McLoone Hugh E, Jacobson Melissa, Hegg Chau, Johnson Peter W
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA.
Work. 2010;37(4):445-56. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2010-1109.
Research has shown that fixed-split, ergonomic keyboards lessen the pain and functional status in symptomatic individuals as well as reduce the likelihood of developing musculoskeletal disorders in asymptomatic typists over extended use. The goal of this study was to evaluate design features to determine whether the current fixed-split ergonomic keyboard design could be improved.
Thirty-nine, adult-aged, fixed-split ergonomic keyboard users were recruited to participate in one of three studies.
First utilizing non-functional models and later a functional prototype, three studies evaluated keyboard design features including: 1) keyboard lateral inclination, 2) wrist rest height, 3) keyboard slope, and 4) curved "gull-wing" key layouts.
The findings indicated that keyboard lateral inclination could be increased from 8° to 14°; wrist rest height could be increased up to 10 mm from current setting; positive, flat, and negative slope settings were equally preferred and facilitated greater postural variation; and participants preferred a new gull-wing key layout. The design changes reduced forearm pronation and wrist extension while not adversely affecting typing performance.
This research demonstrated how iterative-evaluative, user-centered research methods can be utilized to improve a product's design such as a fixed-split ergonomic keyboard.
研究表明，固定分体式人体工程学键盘可减轻有症状个体的疼痛并改善其功能状态，同时降低无症状打字员在长期使用后患上肌肉骨骼疾病的可能性。本研究的目的是评估设计特征，以确定当前的固定分体式人体工程学键盘设计是否可以改进。
招募了39名成年固定分体式人体工程学键盘用户参与三项研究中的一项。
三项研究首先使用非功能性模型，随后使用功能性原型，评估了键盘的设计特征，包括：1）键盘横向倾斜度，2）腕托高度，3）键盘坡度，以及4）弯曲的“鸥翼”式按键布局。
研究结果表明，键盘横向倾斜度可从8°增加到14°；腕托高度可在当前设置的基础上增加10毫米；正向、平坦和负向坡度设置同样受到青睐，并且有助于实现更大的姿势变化；参与者更喜欢新的鸥翼式按键布局。设计更改减少了前臂旋前和手腕伸展，同时对打字性能没有不利影响。
本研究证明了如何利用迭代评估、以用户为中心的研究方法来改进产品设计，如固定分体式人体工程学键盘。
