I use a laptop for the majority of my theological research, and I’ve intermittently encountered symptoms of carpal tunnel. I’ve made two useful additions that minimized this at my main study: an external keyboard and a second monitor. [Update in May 2014: How I Set Up My Desks: One for Sitting, One for Walking.] I recently made a third addition that has virtually eliminated the problem: the IMAK SmartGlove. (I wear size medium. It’s also available in sizes large and small.)
I became aware of this product in May at The Gospel Coalition’s pastor’s colloquium. The man hired to transcribe the proceedings used his laptop and an IMAK SmartGlove on each hand. He highly recommended them to me when I asked about them. I now regularly and gratefully use them myself and am happy to commend them.
Are those your hands in the picture?
JT
Very funny.
my photocopier repairman with the pocket protector called – he says that those “smartgloves” are nerdy.
Only Sam. :-)
Well, I suppose that the Rabbi Hillel might have looked at this based on one of his hermeneutical axioms, perhaps one of these two:
1. Qal wahomer (an argument from the lesser to the greater)—your argument
2. Dabar halarned me’inyano (context establishes meaning)—in which case the repairman renders his judgment illegitimate and the two negatives make a positive. You lose.
Just like old days in the dorm, man.
Don’t be too quick to assume your symptoms are carpal tunnel. They might be, but there are other possibilities. I had a similar situation a few years ago and wore a similar, though less sophisticated pair of gloves for several years and they did seem to help some. I also went to an adjustable, “tented” keyboard, relocated my mouse, etc. I finally broke down and had it checked out medically. My GP concurred that it was CT, but when he sent me to the specialist it turns out that it was not CT but arthritis. (OK, I’m older than you are!) Surprisingly, since I quit wearing the gloves it has cleared up and I rarely experience the periodic pain that I had before. I’m not using that keyboard any longer since I’ve also moved now to a laptop for almost everything and the keyboard is on my office desktop.
Rod
Hey Andy,
It was nice meeting you last night, and I felt obligated to leave a comment on this post after watching you furiously type with those “mittens.” Do they happen to serve any function for warmth during the winter months? Seeing as how I am a Florida boy I need all the help I can get!
Hey, Andrew, nice meeting you, too.
To answer your question: Yes, to a small degree. :-)