Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity at DVinfo.net

Joe Riggs · June 3rd, 2014, 08:09 AM

Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity

I'm looking into different keyboards, mice, and other tools for better ergonomics and productivity.

Currently I'm using the full size mac keyboard and mighty mouse. The mighty mouse has to go,
I need something bigger for my hand.

Maybe a trackball instead.
Amazon.com: Kensington Expert Mouse Optical USB Trackball for PC or Mac 64325: Electronics

A vertical mouse
Amazon.com: Evoluent VerticalMouse 4 "Regular Size" Right Hand (model # VM4R) - USB Wired: Electronics

Or a gaming mouse with programmable buttons.
Amazon.com: Logitech Wireless Gaming Mouse G700: Electronics

Not mice but might help with productivity.

Heard a couple of editors rave about gaming pads
The One-Handed Samurai ? Tobias Beul

Shuttle pro
Amazon.com: CONTOUR DESIGN ShuttlePRO V.2: Electronics

Keyboard

I don't like how it's NLE specific but the jog.shuttle wheel is cool.
Bella Professional Series 3.0 Keyboard for Adobe Premiere 5201C

Gaming keyboard with programmable buttons
Amazon.com: Logitech G11 Gaming Keyboard (Black/Silver): Electronics

Any thoughts on the above or recommendations would be appreciated.
I don't do too much graphic work so I haven't really looked at a tablet option.

Seth Bloombaum · June 3rd, 2014, 10:19 AM

There are not so many choices for keyboards. The split keyboards like the Microsoft Natural KB claim better ergonomics, and perhaps they are, I've never used one.

Mouses though... I've had my adventures. The truth is that any repetitive motion will eventually give you trouble. My first mouse substitute was a thumb trackball. That was good for a couple years, then some issues with the joints in my thumb. I expect this for any substitute input device.

I've tried the Shuttlepro and graphics tablets and various trackballs - all were good, except the tab had more limited use for me (some make it work for everything).

The ergo people say vary your position and methods; that's the real long-term key.

For me, the solution is in three parts:

1) Learn to mouse left-handed. (I'm a righty) Doing this at home has let me use right mice at work/school - variation of position! I leave the moust set up for right-hand buttons. This wasn't as challenging as it sounds!

2) Learn and use all keyboard shortcuts, and stop mousing so durn much. I have become a master of J-K-L-I-O editing, and it has been a huge contributor to hand health... and speed! For some styles of editing I'm also able to use KB shortcuts to move focus to the timeline from the source monitor and back again. Different NLEs have more or fewer limitations for this, but all I've run into can handle JKLIO.

3) Use specialty input devices like Shuttle and Graphics Tablet for speciality projects that call for a lot of this or that. You bet the tablet comes out for masking, and the shuttle can be really good not only for transport control, but also for adjusting sliders.

I've been working a lot of years. These methods seem like they will work for me for a lot more years!

PS. Do also read up on seating, kb/worksurface height, and monitor height. They all contribute to hand health.

PPS. Oh, I also have wrist rests for my mouse and KB on my main NLE station... and the built in rest on the laptop works well.

PPPS. I really like the trackpad on my laptop, and someday I'll buy one to try on the desktop. Imprecise, but easy and non-stressful. Multiple input methods so you can vary are best!

Brian Drysdale · June 3rd, 2014, 10:29 AM

The most powerful controller for a NLE is thought to be the Lightworks console.https://www.lwks.com/components/com_...22708b3c29.jpg

The lightworks NLE is designed for to work using this, although it works well with a number of other third party controllers and just with a mouse and keyboard. Editors love this particular controller because it allows them to edit without taking their eyes off the screen. However, tt doesn't work with other NLE's and has a professional level price tag, although they seem to last for 20 years or more.

John Nantz · June 3rd, 2014, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Riggs

Currently I'm using the full size mac keyboard and mighty mouse. The mighty mouse has to go,
I need something bigger for my hand.

Amen on the small mighty mouse size. I got one with my keyboard but it's too small. Went to a Logitech M510 wireless that uses the little USB thingy. It also has a little bit of heft so that helps too, and there is a circuit that really helps with battery life and that part I'd consider is a must-have.

As for Seth's comments - sounds like the voice of experience. Just tried using my mouse in my left hand and almost had a car wreck!

Seating: Consider stand-up with a stool. Kinda hard with a standard desk, though.

Voice actuation: Wonder if there anything out there where one can control some actions using voice controls? That'd be neat.

Jon Fairhurst · June 3rd, 2014, 11:20 AM

I have used a pen and tablet for years. I don't know that it helps productivity. You have to grab the pen and it's not effective for hitting the same point repeatedly. (You can leave a mouse in the same position and click away; the pen always moves.)

The main advantage is that you don't twist your forearm when holding a pen. Spending hour after hour drawing schematics with a mouse in my 30s damaged my wrist and going to the pen really helped.

Dave Farrants · June 3rd, 2014, 11:38 AM

Best mouse I've found for my Mac / FCP setup is a Logitech Performance MX - 7 buttons, 2 types of scroll plus side scroll and larger than a normal mouse. I've programmed 4 buttons for the most common functions I use in FCP and used in conjunction with a Contour Shuttle Pro.

Donald McPherson · June 3rd, 2014, 01:07 PM

Funny thing today I was speaking to my health and safety advisor about something else. I happend to mention that I use a mouse rest. She actually told me they are not as good as you would think as when you are using them your wrist is twisted in a downward fashion putting more strain on your wrist.

Dave Farrants · June 3rd, 2014, 01:11 PM

Found that out the hard way, so I cut a second mat to fit into the back of the first and my elbow is now also supported on a gel pad - that sorted the problem!

Seth Bloombaum · June 3rd, 2014, 04:10 PM

I suppose it depends on what wrist rest you're using... mine is very low, perhaps a half inch above the work surface. And, as Dave pointed out, the height of your elbow very much figures into this too.

Just to clarify my previous post, this journey for me has been mostly about responding to repetitive motion injuries. It isn't clear that the O.P. was experiencing that.

I highly recommend avoiding repetitive motion injury. The recovery is damn slow; we're typically talking months. I'm happy to now be an ambi-mouser, this provides instant relief and variation, even if I don't have the other tools handy.

It's really keyboard editing that has sped up my workflow...

Nicholas de Kock · June 18th, 2014, 12:31 PM

I had some serious pain issues with my mouse hand so I started looking for solutions. I switched over to the Evoluent VerticalMouse 4, I swear by it, if you are spending hours editing it's a must have. The mouse also comes with software to bind actions to buttons, I've set mine up so that I can execute my most used functions via the mouse, keeps my hands off the keyboard.

Evoluent VerticalMouse, Vertical Mouse, ergonomic mouse, ergonomic computer mouse, computer mouse, optical mouse, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive stress disorder, RSI

June 3rd, 2014, 08:09 AM	#1
Joe Riggs Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 189	Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity I'm looking into different keyboards, mice, and other tools for better ergonomics and productivity. Currently I'm using the full size mac keyboard and mighty mouse. The mighty mouse has to go, I need something bigger for my hand. Maybe a trackball instead. Amazon.com: Kensington Expert Mouse Optical USB Trackball for PC or Mac 64325: Electronics A vertical mouse Amazon.com: Evoluent VerticalMouse 4 "Regular Size" Right Hand (model # VM4R) - USB Wired: Electronics Or a gaming mouse with programmable buttons. Amazon.com: Logitech Wireless Gaming Mouse G700: Electronics Not mice but might help with productivity. Heard a couple of editors rave about gaming pads The One-Handed Samurai ? Tobias Beul Shuttle pro Amazon.com: CONTOUR DESIGN ShuttlePRO V.2: Electronics Keyboard I don't like how it's NLE specific but the jog.shuttle wheel is cool. Bella Professional Series 3.0 Keyboard for Adobe Premiere 5201C Gaming keyboard with programmable buttons Amazon.com: Logitech G11 Gaming Keyboard (Black/Silver): Electronics Any thoughts on the above or recommendations would be appreciated. I don't do too much graphic work so I haven't really looked at a tablet option.

June 3rd, 2014, 10:19 AM	#2
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity There are not so many choices for keyboards. The split keyboards like the Microsoft Natural KB claim better ergonomics, and perhaps they are, I've never used one. Mouses though... I've had my adventures. The truth is that any repetitive motion will eventually give you trouble. My first mouse substitute was a thumb trackball. That was good for a couple years, then some issues with the joints in my thumb. I expect this for any substitute input device. I've tried the Shuttlepro and graphics tablets and various trackballs - all were good, except the tab had more limited use for me (some make it work for everything). The ergo people say vary your position and methods; that's the real long-term key. For me, the solution is in three parts: 1) Learn to mouse left-handed. (I'm a righty) Doing this at home has let me use right mice at work/school - variation of position! I leave the moust set up for right-hand buttons. This wasn't as challenging as it sounds! 2) Learn and use all keyboard shortcuts, and stop mousing so durn much. I have become a master of J-K-L-I-O editing, and it has been a huge contributor to hand health... and speed! For some styles of editing I'm also able to use KB shortcuts to move focus to the timeline from the source monitor and back again. Different NLEs have more or fewer limitations for this, but all I've run into can handle JKLIO. 3) Use specialty input devices like Shuttle and Graphics Tablet for speciality projects that call for a lot of this or that. You bet the tablet comes out for masking, and the shuttle can be really good not only for transport control, but also for adjusting sliders. I've been working a lot of years. These methods seem like they will work for me for a lot more years! PS. Do also read up on seating, kb/worksurface height, and monitor height. They all contribute to hand health. PPS. Oh, I also have wrist rests for my mouse and KB on my main NLE station... and the built in rest on the laptop works well. PPPS. I really like the trackpad on my laptop, and someday I'll buy one to try on the desktop. Imprecise, but easy and non-stressful. Multiple input methods so you can vary are best! __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

June 3rd, 2014, 10:29 AM	#3
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Re: Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity The most powerful controller for a NLE is thought to be the Lightworks console.https://www.lwks.com/components/com_...22708b3c29.jpg The lightworks NLE is designed for to work using this, although it works well with a number of other third party controllers and just with a mouse and keyboard. Editors love this particular controller because it allows them to edit without taking their eyes off the screen. However, tt doesn't work with other NLE's and has a professional level price tag, although they seem to last for 20 years or more.

June 3rd, 2014, 11:20 AM	#5
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity I have used a pen and tablet for years. I don't know that it helps productivity. You have to grab the pen and it's not effective for hitting the same point repeatedly. (You can leave a mouse in the same position and click away; the pen always moves.) The main advantage is that you don't twist your forearm when holding a pen. Spending hour after hour drawing schematics with a mouse in my 30s damaged my wrist and going to the pen really helped. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

June 3rd, 2014, 11:38 AM	#6
Dave Farrants Major Player Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Gloucs, UK Posts: 216	Re: Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity Best mouse I've found for my Mac / FCP setup is a Logitech Performance MX - 7 buttons, 2 types of scroll plus side scroll and larger than a normal mouse. I've programmed 4 buttons for the most common functions I use in FCP and used in conjunction with a Contour Shuttle Pro. __________________ https://www.foxvideo.co.uk

June 3rd, 2014, 01:07 PM	#7
Donald McPherson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Aberdeen Scotland Posts: 815	Re: Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity Funny thing today I was speaking to my health and safety advisor about something else. I happend to mention that I use a mouse rest. She actually told me they are not as good as you would think as when you are using them your wrist is twisted in a downward fashion putting more strain on your wrist.

June 3rd, 2014, 01:11 PM	#8
Dave Farrants Major Player Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Gloucs, UK Posts: 216	Re: Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity Found that out the hard way, so I cut a second mat to fit into the back of the first and my elbow is now also supported on a gel pad - that sorted the problem! __________________ https://www.foxvideo.co.uk

June 3rd, 2014, 04:10 PM	#9
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity I suppose it depends on what wrist rest you're using... mine is very low, perhaps a half inch above the work surface. And, as Dave pointed out, the height of your elbow very much figures into this too. Just to clarify my previous post, this journey for me has been mostly about responding to repetitive motion injuries. It isn't clear that the O.P. was experiencing that. I highly recommend avoiding repetitive motion injury. The recovery is damn slow; we're typically talking months. I'm happy to now be an ambi-mouser, this provides instant relief and variation, even if I don't have the other tools handy. It's really keyboard editing that has sped up my workflow... __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

June 18th, 2014, 12:31 PM	#10
Nicholas de Kock Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: KLD, South Africa Posts: 983	Re: Keyboard and Mouse for better ergonomics and productivity I had some serious pain issues with my mouse hand so I started looking for solutions. I switched over to the Evoluent VerticalMouse 4, I swear by it, if you are spending hours editing it's a must have. The mouse also comes with software to bind actions to buttons, I've set mine up so that I can execute my most used functions via the mouse, keeps my hands off the keyboard. Evoluent VerticalMouse, Vertical Mouse, ergonomic mouse, ergonomic computer mouse, computer mouse, optical mouse, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive stress disorder, RSI