Proper Keyboarding Techniques (Ergonomics)

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Proper Keyboarding Techniques (Ergonomics)
Majority of information and pictures taken from
www.typingpal.com
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The Importance of Typing Correctly

• Typing properly forms the foundation for
• successful touch keyboarding. The importance
• of demonstrating and using proper techniques
• can not be overemphasized. It is extremely
• important to develop good keyboarding habits
• right from the beginning.
• In keyboarding there are 3 goals to be reached in
• this order technique- using your keyboard and
• workstation in the proper way
• accuracy- making few errors
• speed- keying at a good rate
• How do you become good at keyboarding/
• typing? Practice, practice,
  practice!!!!!!!!

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Our first focus is on proper keyboarding
techniques. It is very important to use proper
techniques in order to type well and be
comfortable. The study of this is called
ergonomics- the study of the interaction between
people and their work environment and making
things better (safe, efficient, and comfortable)
with the human body. Developing a comfortable
work position always helps to work better.

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Incorrect
Correct
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Fingering

• Keep fingers curved slightly like a claw on the
  home row keys.
• Strike key with proper finger and then return
  finger to proper home row key. Do not remove
  your hand(s) from the resting position on the
  home row keys. Please do not use the hunt and
  peck method or the peck and peak method.
• The raised lines/bumps/finger feelies on the F
  and J key help you find the home row keys.
• Strike the keys in a quick, snappy motion. Press
  lightly on the keys. Too much pressure may
  repeat the character.
• Begin and end all key strokes at home row
  position.

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• Space bar Depress the space bar with the thumb
  of your right hand. Keep all fingers in home
  position when striking space bar. Strike the
  space bar with a quick motion. Do not pause
  before or after striking the space bar.
• Shift key Shift quickly with the appropriate
  little/pinky finger. Keep the rest of the
  fingers on the home row keys. Hold down the key
  completely and then return the finger to the home
  position. Do not pause before or after operating
  the shift key. Use the left shift when keying a
  character on the right side of the keyboard and
  the right shift when keying a character on the
  left side of the keyboard.
• Enter/Return key Use the little/pinky finger of
  the right hand for the enter/return key. Keep
  your other fingers in home position. Strike the
  key quickly. Return finger to home position
  quickly. Keep eyes on copy/monitor while using
  key. Do not pause before or after striking the
  key.
• Tab Key Use the little/pinky finger of the left
  hand to strike the tab key. Keep your other
  fingers in home position. Strike the key
  quickly. Do not pause before or after striking
  the key.

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Body Posture

• Your silhouette sitting down must look like a
  staircase. This good posture ensures minimal
  injuries/tension.
• Your back/trunk must remain vertical/straight and
  lean slightly on the back of the chair forming a
  somewhat 90 degree angle with the seat.

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• The thighs and the legs must form a 90 degree
  angle.
• Feet must be flat on the floor. One foot should
  be slightly ahead of the other for good balance.
• The forearm and the arm should form a 90 degree
  angle.

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• The top of the screen must be aligned directly
  with the eyes.
• Keep your wrists low. Do not let your wrists
  rest on the keyboard.
• Move the mouse with your forearm, not just your
  wrist.
• Your hands should be close enough together to
  "lock" thumbs.
• Monitor should be an arms length away from you
  and the keyboard should be at the edge of the
  table at about a hands span away.

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Eyes

• Keep your eyes on the copy/monitor. Do not look
  at the keyboard. It is okay to look at the
  keyboard when you are first learning a key.
• The top of the screen must be aligned directly
  with the eyes.
• During a work session, the eye is the most called
  upon organ. Many people suffering from
  headaches, dizziness, or sight problems neglect
  their visual comfort.

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• As with driving a car, working in front of a
  screen can become hypnotizing. Be careful of
  this.
• At regular 10-minute intervals, lift up your eyes
  and look straight ahead, at least 15-20 feet.

• Make sure there is no glare coming from your
  screen.
• Copy is kept on the right (on a stand if
  possible) if right-handed and vice versa if left.

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• Never strain your eyes in order to see better.
  Blink your eyes or look straight ahead to
  re-establish your focus.
• Avoid any light reflecting on the screen. It is
  obviously NOT recommended to work with the lights
  turned off. There is not enough light coming
  from your screen to read without straining your
  eyes.

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Consequences of Improper Keyboarding

• Carpal tunnel syndrome- a medical condition
• in which the median nerve is compressed at the
• wrist causing symptoms like tingling,
• numbness, pain, and sometimes weakness in
• parts of the hand.
• Repetitive strain injury- Overuse of the muscles
• of the hands, wrists, arms, or shoulders on a
• repeated and usually daily basis causes injury to
  
• these muscles. This results in inflammation that
  
• never really is given a chance to recover, since
• the activity that causes it usually continues.

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Be Careful

• The human body does not tolerate sustained and
  repetitive efforts well. Be careful and take
  breaks frequently to relieve any numbness in legs
  or arms.
• It is better to divide your work periods and to
  take frequent short breaks. Do some stretching
  exercises. Change your work position frequently
  without neglecting good back posture. Take breaks
  every 30-60 minutes. During that time, get up
  and stretch.

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• Learn and use key stroke combinations (keyboard
  shortcuts) instead of mouse-activated menus. It
  is not recommended to engage in intensive and
  continuous use of the mouse, especially if it is
  not at the same level as the keyboard.
• REMEMBER TO MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS
• USE PROPER KEYBOARDING TECHNIQUES!
• IT MAY BE FRUSTRATING AT FIRST, BUT
• THESE METHODS MOST BE FOLLOWED AT
• ALL TIMES!!!

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Describe why these are examples of poor typing
techniques
WHENS THE GAME???
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Describe why this is an example of good typing
techniques
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VISUAL AIDS
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Wrists off the Keyboard/Table
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How Important are Proper Keyboard Techniques?

• 1. Techniques
• 2. Techniques
• 3. Techniques
• 4. Techniques
• 5. Techniques

• 6. Techniques
• 7. Techniques
• 8. Techniques
• 9. Speed
• 10. Accuracy