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TICKET ARCHIVE -> 2 Keyboards For Ergonomics

charles1 - Aug 3, 2005 - 1:09 pm

You often see split keyboards and sometimes you see keyboards in 2 sections spaced wide apart. What about just using 2 keyboards (USB)? You could position them differently periodically to relieve repetitive fatigue.

bobw - Aug 3, 2005 - 1:13 pm

Hi Charles

You would need a USB switch to do this.
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Bobw - Macosx.com Tech Support

charles1 - Aug 3, 2005 - 1:30 pm

Why? Other Mac users say that when they plug in both keyboards all functions work on both. Am I missing something?

bobw - Aug 3, 2005 - 1:36 pm

Charles

I stand corrected.

Doing some searching, I see it can be done. Give it a try.
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Bobw - Macosx.com Tech Support

charles1 - Aug 3, 2005 - 2:01 pm

Excellent. I took my Apple keyboard (black keys on clear frame) apart to clean it before. I can't remember....Do you know if it would be possible to fold the rubberized circuit board under the keyboard and cut the plastic keyboard roughly in half for each hand? Left hand would be the entire space bar and up to the space between the F8 and F9 keys. Right hand would be the entire space bar and up to the space between the F4 and F5 keys. The right side of the right keyboard would retain the arrow keys up to the others above them (up to F15). I would cut off the numeric part because I don't ever use it on the right side. Or ideally I would get a seperate numeric keyboard programmed for us keypunch untrained but telephone trained (123 would be 789 and vice versa.) This would be out of the way until I would need it keeping space to a maximum.

bobw - Aug 3, 2005 - 2:08 pm

Charles

Wow, have no idea.
I think folding the circuit board may damage it.

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Bobw - Macosx.com Tech Support

charles1 - Aug 3, 2005 - 2:10 pm

I'll have to be very careful with that circuit board. Thanks. Infinitely adjustable ergo keyboard for about $10. I like it. Now I've got to source some keyboards. Any idea besides Ebay?

bobw - Aug 3, 2005 - 2:12 pm

Charles

Probably would get some keyboards cheap on ebay.
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Bobw - Macosx.com Tech Support

charles1 - Aug 3, 2005 - 2:13 pm

Thank you for the tips. All done here.

charles1 - Aug 11, 2005 - 8:20 pm

UPDATE: I got a white Apple keyboard (like with the G5's I guess) and hooked it up with the other USB keyboard (clear with black keys) and the caps didn't work cross platform. Everything else worked fine. It may be a power issue as I got a warning box. I tried disconnecting all USB devices except the 2 kb's which I then plugged directly into the G4. Same thing. Suggestions? This is very dissappointing. I must say that the key action on the white kb is far better than the black key/clear case one. Much better feedback. But I've got to get my wrists straight. And I can't without an ergonomic kb or using 2 keyboards which offer infinite adjustability which is obviously the final goal in ergonomics.

bobw - Aug 12, 2005 - 11:13 am

Charles

The power warning indicates the two keybaords are using too much power on that Bus.
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Bobw - Macosx.com Tech Support

charles1 - Aug 12, 2005 - 11:47 am

Would that stop just the capitalization? And it doesn't explain why it works on a PC. Also I plugged them in by themselves. There's 2 USB inputs on my G4. I unplugged the mouse. I don't think its a power issue. Any other possibilities?

bobw - Aug 12, 2005 - 12:03 pm

Charles

Wish I coul dhelp, but don't have any answeres for this.

Do the Caps work on the keyboard if it's the only one plugged in?
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Bobw - Macosx.com Tech Support

charles1 - Aug 13, 2005 - 12:34 am

Of course. Everything works on both at the same time except the capitalization. So close and yet so far. Without capitalization it looks like I went to publik skool.