Keyboard trays and pedal placement

If anyone is using a keyboard tray, where did you get it and what type is it?

And, using the foot pedal when reclined has always confounded me.  I've heard of people typing reclined for years now, and have always scratched my head about how to use the foot pedal in this position.  I get up often when typing but still at the end of the day have swollen ankles/tight calves.  I have chronic fatigue syndrome so salt is one of my staples as this helps. 

I hope this post keeps going for a while and more people share their tips and techniques.

Thanks to those of you who have already shared!  I'll be trying to type with my keyboard in my lap this weekend.

JudithD

• Typing with your keyboard in your lap - JudithD
  • When I first started transcribing, - Z
  • Typing with your keyboard in your lap - Jeeperbelle
    • Try propping your pillow against your desk or - me
  • I type with my keyboard in my lap... - i_am_mtheaded
    • Keyboard trays and pedal placement - JudithD
      • My desk came with a keyboard tray, as do most of them - me
    • Pedal Placement/Ergonomics - txcatgirl
      • We aren't the only ones wanting - Me
  • I am also interested in this post. - any and all suggestions welcome.

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu

I have had trouble with my feet while working the foot pedal.  One of the services I worked for had a button attached to their keyboard where they could use that to start and stop the dictation, instead of the footpedal.  I know theirs was proprietary, and I couldn't get one from them, but I just wondered if there was something like that out there that could be purchased?  Has anybody else heard of this.

Honestly, it was not a long test and was easy to do just using the mouse etc..It was taking longer to figure out how to use the footpedal feature than doing the actual test.

community college you actually intern somewhere, with a service or in a doctor's office and they offer job placement.

If you don't have experience and don't have job placement your changes of getting a job are very slim.  There are companies that will hire you without experience of you went to Andrews or M-Tec, but very difficult otherwise.

I suggest putting your resume on the various job boards.  There are companies that will hire from resumes only, they don't place ads.  I would also explore your options locally.  A small doctor's office might be willing to give a newbie a chance, might have to perform othe duties also such as filing.  

The cafeteria was a blue haze of cigarette smoke too even though the smokers could smoke at their desks.

The nonsmokers had to go outside to breathe during lunch instead of the smokers going out to smoke.

Now THAT is a change for the better.

keyboard tray.  Depending on how much room you have might have to figure something else out.  I'm right handed, but  I have drawers down the right side of my desk so I would have to use the mouse with my left hand. 

When I use the pillow though I can use the mouse on the right because then I have room on my keyboard tray. 

I posted this advice a few months ago.  I got sooooooooo tired of going to get ice and finding empty trays in the freezer and some in the sink.  So I just threw them out. 

About 2 days later, the kids (and hubby) are like, "How come we don't have any ice? And where are the ice cube trays"  My reply was, "I THREW the ice cube trays away because we NEVER have had any ice and we NEVER will. At least this way I KNOW that when I want some ice for my soda, there will not be any ice in my house EVER AGAIN!"  :) 

They all thought I was crazy.

I also put the trash can out in the garage and I hang up a plastic grocery bag on the door handle of the garage door until it is full enough to tie up and go out in the trash can.  Otherwise, I get the "TOSS" with spilled stuff everywhere,  and the "PYRAMID" and have to get out the trash bags to clean the stuff up.

I shined my house spotless one day and then spent a couple of weeks cleaning just my own stuff.  Washed my own dishes, cleaned my own spills, picked up my own clothes, did my own laundry (including towels that I hid for myself) cleaned my "toothpaste overflow" out of the bathroom sink, etc. (of course I cleaned the toilet and washed the floors, because that is just to icky).

At any rate, after the first day, they were washing dishes on "as per needed" basis.  After about 3 days, everyone was like, "Why is the house such a mess?"

I said, as I walked over shoes that didn't make it into the "shoe basket" by the door, and totally ignored the "clutter" everywhere: "GEE I don't know, I clean up after myself well enough."

They got the hint.  Things aren't immaculate, but much better.

That key printing never wear down because the letters are part of the key itself.  They just don't make them that way anymore because it is too expensive to make.  Some of the mechanical keyboards like Cherry have what they double shot key imprinting and the letters are part of the key itself and don't wear off. That IBM keyboard is very noisy from the type of keyswitch it has so you may not like that.  Logitech and Belkin make some membrane switch keyboards that are supposed to have longer lasting key imprints.  I have a logitech that has the longer lasting key imprints and it is pretty good.  You have to look on the specs to find out if has the longer lasting key printing.

I have experimented so much with keyboards and have done a lot of research.  Way too much info.  

tia

Okay, any lefties use this keyboard? How long did it take to get used to? I use my left thumb for the space bar and I notice on a diagram of the keys that I would always be hitting the backspace key.

I'm really interested in getting a better keyboard. I destroyed my left hand and wrist the other week when I fell because I'm becoming a real klutz.

I bought the Soft Flex gloves, but they only help a little bit. My production is down because of it and it's driving me crazy. I can only type an hour without stopping and then have to rest the hand for some time.

I did buy a Microsoft 2000 keyboard but have yet to recieve it. Is this a good one?

Do you use a keyboard tray with it or just set it on the desk? Do you think a kayboard tray would be the least expensive item right now that would help with a straight keyboard?

Any info you can provide to help me in making any decision would be greatfully appreciated.

'Scuse me for being old school, but I've only ever used a straight keyboard.

computer so you can transcribe wav files.  There are many other formats such as DSS, but they are all digital voice files. 

I don't think brand of foot pedal is important, but need to know if it is game port, serial port, or USB and how many pins it has.   The majority of them are made by Infinity in some foreign country, but sold by many companies. 

PLEASE HELP! Are wav pedals and USB port foot pedals one in the same?  I've only transcribed from audio tapes, and all this is new to me.  Thank you for your help.

play voice files  you have on your computer.   You can get them on the equipment board here, e-bay, or you can Google and get lots of other places.  Some pedals are fairly generic and can play multiple "wav" types, but some only work with certain software.  You can have a serial port connection, a game port connection, or a USB connection.

If you do not already have a job that you need a pedal for I'd suggest waiting because you don't know which kind you will use.  If you need it for testing you can download ExpressScribe for free and use the function keys to test. 

will I need a 9-pin or a 15-pin.  Also, which transcription software for playing back audio files is the best?  I've used one that was a fee download, I think it was called Bytescribe or somethingl ike that.  Does that work for most all files or should I look into purchasing something like Start/Stop or GearPlayer?

Oh and does anyone know where I can get Microsoft Word or Office Suite for a reasonable (I'd say cheap, but cheap usually means bootleg) price? 

Sorry to ask so many questions, but it's been a while since I've worked for a national.  Before the hopsital job I'm being laid off from, I worked in the office at a hospital.  So I've been out of the loop so to speak.

Thanks guys.

For longtime comfort which is best - split keyboard mounted on chair arms or split keyboard to be used on the desk?

Also, why the preference over split keyboards that come totally apart versus split keyboards that are permanently connected at the top?

I want to revamp my office and there are so many different options.

If neither one works then you are not getting a reading or connected via the received.  Have you pushed the "connect" button on both?   Are by accident using rechargable batteries?  Are the batteries good?  I have a rechargable Logitech now and thinking back to my one that wasn't to remember  how it works.  Sometimes you have to move the receiver around a bit so that it can receive the connection as that is how it works.   Are you sure you are plugged into the correct port on the back of your computer.  I am sure you have checked all of this but just going over in my mind what I would check  Again, you have to sometimes push the connect button simultaneously  on the keyboard and the connection base station.   But move the base station around, recheck the batteries and that is all I can say.  I could not type a couple of time but moving my base made it possible.  GO onto Logitech and check out their site for help also. 

Good luck - Patti

I found one in my pile of old computer stuff that I'm sorting through.  It sams NMB The Right Touch and it is a heavy keyboard with a big round plug-in, not USB or PS2.

I left e-mail address, if you want it let me know and you can have it for postage. 

Ha!  What a nut I am!  I wondered "why does she want to know where I am?"    Go to:  www.comfortkeyboard.com.  There are three models, but a lot more expensive than Goldtouch or Maxim.  I think they're worth it, though, as they do come totally apart.  What d'ya think?