A repetitive stress damage (RSI) like carpal tunnel syndrome happens as the results of mild forces utilized many a whole lot or hundreds of occasions. The forces concerned are often so minor that they don’t appear to be a difficulty while you really feel them, however they add up over time. For heavy pc customers, the keyboard is a typical supply of RSIs as it is not uncommon to faucet the keys a number of thousand occasions each single day. Prevention is vital and an necessary step is studying correct typing method. To assist with that, Chris developed the Light Typing Coach.

There are some things you are able to do to forestall an RSI brought on by typing. An ergonomic keyboard could make a giant distinction, as can a wrist pad that lifts your fingers as much as the fitting peak in your keyboard. And whereas we lack conclusive literature, there’s anecdotal proof to counsel that mechanical keyboards might help, as they supply tactile and auditory suggestions while you’re pushed a key far sufficient.

However crucial change you may make is to sort with much less pressure. As a substitute of pushing a key laborious and shoving it down so far as it’ll go, push it gently and solely far sufficient to register. However that may be a tough behavior to ingrain, which is why Chris created this system.

The Light Typing Coach sits beneath a keyboard and detects harsh typing. When it does, it flashes a lightweight to inform the consumer. That reminder, given constantly, ought to assist to strengthen good typing habits.

This works utilizing a quite simple circle consisting of two piezoelectric sensors, a Microchip ATtiny85 microcontroller, an LED, and a button. The button lets the consumer configure the detection threshold for harsh typing, which is helpful for tailoring the system to a selected keyboard and for gradual coaching. Energy is available in through USB and the parts mount onto a customized PCB that matches within a easy polystyrene tube.

In case you’re involved about RSI — and also you most likely ought to be — then Chris’s Light Typing Coach could also be very useful.