Affiliations: [a] Center for Industrial Ergonomics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA | [b] Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Waldemar Karwowski, Center for Industrial Ergonomics, University of Louisville, Warncok Street, Lutz Hall Room 445, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. Tel.: +1 502 852 7173; Fax: +1 502 852 7397; E-mail: karwowski@louisville.edu
Abstract: The main objective of this study was to investigate postures of both wrists and the right forearm, associated with use of three different computer keyboards. The investigated keyboards were (1) a traditional keyboard, (2) the Microsoft® natural keyboard, and (3) an experimental keyboard. Typing with the experimental keyboard appears to improve left wrist and right forearm postures by reducing left wrist extension angles and right forearm pronation angles, However, non-sagittal plane left wrist posture, as well as sagittal and non-sagittal right wrist posture did not appear to be affected. It was also noted that left wrist postures were in low or moderate injury risk zones for substantially greater percentages of the trial durations with the experimental keyboard, than with either of the other keyboards. Typing speed and accuracy were reduced with the experimental keyboard; however, it was suspected that lack of familiarity with the experimental keyboard was associated with the poorer performance.
