Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
05:42
An Assessment Method and Toolkit to Evaluate Keyboard Design on Smartphones
Published on: October 5, 2020
The split keyboard: an ergonomics success story.
1Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94804, USA. david.rempel@ucsf.edu
Human Factors
|August 12, 2008
Summary
Split keyboard designs, first researched systematically in the 1960s, have become commercially available and widely accepted. Evidence of health benefits emerged, making split keyboards a top seller.
Area of Science:
- Ergonomics and Human-Computer Interaction
- Occupational Health and Safety
Background:
- The concept of split keyboards to reduce typist arm strain dates back to the 1920s.
- Systematic research initiated by Kroemer in the 1960s laid the foundation for split keyboard design.
- Kroemer's 1972 publication marked a pivotal point in split keyboard research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical development of split geometry keyboard research.
- To analyze the progression of scientific inquiry into split keyboard ergonomics.
- To assess the impact of research on the commercial adoption and acceptance of split keyboards.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of split geometry keyboard research.
- Historical analysis of research progression and findings.
- Examination of commercial availability and market trends.
Main Results:
- Kroemer's research spurred decades of global investigation into split keyboard effectiveness.
- Split keyboard designs became widely available in the early 1990s.
- Health benefits of split keyboards were established by the late 1990s, leading to market success.
Conclusions:
- The evolution of split keyboard design represents a successful translation of research into commercial products.
- Overcoming design inertia was a key challenge in the adoption of ergonomic keyboards.
- The widespread acceptance and market dominance of split keyboards offer valuable lessons for innovation in human-computer interaction.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Design Example
The innovation of touch-tone telephony revolutionized the telecommunications industry by replacing the traditional rotary dial with a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signaling system. This system uses a matrix-style keypad with buttons arranged in four rows and three columns, creating 12 distinct signals each assigned to a pair of frequencies. Each button press results in a simultaneous generation of two sinusoidal tones – one from a low-frequency group (697 to 941 Hz) and one from a...
01:14Design Example: Resistive Touchscreen
A device engineer plays a crucial role in designing user interfaces for mobile devices. One such interface is the resistive touchscreen, which fundamentally consists of two metallic layers: a flexible upper layer and a rigid lower layer, separated by a narrow gap. The high resistance between these two layers is a key characteristic of this design.
When a user touches the screen, the two layers make contact at a specific point known as the touchpoint. This contact reduces the resistance between...
When a user touches the screen, the two layers make contact at a specific point known as the touchpoint. This contact reduces the resistance between...
01:19Electro-mechanical Systems
Electromechanical systems are intricate configurations that effectively combine electrical and mechanical elements to achieve a desired outcome. Central to many of these systems is the DC motor, a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical motion, enabling various applications ranging from simple fans to complex robotic mechanisms.
A key component of the DC motor is the armature, a rotating circuit positioned within a magnetic field. As an electric current passes through the...
A key component of the DC motor is the armature, a rotating circuit positioned within a magnetic field. As an electric current passes through the...
01:28Lateralization
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
01:22Mechanical Systems
Mechanical systems are analogous to to electrical networks where springs and masses play similar roles to inductors and capacitors, respectively. A viscous damper in mechanical systems functions similarly to a resistor in electrical networks, dissipating energy. The forces acting on a mass in such systems include an applied force in the direction of motion, counteracted by forces from the spring, a viscous damper, and the mass's acceleration. This interplay of forces is mathematically described...
01:26PD Controller: Design
In automotive engineering, car suspension systems often employ Proportional Derivative (PD) controllers to enhance performance. PD controllers are utilized to adjust the damping force in response to road conditions. A controller, acting as an amplifier with a constant gain, demonstrates proportional control, with output directly mirroring input.
Designing a continuous-data controller requires selecting and linking components like adders and integrators, which are fundamental in Proportional,...
Designing a continuous-data controller requires selecting and linking components like adders and integrators, which are fundamental in Proportional,...