Smartfish ErgoMotion Keyboard fingers-on

The crew at Smartfish have been working overtime on their world hunger-ending, carpal tunnel-killing, and totally innovative peripherals, and they're finally ready to introduce the complement to its ErgoMotion mouse: the ErgoMotion keyboard. We got to lay our overworked, underfed fingers on a prototype on display at Digital Experience, and although it's certainly nifty, we can't say we're rushing to buy one. Our key presses felt somewhat shallow, but we'll cut the crew a little slack because it's still a prototype. The selling point here is the fact that the keyboard itself is segmented in two, and is programmed to reconfigure itself periodically -- a phenomenon that definitely takes some getting used to. The movements, although subtle, are definitely noticeable, but see for yourself in the videos after the break.

Smartfish ErgoMotion Keyboard fingers-on

[Solidstate89 Posted Jan 7th 2010 2:57AM]

If you type properly, Carpal tunnel isn't even an issue. Problem is no one likes to have to type with their hands raised up properly. These "ergonomic" keyboards are usually so much more complicated to use than a conventional keyboard. If I were to spend any significant portion of money on a new keyboard, I'd get myself one of those DAS Keyboards. Mmmm, sweet mechanical switches and full n-key rollover.

[psycros Posted Jan 7th 2010 4:07AM]

@Solidstate89: BS!!! Carpal tunnel has almost NOTHING to do with proper hand positioning, its 99% repetitive motion. Read up on something before you post.

[Wwhat Posted Jan 7th 2010 7:50AM]

There is a difference between Repetitive Strain Injury and carpal tunnel you know, with some overlap, IE carpal tunnel as an RSI, but RSI is a broader term not just carpal.

[petercyr Posted Jan 7th 2010 10:38AM]

@Solidstate89

I found that going from a regular keyboard to a MS natural ergo keyboard took away all my problems. I switched my keyboards at work and at home and I can't remember having problems since. Typing properly or not, if I have both my hands on a regular keyboard, my wrists are bent outwards a little to keep my fingers in line with the keys. Doing this 14+ hours a day definitely isn't good on the wrists.

I can see how a slight change in the angle over alternating periods of time would cause the internal friction to shift points a little but not sure how much of a difference that would make for someone who's already using an ergonomic keyboard. Time will tell but I doubt i'd be spending much to find out.

[Solidstate89 Posted Jan 7th 2010 12:09PM]

@psycros
Actually, maybe you should read up on it before you post. As Wwhat said, there is a difference in injuries. Carpal tunnel happens when you infact compress and apply continued stress to (and this is shocking) your carpal tunnels and end up compressing them. That is based entirely on how you type. If you wrest your wrists along the edge of the keyboard, you're compressing the nerves through your carpal tunnels and that's how Carpal Tunnel syndrome occurs.

[pontelon Posted Jan 7th 2010 3:01AM]

My keyboard moving on me sounds awesome, not going to lie. Not sure if I'd pay that price for it.

[lazidude202 Posted Jan 7th 2010 3:02AM]

Yamaka FTW!!

[aubreyq Posted Jan 7th 2010 3:15AM]

Jacob, did you post RAW of TIF files for the second set of pictures? The images are enormous!

[aubreyq Posted Jan 7th 2010 3:15AM]

@aubreyq: Meant to say RAW *or* TIFF.

[simbr Posted Jan 7th 2010 3:29AM]

@aubreyq
They are definitely large JPGs

[MJGAMER 1991 XBL Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:12PM]

@aubreyq
According to FireFox when you right-click > properties

Type: JPEG image
Image Dimensions: 93.83 KB (96081 bytes)
Size of File: 93.83 KB (96081 bytes)

Mystery Solved, and they're not really that big anyways.

[MJGAMER 1991 XBL Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:14PM]

Edit-

Image Dimension are 600px × 450px

[CJ Posted Jan 7th 2010 3:20AM]

Its all fun and games until your robotic keyboard decides that it needs no master and permanantly locks itself into "earthquake mode".

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 7th 2010 4:04AM]

Oh dear. Are those flat keys on a full-sized keyboards. Sexy is one thing, function is another.Of course, I am typing this from a Model M with all the prerequisite biases...

[psycros Posted Jan 7th 2010 4:05AM]

Umm...so, its a split wing-style keyboard. With flat keys. Wow, that's...so not innovative. Or desirable.

[sfokevin Posted Jan 7th 2010 4:14AM]

In our company it was common that any new employee who asked for a Ergo anything would be the least productive lame ass of the bunch...

[emdotdee Posted Jan 7th 2010 5:16AM]

Looks like it's wearing as thong.

[joelaf Posted Jan 7th 2010 8:31AM]

Seems it'd be like typing on a slow moving Python

[AcE17 Posted Jan 7th 2010 11:27AM]

"Fingers-on"

............. Cochinos!!!!!!