT
Placing your hands flat on the keys of a keyboard can require considerable
muscular effort. This effort can cause fatigue and discomfort. The two
keyboard segments can be raised in the center to more closely match the
natural alignment of the forearm and wrist. Forcing your hands down to the
keyboard is a hand movement known as pronation. It is the rotation of the right
hand in a counter-clockwise direction and clockwise for the left. Pronation
problems of the feet can be countered using arch-supports (orthotics) and
heel stabilizers, with keyboards the Goldtouch
®
Adjustable Keyboard is the
answer.
To decrease pronation when using the Goldtouch
®
Keyboard:
• release the latch handle by pulling it open.
• raising the central region of the keyboard to the desired height
• make sure all four feet are level on the desk
• and then lock the keyboard in place by pushing the handle back to its closed
position.
Experiment, give yourself time to familiarize yourself with this new posture and
fine tune the adjustment until you feel a sense of relaxation in the wrists,
forearms, shoulders and neck.
✓
