The Development and Evaluation of the Keybowl: A Study on an Ergonomically Designed Alphanumeric Input Device

Abstract

This paper provides a description and discloses preliminary findings of a newly designed alphanumeric keyboard called the Keybowl. The Keybowl was designed and developed to provide a solution to the multi-million dollar a year problem of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) as it relates to typing. The Keybowl totally eliminates finger movement, minimizes wrist movement, and uses the concept of concurrent independent inputs (a.k.a. chording) in which two domes are moved laterally to type. Initial results indicate that users of the Keybowl typed an average of 52% of their regular keyboard speed in as little as five hours. In regard to ergonomic advantage, flexion/extension wrist movements have been reduced by an average of 81.5% while movements in the ulnar/radial plane were reduced by an average of 48%.

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