Maltron keyboard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Maltron keyboard is an ergonomically designed computer keyboard that was invented by Lilian Malt (thus the name) and Stephen Hobday in the 1970s. It is designed to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries. Maltron keyboards are electrically compatible with IBM PC keyboards and Apple Macintosh keyboards, using either USB or PS/2 connectors.

The changes in computer keyboard design invented by Lilian Malt incorporate two things:

• a curved surface (as opposed to the normal flat surface) for the keyboard, aimed at reducing finger travel by 90%
• a Maltron keyboard layout, which Malt designed based upon her analysis of the neuromuscular system

Contents 1 Models 1.1 3D 1.2 Single-handed 1.3 Single-finger 1.4 Executive 2 Layouts 3 Further reading 4 External links

[edit] Models

There are several models of Maltron keyboard.

[edit] 3D

The Maltron 3D keyboard is curved, with separate recesses for each hand. It is divided into five major blocks of keys:

• 2 blocks for the fingers of each hand
• 2 blocks for the thumbs of each hand
• 1 central block

[edit] Single-handed

The Maltron Single-handed keyboard is curved, with a single recess. It comes in left-handed and right-handed versions and is divided into four major blocks of keys:

• 1 block for the fingers
• 1 block for the thumb
• 1 flat panel of keys to the side
• 1 row of function keys along the top

The keyboard has "push-on push-off" functions for the shift, control, and alt keys. The blocks for the fingers and thumb are mirror images of one another in the left-handed and right-handed versions (whereas the flat block and function key row are identical in both).

[edit] Single-finger

The Maltron Single-finger keyboard comprises a simple curved rectangle of keys. Like the single-handed keyboard it has "push-on push-off" functions for the shift, control, and alt keys.

[edit] Executive

The Maltron Executive keyboard is flat, and was designed by Maltron to be a halfway house between a conventional flat keyboard and a 3D keyboard. It comprises six major blocks of keys:

• 2 blocks for the fingers of each hand
• 2 blocks for the thumbs of each hand
• 1 central numeric keypad (in the conventional IBM PC keyboard layout)
• 1 row of function keys along the top

[edit] Layouts

Maltron 3D and Executive keyboards are produced with three different layouts:

• QWERTY layout
• Simplified Dvorak layout
• Maltron layout

In the Maltron layout, the home row of keys are "ANISF" for the left hand and "DTHOR" for the right hand.

[edit] Further reading

• (2003-05-06) "Keyboard Letter Layouts". IEE London Branch - Kingston. 
• (1994-05-04) "COMPUTER RELATED UPPER LIMB DISORDER: A Keyboard to Eliminate the Stress & the Pain - An Interim Success Report". 19th Annual Congress of IMART, The Royal Society of Medicine. 
• (1988-06-08) "A keyboard to increase productivity and reduce postural stress". The Annual International Industrial Ergonomics and Safety Conference. 
• (1985-09-02) "Keyboards designed to fit hands & reduce postural stress". The Ninth Congress Of The International Ergonomics Associations: 457. 

• Hobday, S.W (1996-04-03). "The Maltron keyboards". IEE Colloquium on Interfaces - The Leading Edge (Digest No.1996/126): 10. 

[edit] External links

• PCD Maltron web site, including:
  • Single-handed keyboards
  • Single-finger or mouth/head-stick keyboards
  • Executive keyboards
• Ergo-Comp Systems Frequently Asked Questions — detailed explanations of the curved keyboard shape and the Maltron layout
• Maltron Keyboard Layout — Karl Fogel's diagram of the Maltron layout
• Maltron Keyboard — the 2002-12-03 review by PC Magazine