Comments on Ergonomic Keyboards

Karen is a litigation assistant in the Personal Injury Department of a Shropshire Solicitors. Diagnosed as suffering from CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) RSI in both wrists, she is now pain free when typing, just six weeks after the delivery of her Maltron keyboard.

"My problems have virtually disappeared. Recommend it? My answer would have to be yes. I can honestly say that I now enjoy typing again, and of course, the best benefit is no pain. I have not had one day's pain since using the keyboard, which is amazing."

Yang-Wah Hew

Dear Stephen,

I have been using my Maltron keyboard for work everyday and I thought I would mention just what a wonderful keyboard it is. I rarely have any pain in my wrists now, and I am most grateful for it, even if it does make it a bit more difficult to play some computer games!

The included training program was most useful and really did help me adjust to it much more quickly than I'd expected. I'm probably now typing at approximately 90% of the speed I used to type at and with approximately 95% of my previous accuracy - much better than I'd expected!

It also draws a lot of admiring comments.

It was an expensive purchase, but I think it was definitely worth it. Keep up the great work and I hope that your company goes from strength to strength.

Hong Kong - February 2006

Karl Fogel

"I bought my first Maltron as a college student in 1992.  I'd been having some minor wrist pains with regular computer keyboards, and as a pianist felt it was important to keep my hands, arms, and back as comfortable as possible.  It took me about a month to get up to speed with the Maltron layout, and I've been using it ever since.  Now when an occasion arises where I have to use a regular (flat) keyboard, it feels like I'm typing with boxing gloves on.  This is not because my QWERTY touch-typing has gotten worse -- it hasn't: it was fluent before I started using Maltrons, and has remained so.  The "boxing glove" feeling comes solely by contrast with the ease and efficiency I enjoy on Maltrons."

"Since college, I've been working as a computer programmer and writer on open source software.  I've written two books with Maltrons, one in 1999 and the other in 2005.  I know I could never have done this (and continued to play piano) if traditional computer keyboards were my only option.  Maltrons are not a luxury for me now: without them, I would simply have to find a job not involving computers." 

"Thanks to Maltron, I have not had to give up my work to continue making music."

7 January 2006, USA.

Maria L. Madrid

Dear Stephen,

I am always elated to utter nothing but the loudest praises for my Maltron dual handed keyboard!  This keyboard has enabled me to continue using my hands, period.  Yes, it's that simple! It's given me my hands back!

Before my Maltron entered my life I had to have carpal tunnel surgeries on both hands; had to soak my hands in warm/cold water at least twice a day; had to wear wrist supports to bed every night; massage my fingers with special ointments; and take pain killers daily just to keep the pain from becoming unbearably crippling.

Typing had become almost impossible and I knew that the biggest culprit for my condition was my common $99 keyboard--it was damaging my fingers every day.  The pain on my hands had become a way of life that I knew was unsustainable for much longer, especially as a consultant who depends on her keyboard to do her job.  To boot, my neurologist kept speaking of the need to have yet another surgery...

But Alas!  One desperate day I decided to devote an entire day to researching the types of keyboards available.  This is how I found my Maltron!  After reading quite extensively about it in your Web site I simply knew that being able to extend my fingers fully while typing would assuage the pain and make a huge difference.  And I was right, because it's concave key design has made the difference from all other ergo keyboards I had ever used.

I also love the keys themselves--always a crunchy strike after 15 months of intense daily use.  The keyboard itself is of the highest quality!!  It did take me 1 month to get used to the new key layout but it was well worth it and I actually prefer it much more to the conventional keyboard layouts.  Maltron definitely offers me a smarter way to utilize my finger strokes!!  Thankfully, I am able to use the Maltron's layout and the traditional keyboard layout of laptops just as well.  The human brain is capable of committing both layouts to memory and I feel the richer for it.

I clean my Maltron weekly and simply feel so proud and fortunate to own one.  It's also a great conversation piece when friends come into my home office and notice my Maltron as the centerpiece of my home office.  What I need now is a portable Maltron that I could take with me during my business trips when I have to use my laptop.  It needs to have the same concavity and layout but somehow it has to have a much thinner depth.  How about it Maltron Ergonomists?  I'd be one of your first customers!

Anytime you want to refer anybody to me to convince them that Maltron is the way to go, just holler and I'll be glad to share.  Also, now that I received a phone call from a Maltron Specialist in England 8 minutes after I sent the company an email requesting some technical assistance, I am even more impressed with Maltron's commitment to serve and truly establish a new generation of keyboard technology and support!  Maltron--I salute you!!

February 2, 2005

Alexandria,  VA  USA

Roger Bisson, BSc (Hons)

" Further to our various discussions over the years relating to my first dual handed, QWERTY/Maltron layout keyboard, I thought I would write to let you know firstly the background to my original problems with Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), and the improvements I have seen through the use of your keyboard over the 2 (two) years I have been using it full-time.

I have been using a computer for some 20 years now, despite my relatively young age (28).

However, the first obvious signs of Repetitive Strain Injury started showing up for me in November of 1998 – just a couple of months after I started a new contract as a software engineer. Looking back, my workstation was poorly designed, and partly through typing with my elbows resting on the desktop with the keyboard some 6-8 inches from the edge of the desk to allow for a notebook in front of the keyboard, the symptoms of RSI developed quickly. Not that I took a great deal of notice at the time; working under pressure, and without the full awareness of the crippling ability of RSI, I tended to dismiss early aches and pains and ignore many of the tell-tale signs such as the apparent weakness of my forearms when taking part in sports.

Over the Christmas break in 1998, however, the aches and pains persisted and, when I returned to work after the Christmas break, the pain had developed from simply aches in my hands to an agonising burning sensation in my forearms.

After enduring two or three weeks of this burning sensation in my forearms while working, I thought I ought to go see my doctor – as advised by the many health- and RSI-related websites. On my first visit, he seemed sympathetic to the problem and gave me a prescription some NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – in the form of Voltarol (or, I think, Ibuprofen). At various times, the pain developed from forearm burning sensations, to wrist pains and back again.

The drugs did seem to help a little, but, after a number of repeat prescriptions, I asked my doctor whether he thought that physiotherapy might help as I felt that the drugs were simply masking underlying problems either in my neck, shoulder, arm, or forearm muscles, or in the relationship between the various muscle groups. He agreed – though why he did not suggest physiotherapy in the first place, I do not know.

At this point, rather than continue taking the NSAIDs, I undertook regular physiotherapy sessions – roughly 13, at a cost of around £30.00 each. My physiotherapist was particularly good, providing me with a series of exercises for various muscle groups that may contribute to my RSI problem, including the shoulder muscles and neck muscles in particular; although RSI symptoms may indicate problems in the wrists and forearm, many of these problems actually stem from the neck and shoulders.

At the time, the end of my physiotherapy treatment roughly coincided with the completion of my contract, and the projects I was working on in late 1999. After this, I went on holiday and essentially took the rest of the year “off” to give the RSI problem an opportunity to improve, as I could not realistically continue working in IT as a software engineer given the amount of pain this caused.

This was obviously very worrying as most work these days involves a significant amount of typing and computer work with even physical (manual) work being out-of-the-question.

In early 2000, I undertook a new piece of work, having given myself some time to recover through much less usage of my computer and by regular exercise of my shoulder muscles at the local swimming pool. However, within a couple of days of working, I found that the pain was, again, becoming unbearable. At this point, I sought to try out some other “remedies” such as acupuncture and kinesiology (RSI sufferers will try anything to get better, you see). Although both had some effect – and acupuncture was, itself, quite relieving neither treatment represented anything other than a temporary improvement for as soon as I started work, within less than an hour, the pain was back in full force.

At this time, I just happened to watch a new film; I think it was “the Bone Collector” which in one scene appeared to feature some oddly shaped “ergonomic”-looking keyboard. This got me thinking – are there any keyboards available to help RSI problems. There were various solutions: one that featured half a keyboard on each hand at =right angles to the desk; various designs with split keyboards linked by a pivot; and “ergonomic” keyboards such as the one produced by Microsoft. Among all of these, one stood out: “The Maltron”.

Now, I knew about the Maltron from roughly 20 years ago (I was probably about 8 or 10 at the time) when this was featured in a book of mine, which described the Maltron as “a futuristic keyboard”, featuring a new key layout that was designed to increase typing speed using the Maltron keyboard design (as opposed to QWERTY which was designed specifically to slow typists down).

The other thing that made it stand out was the price – £375.00 – for a piece of hardware, which, functionally, does the same thing as a £5-50 flat keyboard. At the time, I had no idea =whether this keyboard, albeit ergonomically designed, would have any impact on my, now chronic, RSI problem but in the absence of other ideas, I decided to buy one to see if it made any difference.

When I received the keyboard however, I only started using it at home; I was concerned that taking a keyboard I couldn’t use into work with me would raise a few issues both with my customer and my colleagues, so for the next 6 months – until the end of my contract – I persevered with my normal flat laptop keyboard at work.

When I completed this contract, I was wary of seeking new work where I would have to either type on a flat keyboard, or continue learning to use the Maltron keyboard, which by nature of its shape and design, is likely to attract attention so instead, I decided to concentrate on a development project of my own and, in the process I would try to use my Maltron keyboard exclusively for a period.

In the first couple of months or so of my working with the Maltron, I found I could type proficiently using the keyboard within about a month to six weeks. This is bearing in mind that I could not touch type properly beforehand as I often found that I would try to use the wrong finger to press a given key.

Normal typing was relatively quick to “learn” whereas I found that software coding – in C++ for example – was harder to learn due to the mixture of upper and lowercase letters, braces and “greater than” signs that programmers use, which requires better co-ordination.

Throughout my early use of the Maltron keyboard, my symptoms tended to improve for a period then got worse, then improve, then got worse and so on. On some occasions, this was probably my fault; trying to type while resting my hands on the palm rests, for example, or typing without regular breaks. On other occasions, the reason was not so clear.

However, after roughly three months, I found I could type more quickly and accurately using the Maltron keyboard than I ever could using a normal, flat keyboard and with much less pain.

Some two years on since starting to use my Maltron keyboard properly, on a daily basis, I find that although my RSI symptoms have not gone, they are at least at a level that is acceptable for every-day work. I get the odd bad day, but this is usually when I have been doing a great deal of typing work, or whenever I have used a flat keyboard for any length of time, so I guess it is my own fault.

In conclusion, I find that my Maltron keyboard represents the difference between my working, and my not working: I simply could not tolerate the kind of pain that using a flat keyboard day-in day-out meant, and quite frankly, my career in IT would be finished.

I am therefore writing to thank you: your perseverance over the last 20 or more years that has meant that an idea you, and Mrs. Malt had to design a product to help relieve the stresses and strains of keyboard work is still be available today, for my benefit.

At a cost of less than £0.50 per day (after 2 years), my Maltron keyboard has represented one of the best investments I have ever made in trying to alleviate my RSI problems to date and, given that the keyboard is still in perfect condition, I expect this cost to come down further over time.

Going beyond recommending the keyboard to only RSI sufferers, I would say that anybody who uses, or employs staff that use a keyboard for any length of time – particularly touch typing – would do well to try a Maltron keyboard; after an initial learning curve, you will probably see a significant increase in typing efficiency and accuracy. "

Sue Welford

Warwick University physiotherapist

... reports that for a tenosynovitis case using a Maltron keyboard was of more benefit than treatment.....

Mrs Sara Robbins

PA.

"I have been using the Maltron dual handed (trackball) keyboard for approximately the last five years and I am pleased to say I am an extremely satisfied customer. Five years ago I suffered with sever pains in my wrists caused by excessive typing.

Mrs J Batterson

James Rennell Centre for Ocean Circulation, Southampton.

"I just thought I would write to you to say that I think your Maltron keyboard is brilliant. I have only been using it for 2 weeks and I can feel the benefits already...Having now had the experience of your keyboard I would recommend it to anyone and can only hope that in the future the flat keyboard that has caused so much suffering for so many people will be replaced by yours."

Elaine Houseby

"I began to suffer these symptoms (of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) two years ago...if I did not stop typing, my earning power would ultimately be limited to invalidity benefit...which would have put me in an extremely difficult financial position...the Maltron keyboard has paid for itself many times over...I am free from all discomfort in my arms...Conventional keyboards now seem quite ridiculous to me. I hope that they will eventually disappear altogether..."

Fay Higginbottom

"After approximately six weeks of use...I wouldn't like to lose it...I really feel it is enabling me to continue my secretarial work despite tenosynovitis which I've now suffered from for nearly 11 months...I'm beginning to be hopeful that I will recover eventually...I must say that for the first few days I thought I would never get used to the odd shape, but I'm glad I persevered!..."

Sheila Peacock

"I am really pleased with it. My hands are aching less while I type and the pain and stiffness subside much more quickly afterwards...I am beginning to feel that your wonderful keyboard will enable me to continue with my job..."

Mrs Rowena Verrall

"I have been using your Maltron ergonomic keybaord for about two months and have found it of great benefit...Since using your keyboard I have found that I can type all day...I have opted to stay with the QWERTY layout...I would recommend your new keyboard to anyone..."

Lee Seaman

Technical Translator

"I am writing to tell you how pleased I am with the Maltron keyboard. By this Spring I could type on my QWERTY keyboard for less than 30 minutes a day without further worsening my wrist and forearm complaint. I could not use a manual can opener, and hearty business handshakes were agonising.

After four months of using your keyboard, my hands are much better. The carpal bones in my wrists stay in their normal position now, rather than being pulled out of alignment. My daily typing time is measured in hours rather than minutes, and my grip strength is returning. Enclosed is a cheque for a second Maltron keyboard for my husband. We find your keyboards an excellent investment in preventative medicine"

Dr Lara Marks D.Phil

University Lecturer, Imperial College, London.

"I am writing to update you on the progress that I have made in using the Maltron Keyboard which I bought from you four years ago.

I originally purchased the keyboard because I was suffering incapacitating pain in my neck and shoulders after having typed an enormous amount on a computer to prepare a book manuscript. I was also experiencing some numbness in my arms and hands. The problem was so acute that I had been forced to take three months leave from work and to experiment with writing by hand instead of on the computer. As an academic historian and university lecturer who does a lot of research and writing, I feared that my career would be cut short by the problem. At the time I was trying many different techniques in order to resolve the problem, including osteopathy and physiotherapy. In the end I found the pain was relieved by a combination of factors: doing Alexander Technique to improve my posture, learning self-hypnosis to relax, buying an ergonomic chair with special swinging arms that carry the weight of my elbows and shoulders, and buying the Maltron keyboard.

The Maltron keyboard was the last thing that I tried, and I must admit that I think it made a major contribution to my recovery. I chose the Maltron layout to the keyboard because I realised that part of my problem was that my previous typing technique was very heavy. With the Maltron layout I knew I would be forced to relearn to type which I saw as positive.

When I first tried the keyboard it felt very strange, but after a month I had totally adjusted to the new shape of the board and the place of the letters. In fact the Maltron keyboard seemed to improve both the speed and technique of my typing.

Over the past four years I have sometimes had to type again on an ordinary Querty keyboard which I seem to still be able to do. Nonetheless, the Querty keyboard still gives me pain and I am limited in the amount of time that I can spend typing on it. I therefore have made sure that I have a Maltron keyboard both at my office and at home."

Rose Liddington

"I had suffered from RSI for years before someone suggested I use an ergonomic keyboard. I have had all kinds of treatment for RSI, ranging from total disbelief that RSI existed, through to injections, physio, finally operations on both hands and felt that this was something I must try.

Approximately 8 years ago my employers bought me a Maltron keyboard and I must admit that it took a week of perseverance until I felt able to type properly on it, but after that time I haven't looked back. In fact, I do feel that without using this keyboard I would not be working today.

When I had to go back to an 'ordinary' keyboard for six weeks my symptoms returned with a vengeance. I was in constant pain and unable to do my work properly. After delivery of my new Maltron my symptoms started to ease and very soon I was back working at full capacity. I am not saying that the keyboard has cured my RSI but it does let me work, something I feel I would not have been able to do for much longer using a ordinary keyboard.

Over the years I have demonstrated my keyboard to many people where I work, fellow suffers of RSI and colleagues and I tell them that this keyboard is the one everyone should use. I show them how you hunch your shoulders when using an ordinary keyboard and how on a Maltron keyboard your shoulders are at a more natural angle - it is so comfortable to use. In fact my keyboard has become quite a focal point in my office. I am saving towards buying a Maltron for my computer at home as I worry that by using an ordinary keyboard my children will develop RSI sometime in the future and I certainly don't want them to go through what I have.

I feel very lucky to have a keyboard of this calibre. I understand that your firm is a family run business and would like to thank all of you involved in the making of the keyboard for making my life so much easier."

Scott A Ward

Director of Computer Support, President's Commission on Crucial Infrastructure Protection, Washington DC.

"I wanted to personally write and thank you for your product, the Maltron Ergonomic Keyboard. As you may know, the U.S. Department of Defense Health Affairs people purchased a Maltron for my use here at work. Though I had not been formally diagnosed with a Repetitive Stress Injury such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, I had been typing long enough to notice the warning signs of recurring wrist pain and a slight numbness in my fingers. Rather than wait until I was no longer able to perform my job for the Commission, I requested assistance from the Comm/Computer Accommodations office within Health Affairs, and they recommended purchasing a Maltron . Apparently, I was not the first person within the Department of Defense to receive a Maltron keyboard through these people.

I was a little sceptical when I first opened the Maltron 's box. This futuristic look seemed quite foreign, and I quickly realised I had to invest some time to attain even moderate proficiency (my burst typing speed on a flat, QWERTY keyboard, was 88wpm). However, as I practised, I noticed an almost immediate relief in my wrist and hand pain. Though the keyboard did require some practice time, I am proud to announce I'm typing near my original speed, with almost no pain! In fact, I was so impressed with my decreased wrist pain, I purchased a Maltron for my use at home as well!

I feel the Maltron has been an excellent bargain, and I can now type for hours without pain! Your product kept me productive, and for that I thank you heartily."

Jean Kemble

The British Library

"I am just writing to let you know how pleased I am with my Maltron keyboard. As I you know, when I purchased it from you I was suffering with extreme pain and discomfort caused by RSI. Within two weeks of using my Maltron these symptoms had completely disappeared and they have, thankfully, never returned. So thank you so much for enabling me to continue working when my prospects had at one time seemed so bleak."

Dr John Foster

Company Medical Advisor, East Midlands Electricity

"I felt I must write to you and express my pleasure and I must confess surprise which occurred when two of our employees started using a Maltron keyboard. Both these two ladies had developed a severe problem in the use of conventional keyboards, resulting in both of them developing painful hands and forearms. They were sent to an orthopaedic surgeon who confirmed their diagnosis of WRULD. By this time they had been off work for several months and faced a very uncertain future.

By sheer chance our occupational nurse saw an advertisement for the Maltron keyboard and we hired one for both. Much to my amazement this seemed to solve the problem rapidly and five months later they are still in full time work doing the same job that caused the problem in the first place. I was even more surprised to be told by one of them that due to a fault she used a standard keyboard and developed the symptoms within half an hour. We shall certainly use these keyboards as first choice if we have any further problems."

Julya Colton

Roland Bardsley Ltd.

"I am writing to tell you how delighted I am with my keyboard, and am enclosing an order to purchase the keyboard we have on hire currently.

I work full-time, using a Word Processor, with no interruptions to do any other kind of tasks other than keyboard work all day.

I have suffered for the past 18 months with increasingly severe pain in my shoulder and neck. I have attended hospital for X-rays and was told it was 'wear and tear', plus arthritis. I attended the Physiotherapy Department for Acupuncture, with no alleviation of the pain, and also had, over the 18 months, three cortisone injections.

I have also been taking anti-inflammatories and pain killers. I am waiting to see another Consultant presently. The pain was becoming so extreme that I was afraid I would be unable to carry on working.

The Health & Safety Manager was aware of my problems and spotted an article in a Health & Safety Magazine about the Maltron keyboard.

The keyboard was delivered on 19 March I998 and I spent 2 half days doing the exercises, but I still experienced extreme pain. Over the weekend break I debated whether it was worth continuing with the keyboard, however, on reflection I thought I had not given it a fair chance, so I decided to persist and see what happened.

How glad I am that I persisted I have kept a diary each day of my progress and pain levels, and I would say a conservative estimate is an 80% reduction in pain. I have some days when I have a couple of hours pain, which subsides with pain killers and disappears for the rest of the day, and some days completely pain free!

I would definitely recommend the Maltron keyboard to anyone suffering similar problems, as I feel it has enabled me to continue working. "

Elaine Dunne

Personel Manager, Pearsons Solicitors, New Maldon, Surrey.

"I would like to express my thanks to Maltron for an amazing keyboard. Its incredible design has meant pain free typing for several members of staff.

About two and a half years ago I was suffering with pains in my wrists and pins and needles in my fingers during the night. I also had a lot of neck and shoulder pains. I consulted my doctor who subsequently sent me to see a specialist. I was tested and told that one wrist was at a stage that it could be operated on and for the other one I was given a splint to wear at night and whenever my wrist was painful. I was diagnosed as having carpal tunnel syndrome.

Prior to this consultation I had heard about the Maltron keyboard and was taking delivery of one on trial the following week. When I started typing on this keyboard I had no pain in my wrists or fingers and my neck and shoulders have improved considerably.

I have been using my Maltron keyboard for two and a half years and have no RSI problems whilst using it. However, at present, I do not have one at home and have to use a conventional keyboard for at least three hours a week. Within a short time, the pain comes back.

We have five Maltron keyboards in the office, one of which was purchased for a member of staff who had been signed off by her doctor for two weeks because her hands were so painful. Again, no further problems whilst typing with a Maltron keyboard. The same applies to the other three staff members.

I hope this letter will be an encouragement to others with RSI problems and to employers whose staff are suffering. I believe the keyboards were a very worthwhile investment and have saved us many lost working hours. "

Dr Geoffrey J Barton

European Bioformatics Institute.

As I said on the phone, I have two of your two-handed keyboards I bought the first one about 3-4 years ago, and got a second after I became fed up with carting the thing to and fro to work! In my job I work most of the time at a variety of different computers and do a mixture of tasks, from programming in `C' and other languages, to writing (seemingly endless) email, to writing scientific papers and articles.

All these tasks require a smooth and fast interaction with the computer. Having learnt to type at the age of 14 I'd been touch typing for about 20 years, though only intensively for the last 10 years, before I started to get a serious RSI problem.

Though I don't think that typing was the only cause, I got to the point where I could not type for more than about 5 minutes before needing a long break, and even during the ~ minutes I would find typing uncomfortable. This started to have a pretty serious effect on my way of working!

I reviewed RSI and alternative keyboards on the Internet, and quickly identified the Maltron as the only keyboard that took the problem of shaping a keyboard to fit the human hands really seriously.

My first Maltron arrived by return of post and after only a couple of hours of familiarisation, I found I could type as fast as on a flat keyboard, but with far less stress. My only serious problem in adapting was caused not by the Maltron, but by the fact that I had always incorrectly hit the `B' Key with my right index finger rather than my left!

Now, three years on, I hate using a conventional keyboard and wish I had had a Maltron 10 years ago. The Maltron is so relaxing to type with and I find I can work all day again without any major stress. I really hope that you can find a way to bring the price down and introduce these keyboards to a wider audience. At present it is only those who already have a serious problem who vill take the trouble to try one and appreciate the benefits.

The only major downside of having a Maltron is the time it takes to explain the thing to new visitors. I get various comments like: "What's that?", "Who melted your keyboard?", "Weird", "Funky". I have my sales pitch pretty refined now!

Rosalind Clampit

I was thrilled to hear yesterday when we spoke on the phone that your keyboard has been ranked as a millennium product - quite right too and not before time. Congratulations. I hope it will bring you some material benefit.

I looked through my papers and was amazed to find that I have had my Maltron keyboard since 1993. I am sure that I would seized up by now without the help of your superbly designed keyboard. I feel so relaxed when using it and happily type from getting up in the morning to dropping into bed at night in my busy periods - sometimes even seven days a week.

Because I am paid by the folio, the faster and longer I type, the more I earn. Pre-Maltron I was beginning to feel I was seizing up and frequently had to stop and lie flat on the floor to try to relax all my tense muscles. Now I feel perfectly relaxed and my hands and forearms give me no pain at all.

As agreed in the past, should you ever want to give my name and phone number to a potential buyer, I should be only too happy to try to convince them what a difference a Maltron keyboard makes. I am only sorry that I have not been able to convert to your layout, but as I am a freelance worker and am obliged sometimes to work on other people's computers at short notice it is vital that I operate in qwerty.

Your handy adapter has of course allowed me to take my keyboard with me on occasions where the client permits but some people are very fussy about their computers and as I am there to get on with a one-off job of work I cannot insist. I am now looking forward to plugging my keyboard into my new more powerful computer and continuing to use it for many more years.

Gavin Clark

In the summer of 1995 I developed a repetitive strain injury through a combination of laboratory work (pipetting) and computing. I eventually reached the point where I could no longer work, and for 6 months I was unable to use my hands for even the smallest task.

In the course of researching the root cause of my problem, I learnt about the Maltron keyboard. I had already come to understand that posture was a key element of my injury, and since the Maltron keyboard had been designed to address this issue I decided to try it.

The traditional computer mouse had become an aggravating factor for my injury, and with this in mind I bought a Maltron keyboard which had a dual handed track ball in addition to the Maltron key layout and keyboard contouring to match the natural hand shape.

The keyboard immediately enabled me to begin computing without overuse problems. Over a six month period I was able to build up my level of usage to the point where I could work again. The original dual handed mouse was a vital element of my recovery, allowing me to return to full computing activity, including drawing diagrams as well as typing.

Two years on my Maltron keyboard remains a key element of my working life. Recently my Maltron was damaged in a move, and for a few weeks while it was being repaired I had to return to using a traditional flat keyboard and mouse. Within days I began to develop tendon inflammation which I had not experienced for many months.

My experience of the Maltron keyboard has given me a better understanding of the impact that posture can have on overuse injury, as well as the means to overcome this injury. I would recommend the Maltron keyboard to anyone experiencing hand overuse problems.

D A Sales

I am just writing to let you know how pleased I have been with my Maltron keyboard purchased from you in March 1993.

Although initially learning to use the Maltron layout was a little frustrating it was well worth the effort and within a couple of months I was using the keyboard full-time at almost my previous typing speed. In fact my main problem was that if I stopped to look at my hands my brain simply thought they should be together in the 'normal' typing position rather than the far more natural and comfortable Maltron position.

Having originally been diagnosed with tenosynovitis in the tendon to my right thumb in 1991 I was advised to take a complete rest from typing and received a cortisone injection and physiotherapy. I was provided with secretarial support and did not do any of my own typing for over a year. Unfortunately with modern technology, more and more work is keyboard based and this was not a realistic long term solution.

On joining RNIB I was introduced to Computability who recommended your keyboard and I have never looked back. I also use a Sicos lefthand mouse which has added to my comfort and reduced the wear on my right hand.

Now about to change jobs again I have found my new employers to be enlightened and interested in your product and more than willing to provide me with one of your keyboards.

I would thoroughly recommend your keyboard to anyone with any hand or wrist problem, and indeed to those who do not but who use a keyboard regularly and care about their health. It is certainly well worth persevering to learn the new Maltron layout.

Jessica Abrahams

Lancaster University

I have been using the Maltron keyboard now for seven years and am very happy with it. It took me a couple of months to become fully used to the shape and since then I have never looked back, it is just clearly more comfortable to use than a conventional keyboard and I no longer worry about RSI as a serious threat whereas before, I did. I am convinced that the Maltron keyboard has made my working life a lot less stressful and enabled me to be much more productive. I still occasionally use a conventional keyboard when I have to but I would never undertake a substantial job without the Maltron, which is why I have now bought a second one, as I am about to get a computer for home use. Everyone who comes into my office for the first time says, that's a strange keyboard so after 7 years I have got the sales patter down to a T...

Sue Decker

Alex Lawrie Factors Ltd

It was 20 years ago and I was working for the BBC at that time, when a young colleague in the Department suddenly went sick. When I enquired why she was ill, I was told she had Repetitive Strain Injury. My initial thought was (a little unkindly), that's a good one! But this young lady was not the sort to spin a yarn. She was fun, conscientious, and enjoyed her work enormously. Many weeks went by before she returned, wrists wrapped in bandages.

Recently, RSI has become a recognised condition, but it was one to which I gave little thought until ten years ago when I too became affected with what was subsequently diagnosed as RSI symptoms. I was still relatively young, I had a good job and I wanted to continue working for many years to come, and it was during this period of concern that my husband (an avid reader of various PC/Computer magazines) read an article about the Maltron keyboard.

After presenting a photocopy of the article to my Directors, along with the costs involved and a letter from my Doctor confirming my condition, they agreed to allow me to rent a keyboard initially, with a view to purchasing in due course. I was offered the QWERTY keyboard layout or Maltron's own but on discussion with Mrs Hobday at PCD Maltron Limited, we agreed that, as I was a QWERTY trained typist, then I should stick to what I know best.

My first impression was "what a strange looking piece of equipment". It reminded me of the shape of a turtle shell and even today, I describe it as such, should anyone ask. I started immediately on the exercises, but quickly realised that the best way to get used to it was to type the four page report which was sitting on my desk. This report took me the best part of an afternoon, but within a couple of days I was typing at my usual speed.

I can't remember the exact moment when I felt thoroughly used to it, but I can only equate it to the time I gave up sugar in coffee. One day the coffee was difficult to drink and then suddenly it was palatable without any apparent transition period. That was how it was with my keyboard. I very quickly decided I wanted one full time and the purchase was made.

I have been using my Maltron keyboard with great enjoyment, for nearly ten years now. I have had various upgrades on my PC during these years and both Mr & Mrs Hobday have given me excellent support, even to the point on one occasion, of sending their colleague to my office in Birmingham with a tray of chips. He spent a morning with me and patiently tried each chip until he found the one which worked with this particular model of PC. Their aftercare service is second to none.

My employers have just given approval for me to purchase a brand new, upgraded Maltron keyboard, and I look forward to at least another ten years of happy, pain free typing.

Jean Hagon

Thank you for allowing my husband and I to call at your home today to purchase one of your marvellous keyboards.

In October 1998, at the age of 47, I was diagnosed at the Institute of Neurology in London as suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I suffered daily from numb fingers followed by painful "pins and needles". I had to give up driving for some time due to this condition, as I felt unsafe on the road.

My employer at that time was sympathetic and arranged for me to try out several ergonomic keyboards. None of them proved successful until I tried the Maltron keyboard, which you kindly arranged for me to try out over a four week period. The trial proved successful and my employer was happy to purchase the keyboard for my use.

I used the Maltron keyboard for almost 1 ½ years before leaving this employment. It was felt that the expense of purchasing the keyboard was justified as it eliminated the need for me to take time off sick and enabled me, once I had got used to it, to cope with a very heavy workload. I not only regained my speed very quickly but also was able to work for long periods using this keyboard without experiencing pain. To me this was the answer to a prayer as I was able to satisfy the demands of my employer and remain free of pain.

On leaving this employment and my Maltron keyboard, I found it very difficult and painful to use a flat keyboard for more than half an hour. For this reason I was willing to pay for a Maltron keyboard for use in future employment as I do not wish to return to the daily pain I used to experience, nor do I want to have to give up driving. For anyone who suffers from RSI or related complaints I would urge them to give the Maltron a try. I am sure that they will benefit as I have from this superb keyboard. Thank you Mr Hobday for taking the pain out of typing.

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