Since many computer users spend a lot of time hunched over their computers, peripherals with more ergonomic designs have grown in popularity. Ergonomic keyboards can help reduce muscle tension and fatigue. Many people also claim that mechanical keyboards are superior to squishy membrane keyboards. However, almost all mechanical keyboards on the market are conventional in design. Fortunately, there are ergonomic mechanical keyboards that provide a more comfortable typing experience.
Contents1. Kinesis KB600 Advantage 22. ErgoDox EZ3. Ultimate Hacking Keyboard4. Cloud Nine C989MFor over 25 years, Kinesis has designed and manufactured high-end ergonomic keyboards. Its latest offering, the Avantage Kinesis 2, is one of the funkiest keyboards out there. However, its unusual appearance is the result of optimizing user comfort and reducing strain. The Kinesis Advantage 2 sports a split keyboard design. This positions the arms shoulder-width apart, keeping your wrists straight and easing tension.
Additionally, the keys are located inside cup-shaped key wells. The recessed orientation of the keys reduces finger extension and helps relax your hand muscles. Additionally, both keywells are "tented", providing a 20 degree tilt between the edge of the keyboard and the center. According to Kinesis, this reduces stress on your forearms by positioning your hands in a more natural position.
The ErgoDox EZ has a number of modifications that the end user can make without voiding the warranty. Users can change any keyswitch on the keyboard without soldering, which means users can have different types of keyswitch for different keys. Plus, all the keys have the same profile – you can change them and remap the keys for alternate keyboard layouts.
All keys have dual functionality. Pressing a key generates a letter and holding down the key acts as a modifier. For example, you can program your Z key to send a 'Z' when pressed, but when held down it can act as your CTRL key. Finally, due to its split design, the left half of the keyboard can work independently. This is perfect for gamers, as they can remove the right half of the keyboard and free up desk space for their mouse.
The Ultimate Hacking Keyboard (UHK) touts itself as the best keyboard for productivity. Like the ErgoDox EZ, the UHK is split. The two separate halves can be positioned so the user can keep their chest open and their wrists straight, instead of hunched over the keyboard at an angle. Obviously, this design is better for wrist fatigue and reducing back pain. Like all the keyboards on this list, the UHK features fully remappable keys.
UHK claims to increase productivity by allowing users to have complete control without ever having to leave the home line. This means you don't have to remove your hand to manipulate the mouse. This is thanks to the modular design of the thumb cluster.
Currently, there is only one mod available for the left side of the UHK. It has three regular keys as well as a mini trackball that can be used as an additional button. When it comes to the right half of the keyboard, users have a choice of three different modules:a trackball with left and right mouse buttons, a trackpoint that when pressed acts like a click, or a trackpad which emulates mouse clicks with a simple touch.
Most ergonomic mechanical keyboards on the market omit the numeric keypad altogether. Fortunately, the Cloud Nine C989M has you covered. This is a full-size keyboard, with a numeric keypad for data entry. Additionally, the Cloud Nine C989M uses the standard offset key layout. This means that users will not have to adapt to new key positions. This allows users more familiar with a traditional keyboard to jump right in.
The Cloud Nine C989M also features a true split design. Like some of the other keyboards on this list, the two halves of the C989 are wired together. This allows users to place the two halves of the keyboard in any position that suits them. Additionally, the C989M uses Cherry MX Brown key switches. These allow for quiet typing while providing the tactile feedback championed by mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.
Are you using an ergonomic mechanical keyboard? If you can't figure out which type of keyswitch to use, follow this guide. You can also learn how to make a custom mechanical keyboard.
