The increasing rate of repetitive stress injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome from typing and keyboard use have made numerous people wonder if there is an alternative out there to standard keyboards. Every profession has its supplies and tools of the trade, and typing does as well. The keyboards we find all over the place are not the best ones to use and those who type often or work from home in writing or data entry positions would be wise to invest in proper equipment for the task.

Looking for a computer keyboard that has a V-shape design would be a great beginning. They are frequently referred to as ergonomic keyboards, and they allow you to place your hands and fingers in a more natural position so that the wrist isn't skewed towards the "pinkie" fingers.

Split computer keyboards go one step further. They're sold in three different kinds: fixed, adjustable, and contoured. Fixed-split computer keyboards are literally split in pieces, coming in two or three pieces, and each person has the ability to set the sections of keyboard in whatever position that is best for him or her, maintaining a comfortable, straight position from elbow to fingertips. Adjustable-split computer keyboards also can be reshaped to be on an angle, tilting the vertical center raise. Contoured computer keyboards get the award for being typist-friendly, as they're not only split and angle-adjustable, but the position of the keys themselves is laid out in curves for ideal finger placement.

The list of different computer keyboards continues on and on.

Vertical computer keyboards are split too, the difference is that this style of keyboards are set erect, so that the typist's hands are in a position resembling a hand-shake.

Dvorak keyboards are less complicated, they have a different alphabetic arrangement than the QWERTY keyboard that does a much better job at evenly distributing typing among all the fingers. Many people have switched to a Dvorak keyboard for ergonomic reasons and have found the changeover and learning process easier than they thought.

Chording keyboards close off the parade of alternative keyboards for typists, these types use a mixture of keys that symbolize letters, numbers, and words. Think of pressing chords on a piano to obtain a sound, and you've got the fundamental principle of a chording keyboard. The user can choose the location of the keypads, and there is less finger movement required, on the other hand, these keyboards require training and reduce typing speed.

If you would like to see whether your keyboard is keeping you up to speed, go to the About Us page and take a short typing test.

About the Author

Chris Dunn writes for a medical transcription business that sponsors a site offering a free typing test. See http://www.CareerStep.com/site/page=typingtest.

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