|
YOUR GUIDE to using your keyboard
The ins and outs of using your keyboard.
Keyboards have been around ever since the typewriter
was invented. Apart from your monitor, it's the most common computer device
we use on our computers. If you have ever sat down at a computer and typed
anything, from a few emails to a complete novel, then you have used the
keyboard.
Not many people think about the keyboard and how to use
it more efficiently, or how, if you use your keyboard incorrectly over
a period of time, it can affect your health.
Why are the letters where they are?
People often wonder why the keys aren't laid out in alphabetical
order - A, B, C, D etc.
Keyboards have the keys for the letters we use most commonly
in the English language, called the home keys, grouped within easy reach
of your fingers to eliminate much of your hand movement. This is to prevent
you from wearing yourself out typing. If the keys were arranged alphabetically,
you would be moving your hands a lot more to reach the most commonly used
keys, giving you very sore and tired hands. This layout is known as the
"Qwerty" layout and was designed back in 1865.
Another reason the "Qwerty" design was implemented
was because old 19th century typewriters jammed if you typed too fast
on them. This new method slowed speedy typists down.
Home keys
The home keys are used to centre your hands for quick
access to all other keys.
These keys are A, S, D and F for the left hand (your left pinkie finger
should be resting on the A key) and J, K, L and ; for the right (your
right pinkie finger should be on the ; key). Your thumbs should be resting
comfortably on the space bar (which is the long, blank bar in the bottom
row) and your wrists should be straight.
What do the keys do?
Some keys have a single function, while others have multiple
functions. You can visit
www.webopedia.com/Hardware/Input_Devices/Keyboards for a brief explanation
of the other keys.
Using your keyboard properly
If you use your computer fairly often, then you may be
at risk of developing RSI (repetitive strain injury). However you can
avoid this quite easily, and once you set yourself up correctly, you will
notice how much more comfortable your computer use is.
- You need to adjust your chair so that your fingertips are slightly
lower than your elbows when you are touching the keyboard. The idea
here is to keep your fingers, wrists and forearms in a straight line
while your elbows are at around a 90 degree angle.
- Make sure your feet are flat on the floor. If you have adjusted your
chair and your feet are not touching the floor, try to find a box or
footrest that you can place your feet flat on. Keep your legs at a 90
degree (right) angle to your body.
- Now that your feet are flat and your arms from your hands to your
elbows are straight, your monitor should be centred directly in front
of you. You shouldn't have to move your head when typing to see the
screen. If you need to glance at the keyboard, it should be nothing
more than an eye movement.
- Get up, stretch and walk around regularly.
If you would like to find our more about RSI, have a
look at www.pc.ibm.com/ww/healthycomputing
for guides and information.
You can buy body-friendly computer equipment online at
www.ergoport.com.au
Dos and don'ts
- DO sit comfortably. Make sure you are not slouching or sitting on
an angle. It is very easy to spend hours at a computer, and if you are
not sitting right you may do yourself an injury.
- DON'T settle for just any keyboard. These days there is a lot of choice
in keyboard set-ups. There are split keyboards for people with wide
chests, keyboards with angled keys for less strain on your posture and
many more. Go to you local computer store and see what is available
- you may be surprised by what you find and what's comfortable to use.
- DO tap each key's symbol lightly but firmly with one finger at a time.
Don't bang on the keys - use the minimum force necessary.
- DON'T settle for typing with one finger or one hand. Using all your
fingers will help you increase your typing speed and accuracy.
- DO be patient. When you first start out it may seem a bit daunting
finding all the keys. Over time you will pick it up and be able to type
without glancing at the keyboard.
- DON'T sit for hours typing. Have regular breaks to avoid an RSI injury.
Get up and have a good stretch every 20 minutes.
- DO use a document holder if you need to read and type at the same
time. It is not good for your neck if it is constantly moving up and
down between the screen and your desk. Place the document in the holder
next to the monitor so you can simply glance at it. You can buy document
holders from most stationary stores and they usually cost a couple of
dollars.
- DON'T type in the dark. Looking at a bright screen compared to a dark
keyboard will strain your eyes.
Useful tip: The Windows key
The Windows key is the one with the Windows logo on it
(which looks like a window pane). It's usually located near the space
bar.
Pressing it once will bring up your Start menu in the
bottom left hand corner of your screen, but if you combine it with another
key at the same time, you can take some shortcuts.
Try pressing the Windows key with the letter "e".
This will launch your Windows Explorer Web browser. Press the Windows
key with the letter "m" and it will minimise all programs so
your desktop is showing.
There are plenty more windows shortcut keys, you can
read about them at www.seoconsultants.com/windows/tips/windows-key.htm
You can learn more about keyboarding at
www.tifaq.com and
www.workspace-resources.com/ergonomics/ergo002b1.htm
Useful site
There are a lot of typing tutors on the Internet, and
you can also get programs to teach you how to type more efficiently. If
you want to see what your current typing speed is or learn how to type
faster, visit www.typequick.com.au
|
