Comments on: Where should the "6" key be?

By: Mária Horváth

Mária Horváth — Fri, 28 May 2021 19:03:06 +0000

In reply to Deb Vorndran. We plan to offer a USB Numpad later that you can use on any side of the keyboard.

By: Deb Vorndran

Deb Vorndran — Fri, 28 May 2021 15:01:42 +0000

In reply to IzK. I'd like to see a numpad for the LEFT hand. The right hand already has more jobs than the left hand, for right handed people. My left hand sits on it's half of the keyboard all day. My right hand jumps from device to device all day: keyboard, mouse, pen. If you do this, please consider putting it on the left, not the right.

By: Deb Vorndran

Deb Vorndran — Wed, 26 May 2021 15:15:06 +0000

In reply to Debbie Vorndran. If I were building a split keyboard, that was NEVER going to have both sides connected, I would duplicate some of the middle keys. So the "6" could be on both sides.

By: Debbie Vorndran

Debbie Vorndran — Tue, 25 May 2021 16:22:53 +0000

Ergonomically, it makes more sense to put it on the left, if you are right handed.

Here's my reasoning: The right hand has more jobs than the left hand. It uses the mouse, a pen, maybe a phone, etc. As I work all day, my left hand had just one job - type the keys on the left side of the keyboard. It sits on the keyboard all day long, moving very little. However, my right hand jumps from device to device all day. For this reason, I prefer to offload as much work from my right hand to my left hand as possible.

That being said, before I got my UHK, I used a full keyboard (66 keys) for my left hand, and half of a split keyboard for my right hand. When using the mouse, I cheated a lot with my left hand.

I love my UHK, and can't wait to get the thumb modules, so that I won't have to move my right hand off the keyboard to use the mouse!

By: László Monda

László Monda — Tue, 25 May 2021 08:06:21 +0000

In reply to James. I designed a split, columnar keyboard, but it's not built yet, and I can't share the layout. The 6 key is on the right half of this keyboard.

By: James

James — Mon, 24 May 2021 23:02:48 +0000

In reply to László Monda.

That all depends:
1) Have you designed and built a collumnar ergonomic keyboard yet?
2) Did you put the 6 key on the right side of the split where it belongs?
If so, please send me the link.
Thanks.

By: László Monda

László Monda — Mon, 24 May 2021 21:11:58 +0000

In reply to James Panes. You would be correct if the UHK were a columnar keyboard. But the UHK is a staggered keyboard, and I haven't seen anyone orienting the left half to reach V, F, R, and 4 in a straight line. I still believe that the placement of the 6 key is correct both from an ergonomic and aesthetic standpoint on the UHK. Hopefully, you'll like the columnar UHK version better.

By: James Panes

James Panes — Mon, 24 May 2021 04:36:54 +0000

OK, you and your design team are wrong. Many times I have wondered why people keep getting this wrong. I suspected that it had something to do with aesthetics and people not knowing how to touch-type properly. Your article sort of confirms that. I don’t really care how people in the Netherlands are taught to type. If it is actually true, they are ripe for repetitive strain injuries from their poor technique.
I don’t just say things and walk away, so here’s my proof:
First of all, I am from Canada and yes, I was taught to strike the 6 key with my right hand. That was part of touch-typing 101.
Second, take the angle away from the keyboard layout so that keys are in their proper columns instead of at an angle which was made necessary by the mechanics of the old manual typewriters. Now that we’re in the 21st century, observe how the m, j, u, and 7 are all in the same column. Now move one column to the left and you get n, h, y, and 6. All eight of these keys are struck by the right index finger when touch typing.
Are you with me so far?
On the left hand, v, f, r, and 4 are all in the same column. Move one column to the right and you get b, g, t, and 5. All eight of these keys are struck by the left index finger.
Your design choice adds 6 to the reach of the left index finger and leaves a blank space where the 6 key should be for the right index finger. It is already a long reach to the 5. And now you, the designer of an ergonomic keyboard that is supposed to reduce strain and repetitive injury want me to reach even further for the 6 key. This is incorrect for reasons of both touch typing and ergonomics. It fails on both counts.
Don’t try to argue that it looks better or that it falls beyond a certain center-point on an old, obsolete 19th century keyboard because that is not what you manufacture.
PS. I won’t even consider buying your product until you fix this error.

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 11:49:34 +0000

Keep the 6 on the left don't listen to these guys. 6 is closer to the left than it is to the right, so it only makes sense to place it on the left. As simple as that. And I believe there's a reason most ergonomic keyboards seem to have this way. I can reach the 6 with my left index finger while the other rest of the fingers can happily remain in place, and that's not possible with the right hand. Thanks for the post.

By: László Monda

László Monda — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 22:11:33 +0000

In reply to Debbie Vorndran. Good point! Mirrored QWERTY can come handy, indeed.