A repetitive stress harm (RSI) like carpal tunnel syndrome happens as the results of gentle forces utilized many lots of or hundreds of occasions. The forces concerned are often so minor that they don’t look like a problem once you really feel them, however they add up over time. For heavy laptop customers, the keyboard is a typical supply of RSIs as it is not uncommon to faucet the keys a number of thousand occasions each single day. Prevention is vital and an vital step is studying correct typing approach. To assist with that, Chris developed the Light Typing Coach.
There are some things you are able to do to stop an RSI brought on by typing. An ergonomic keyboard could make an enormous distinction, as can a wrist pad that lifts your arms as much as the appropriate top on your keyboard. And whereas we lack conclusive literature, there’s anecdotal proof to recommend that mechanical keyboards can assist, as they supply tactile and auditory suggestions once you’re pushed a key far sufficient.
However crucial change you can also make is to sort with much less drive. As a substitute of pushing a key laborious and shoving it down so far as it’s going to go, push it gently and solely far sufficient to register. However that could be a tough behavior to ingrain, which is why Chris created this machine.
The Light Typing Coach sits beneath a keyboard and detects harsh typing. When it does, it flashes a lightweight to inform the person. That reminder, given constantly, ought to assist to strengthen good typing habits.
This works utilizing a quite simple circle consisting of two piezoelectric sensors, a Microchip ATtiny85 microcontroller, an LED, and a button. The button lets the person configure the detection threshold for harsh typing, which is helpful for tailoring the machine to a selected keyboard and for gradual coaching. Energy is available in by way of USB and the elements mount onto a customized PCB that matches within a easy polystyrene tube.
In case you’re involved about RSI — and also you in all probability needs to be — then Chris’s Light Typing Coach could also be very useful.