Trackballs are kinder than computer mice
For all of you with computer-induced wrist problems:
Trackball, trackball, trackball. Trackball, trackball, trackball!!!
Computer mice are inherently non-ergonomic: ya gotta cock your wrist backwards to use them. With trackballs (the type that use your fingertips, not your thrumb), your forearm and back of your hand are in the same plane, thus keeping your wrist straight.
And because your hand stays put, instead of sliding around like with a mouse, your forearm can lie on the desk, thus minimizing stress on the shoulder (having to keep your forearm hovering above the desk surface).
Again: trackball, trackball, trackball. ;)
Also, if you make a pile of wrist pads about 2.5'' high in front of your keyboard, and retract the non-ergonomic ''legs'' at the back, your wrists will be flat (i.e. back of your hands in line with your forearms) as you type. As with using a trackball, it takes a little while to get used to -- but **waaay** more ergonomic. ;)
--GG
posted by Gye Greene @ 11:36 AM
2 Comments:
I've given your advice some consideration, and have dug up an old Microsoft Trackball Explorer. While it works nice and uses optical technology instead of mechanical, after the initial few minutes of use the ball (hard plastic) "sticks" slightly to it's form-fitted casing (also hard plastic). So, it actually makes it difficult to do achieve consistent smooth scrolling. I'll have to test a few out in person, however so far I'm not as impressed as I am by the trackpad built into my laptop. Idears?
They key to non-annoying tackballs is having enough heft to stay put: unlike computer mice, only the ball should move. ;)
My MS Trackball (possibly the ''Explorer'' model) stopped working, seeminly for no good reason. I've had better luck with my LogiTech trackball; also somewhat less expen$ive than the M.$. trackball.
--GG
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