Logitech keyboard rides the Wave
Touchy feely...
Numb fingers, sore wrists, aching arms and painful fingertips are all just some of the problems that can be caused by our 21st century addiction to the keyboard. But, Logitech has taken these pain-points onboard and, with a little aquatic inspiration, created the Wave keyboard.
It claims the keyboard, which is available in either a corded or cordless version, is a straight keyboard evolution. The design uses a five degree curve across the keyboard’s surface that is supposed to open-up users’ hands, so that their wrists are not forced to bend across the keyboard.
Logitech's Wave keyboard is...um, swell
Logitech, astoundingly, has discovered that fingers vary in length and so also positioned the keys in a wave shape, with a 0.4cm difference between the lowest and highest keys. For example, keys A and Enter are near the top of the wave because they are typically pressed by your pinkies.
Could the Wave help to combat RSI?
Since the keys are not divided into left and right-hand groups - as on Microsoft’s Natural Keyboard Elite - ‘adaption time’ to the keyboard should prove minimal and a padded wrist rest that follows the keyboard’s wave contour will also provide typing support.
Apparently the wave design will open your palms
The keyboard is compatible with both Macs and PCs, but its Vista compatibility means some shortcut keys link to the OS’s Flip 3D display function and on-screen sidebar. This also extends as far as a type-speed indicator and error-rate tracker.
Logitech has also created a wave-inspired cordless laser mouse, in an attempt to replicate the Wave keyboard’s comfort.
A corded version of the Wave keyboard will be available worldwide from October, priced at $50 (£26/€41), while the cordless version will be sold in combination with the Wave mouse for $90 (£47/€62).
COMMENTS
Microsoft egonomic natural 4000
This keyboard is like a well designed office chair. Makes everything else feel like an upturned milk crate. It props up the front edge and slopes back slightly providing a nice wrist rest that allows typing with wrists rested and dead level. It's split and mounded in the middle like the old Microsoft Natural keyboard so hands fall straight onto the keys with no sideways twisting. The keys have good deep movement and feel. Standard American 101 layout with the \ key above the enter key. I love it and I'm a rabid Linux/MacOS/Anything-but-Windows user. This they did well.
backlit - backlit
For those sad gamers amongst us, this wave stuff is horrendous (as was the natural MS thing). You can't get to half the keys simply by moving your hand left and right, you have to look at the keys so you go up and down or all kinds of things happen. :(
....and I can't replace my logitech backlit super linking gaming keyboard that tells me stuff on it's LED.
flip down LCD's and such..
"with flip down LCD's and such....... why?"
Personnaly I like having a clock on my keyboard (esp. when gaming!) I bought it because of the programmable G keys, which change automatically depending on application, and no f-lock, proper ins del pgup pgdn block!! Im a developer too.. and to be fair I havent written too many of my own applications for the lcd yet but the fact that it came with a sdk was impressive.. now I can keep track of rss feeds, email p2p rates, network bandwidth, server status, etc whatever i program, all on the keyboard no clicks required. its Ace!
Is it the angle ...?
Is it the angles or the horrible rubbery "thunk" of the keys which causes the problems?
I'll stick with decent key switches, thanks:
{ Typing this message on one of these - the compact version of the "Model M": http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html }
I like my cleaved-in-two monstrosity
It lets me hunch directly over the keyboard, with my forearms at 90 degrees to each other, tapping away in a semi-fetal position. much more comfortable for my wrists, although for some reason my lower back has been playing up....
this design doesnt appear to have an adequate angle between the two sides for me to be happy :(
