Ergonomic Keyboard Tray

The keyboard is the main interface between us and the computer. It is also the reason of most recurring stress injuries resulting from computer use. Having the right ergonomic features in a keyboard tray is essential to our health and well being at a computer work station. A high-quality keyboard tray can make a world of difference. An awful one can be shoddier than none at all.

Adjustable Keyboard Trays are one of the most significant upgrades to a computer workstation to improve ergonomic comfort. The Keyboard Trays offers a fully articulating and adjustable tray to quickly and easily conform to any user. Adjustable trays help bring our computer input device to a proper, healthy typing position.

Most of the trays are fully customizable and are manufactured by well-known brands such as WorkRite, Kensington, Intellaspace and Human scale. There are also curved Adjustable Keyboard Trays for natural style ergonomic keyboards. There is a selection of Sit-Stand Trays that allows user to properly position the keyboard for use sitting down or standing up.

The most significant characteristic is the capability to adjust the height. Keyboard height is determined by our chair height (if sitting) and arm length. Being able to fine tune that and adjust it as we adjust our sitting position throughout the day is essential.

The keyboard needs to be held at a relaxed, negative angle that ropes the natural wrist position. Typically this angle does not need to be changed frequently. Keyboard tilt does not need to be adjusted during subtle posture changes as the angle of our arms should remain relatively constant. However, if our posture changes more dramatically during the day - say, from a slight forward tilt to a recline - then our keyboard tray should be easy to tilt.

The mouse should be positioned next to and on the same height as the keyboard. Ideally it should be placed along the circular arc of our lower arm makes when rotating from the keyboard to the side.

The keyboard tray should be able to accommodate the largest keyboard we are likely to use and the mouse on both the left and right side. There may come an instance when mouse ambidexterity is needed. Wrist / Palm rests are helpful during periods where our hands are inactive. There ought to be room for these as well if they are not already built in.

The ability to slide the keyboard tray in and out while still at operational height will allow us to scoot closer to or farther from the monitor to relieve eye strain while still maintaining an ergonomically sound setup.

Our keyboard tray should be rock solid. We do not want it to wobble or deflect when in use. A wobbly tray can be worse than just using the desktop or even our lap. Simple trays mounted with drawer runners on both sides are steady but lack a number of these ergonomic benefits. Adjustable device are typically center mounted and are more prone to deflection. Typically the cheaper the keyboard tray the more are the chances of it to wobble.

• John Palsson
• 28/05/2009, 9:59 PM
• 0 Comments