Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
05:42
An Assessment Method and Toolkit to Evaluate Keyboard Design on Smartphones
Published on: October 5, 2020
Design and evaluation of a curved computer keyboard
Hugh E McLoone1, Melissa Jacobson, Peter Clark
1Microsoft, Redmond, Washington, USA. hughmcloone4@gmail.com
Ergonomics
|November 27, 2009
Summary
A new curved keyboard design significantly reduces wrist extension and ulnar deviation, improving comfort without impacting typing speed or accuracy. This ergonomic keyboard offers a user-friendly alternative to traditional straight designs.
Area of Science:
- Ergonomics
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Biomechanical Engineering
Background:
- Conventional straight keyboards are prevalent despite ergonomic alternatives.
- The perceived 'medical device' appearance of ergonomic keyboards deters users.
- Need for a keyboard balancing neutral wrist posture with user approachability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel curved keyboard design.
- To reduce ulnar deviation and wrist extension during typing.
- To maintain typing performance and user preference compared to straight keyboards.
Main Methods:
- A curved alphanumeric keyboard with an integrated wrist-rest was designed.
- Typing performance, wrist postures, and perceived fatigue were measured.
- Comparison between the curved and a traditional straight keyboard.
Main Results:
- The curved keyboard reduced ulnar deviation by 2.2 degrees (p < 0.01).
- Wrist extension was reduced by 6.3 degrees with the curved keyboard (p < 0.01).
- No significant differences in typing speed or accuracy were found.
Conclusions:
- The curved keyboard effectively promotes neutral wrist postures.
- It significantly lowers perceived fatigue in the upper extremities.
- The design successfully balances ergonomic benefits with user acceptance and performance.
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...
01:09Design Example: Setting a Curve Using Design Data
Designing and plotting a curve using field data requires precise calculations and execution. A horizontal curve with a radius of 200 meters and an intersection angle of 20 degrees is established using the method of perpendicular offsets from the long chord. The long chord, which spans between the curve's endpoints, is calculated to be 69.46 meters in length. To maintain accuracy in plotting, intervals of 3 meters are selected along the chord.The engineer determines the offset distances for each...
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...
01:23Guidelines for Sketching a Curve
Curve sketching is a systematic method for understanding the overall behavior of a function by analyzing its key mathematical features. A function defines a curve on the coordinate plane, where the horizontal axis represents the input variable and the vertical axis represents the output. The process begins by determining the domain, which specifies the set of input values for which the function is defined and establishes the horizontal extent of the graph.Intercepts with the horizontal and...
01:19Degree of Curvature and Radius of Curvature
The degree of curvature and the radius of curvature are fundamental concepts in determining the sharpness or smoothness of a curve. The degree of curvature is a measure of how steeply a curve bends and can be determined using the chord basis or the arc basis. In the chord basis method, the degree of curvature is defined as the central angle subtended by a chord of 30.48 meters, helping in the calculation of the radius of the curve. The arc basis method defines the degree of curvature as the...
01:25Design Example: Traverse Angle Computations
Traverse angle computations are a critical component of surveying, used to compute the internal angles within a closed traverse. A traverse consists of a series of connected lines forming a closed loop, often used for land boundary delineation or mapping. Calculating the internal angles ensures accuracy in the traverse geometry and is essential for checking survey data integrity.The process begins with known azimuths and bearings of the traverse sides. Internal angles at each vertex are...