Thoughts on full-size keyboards

[magic_mouse_max]

As someone who codes daily to make a living, I pay close attention to how I use input devices to avoid hurting my body. With that in mind, I felt a bit sad seeing the following image on Apple's website (https://www.apple.com/se/mac-mini/). It says a lot about the current full-size Magic Keyboard design and its potential ergonomic impact on our bodies.

As we can see, the full-size keyboard isn't centrally aligned with the monitor - It's shifted slightly to the left due to the arrow keys and numpad. This results in a slight but noticeable shift in users' body positioning. Some turn their bodies slightly, which can result in a small turn of the neck; others move their arms and shoulders slightly to reach the keyboard, which can put extra strain on one of the wrists.

The right arm angle to reach the mouse is also worth noting. Once again, the extra keys push the mouse further away from the body's centre, forcing the arm to fan out in order to reach it. This position could also add strain to the arm and shoulder over the long term.

Now, are these really issues? Yes and no. I'm not an expert so I can't give professional health advice. But, if someone uses this setup for prolonged periods without proper care and rest, then these added strains could potentially compound into larger long-term health issues.

Lastly, I'd like to add that I used full-size keyboards exclusively until my late-30s and didn't notice anything unusual. But ever since I entered my 40s, I've started noticing these details. I've also spoken to several coworkers in their 20s, and they don't find full-sized keyboards to e an issue. So, take all of the above with a grain of salt. However, I do wish that Apple at least tone down the "pro" aura from their marketing of full-size keyboards, because larger isn't necessarily better in this context.

 

[smirking]

I can answer this as I have a lot of ergonomics knowledge from my original career. The answer to almost any question about ergonomics is the same. "It depends."

Like you, I had no problem using a full sized keyboard when I was younger, but I've avoided them for some time now and have discomfort now if I use them for long. A few things changed. I've lost some flexibility, there's more wear and tear on my joints, I spend more time at my computer, and I use the mouse more.

Posture and technique can greatly affect how your body experiences devices. Mimic the posture of the man in the photo. Now slump forward like you're a hunchback. Keep your elbow pinned to your side. Pivot your right hand in and out in an arc like you're reaching for the space bar and then reaching back for a mouse that's placed too far away. Reset yourself and now stand fully upright with your shoulders pulled back slightly and do the same. You should now be able to reach further and more comfortably.

If you're young and/or only use a computer for a few hours a day, you could probably do anything and it'll be fine. If you have no pain or discomfort with what you're doing, don't worry about it. Anyone who does have discomfort, even if it's mild and doesn't interfere with their work should pay attention to that as a warning sign of future problems to come.

So how do you right yourself? That's way beyond the scope of a single post. I refer back to the standard answer about ergonomics. It depends, but it starts and ends with listening to your body.

If you have the financial means to do so, experiment with different devices to figure out how it affects your body. You may be surprised that something works for you, but not for other people. Just about everyone hated the ultra-flat butterfly keyboards and found them painful in more ways than one. I had the opposite experience (which surprised me too). It helped me tweak my typing mechanics and allowed me end 10 years of daily hand and wrist pain.

It all depends on the person, the task, and how you use a device.