Comments on: Research update http://existentialtype.net/2008/01/14/research-update/ For People Who Like Type and Types Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:49:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Chris http://existentialtype.net/2008/01/14/research-update/comment-page-1/#comment-21041 Chris Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:16:34 +0000 http://existentialtype.net/2008/01/14/research-update/#comment-21041 Yes, I switched to Dvorak long ago, while still an undergrad (~1994) and before any RSI. That took some time. But from there, the switch to Kinesis was easy. When I first injured myself (1999), I swore I'd never touch a laptop keyboard again, and promptly sold my nearly-new Toshiba. Over the years I softened on this (and learned more about my limitations), and now I use laptop keyboards pretty regularly. If I have really intense long-term hacking or writing to do, I'll definitely use the Kinesis, but that's generally not the case when traveling. Among my other tricks (regardless of keyboard) are break timers (AntiRSI on Mac) and sticky modifier keys (allows me to be a little lazy/sloppy about chords). Yes, I switched to Dvorak long ago, while still an undergrad (~1994) and before any RSI. That took some time. But from there, the switch to Kinesis was easy.

When I first injured myself (1999), I swore I’d never touch a laptop keyboard again, and promptly sold my nearly-new Toshiba. Over the years I softened on this (and learned more about my limitations), and now I use laptop keyboards pretty regularly. If I have really intense long-term hacking or writing to do, I’ll definitely use the Kinesis, but that’s generally not the case when traveling.

Among my other tricks (regardless of keyboard) are break timers (AntiRSI on Mac) and sticky modifier keys (allows me to be a little lazy/sloppy about chords).

]]> By: washburn http://existentialtype.net/2008/01/14/research-update/comment-page-1/#comment-21026 washburn Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:34:08 +0000 http://existentialtype.net/2008/01/14/research-update/#comment-21026 @ Chris: I had briefly borrowed a Kinesis keyboard a few years ago, but I think I was also giving Dvorak a try at the same time and I had to give it up after a day or two because I just couldn't afford to be that unproductive at the time. Another concern of mine is whether relying on a non-standard keyboard would be problematic while I am traveling. Or do you find that as long as you use the Kinesis while at work or at home, you're fine using a laptop keyboard while you a traveling? @ Chris: I had briefly borrowed a Kinesis keyboard a few years ago, but I think I was also giving Dvorak a try at the same time and I had to give it up after a day or two because I just couldn’t afford to be that unproductive at the time. Another concern of mine is whether relying on a non-standard keyboard would be problematic while I am traveling. Or do you find that as long as you use the Kinesis while at work or at home, you’re fine using a laptop keyboard while you a traveling?

]]> By: washburn http://existentialtype.net/2008/01/14/research-update/comment-page-1/#comment-21007 washburn Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:09:27 +0000 http://existentialtype.net/2008/01/14/research-update/#comment-21007 @Chris: Just a quick comment, it is about bedtime here so I'll say more later, it was actually a tenured professor doing PL research at an Ivy league university (not Penn) who recommended voice recognition software, because that is what he uses quite a bit to combat his RSI issues. I will not attempt to speculate on how much programming he truly does anymore, but he does at least do a little LaTeX. I think he may have some fairly complex voice macros. @Chris: Just a quick comment, it is about bedtime here so I’ll say more later, it was actually a tenured professor doing PL research at an Ivy league university (not Penn) who recommended voice recognition software, because that is what he uses quite a bit to combat his RSI issues. I will not attempt to speculate on how much programming he truly does anymore, but he does at least do a little LaTeX. I think he may have some fairly complex voice macros.

]]> By: Chris http://existentialtype.net/2008/01/14/research-update/comment-page-1/#comment-21006 Chris Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:02:01 +0000 http://existentialtype.net/2008/01/14/research-update/#comment-21006 Regarding RSI, I don't know anything about your experiences and trials so far, but the Kinesis contoured keyboards (Dvorak mode) have helped me tremendously. I have one at home, one at work, and one older one in the closet for emergencies. Not cheap, but comfortable. One day I also undertook a radical remapping of Emacs key bindings.. not sure I ever wrote about that publicly, but I could make my efforts available if anyone wants. The rationale was that on Kinesis (and laptop keyboards), the arrow keys, home/end, and page up/down are not a huge reach from home position (as they are on standard 102-key PC). Therefore, it's not necessary to continue using C-p, C-n, C-f, C-b, C-a, C-e, C-v, M-v, etc., etc. Therefore, they can be remapped to other things, leading to less severe chording. Example: exchange-point-and-mark is now just C-p, switch-buffer is just C-b, and whole maps of related commands sit on mnemonic keys like M-v for version control stuff, M-b for buffer commands, M-4 for window commands, M-5 for frame commands, etc. Non-programmers seem to think voice recognition is the answer, but I agree that I'm extremely skeptical. If your workflow can be reduced essentially to dictation, then maybe it's fine. But for programming, TeX, non-trivial editing, command lines, and controlling complex applications.. I just can't imagine it will work. Regarding RSI, I don’t know anything about your experiences and trials so far, but the Kinesis contoured keyboards (Dvorak mode) have helped me tremendously. I have one at home, one at work, and one older one in the closet for emergencies. Not cheap, but comfortable.

One day I also undertook a radical remapping of Emacs key bindings.. not sure I ever wrote about that publicly, but I could make my efforts available if anyone wants. The rationale was that on Kinesis (and laptop keyboards), the arrow keys, home/end, and page up/down are not a huge reach from home position (as they are on standard 102-key PC). Therefore, it’s not necessary to continue using C-p, C-n, C-f, C-b, C-a, C-e, C-v, M-v, etc., etc. Therefore, they can be remapped to other things, leading to less severe chording. Example: exchange-point-and-mark is now just C-p, switch-buffer is just C-b, and whole maps of related commands sit on mnemonic keys like M-v for version control stuff, M-b for buffer commands, M-4 for window commands, M-5 for frame commands, etc.

Non-programmers seem to think voice recognition is the answer, but I agree that I’m extremely skeptical. If your workflow can be reduced essentially to dictation, then maybe it’s fine. But for programming, TeX, non-trivial editing, command lines, and controlling complex applications.. I just can’t imagine it will work.

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