Logitech: The Design of Keyboard Comfort
A brief outlining the many ways in which Logitech enhances keyboard comfort
Logitech believes that people want and deserve comfort. Our approach to keyboard design begins with the science of ergonomics and includes continual testing of different comfort keyboard concepts. The result is strikingly attractive keyboards shaped to fit the curves of the human hand.
When designing comfort keyboards, Logitech takes into account people s familiarity with traditional keyboards and their inherent reluctance to try dramatically new and unfamiliar designs (e.g. a split keyboard). We then incorporate subtle but important ergonomic enhancements, including innovations related to the design and positioning of individual keys. Finally, we focus on providing built-in navigation controls to enable more efficient two-hand navigation, which minimizes our natural tendency to favor (and use) one hand more than the other.
In the following pages, we ll look more closely at a number of specific innovations,
including:
Wave design o Wave key frame o Constant curve o Comfortable palm rest o Recessed Cap and Num Lock o Larger Space bar o Wave key frame
2. Zero Degree Tilt!"
3. Negative Tilt
4. Key travel
1.
1. The Comfort Wave Design
Wave key frame
Fingers vary in length for example, index fingers are longer than pinky fingers. To address this fundamental principle of hand shape, the signature element of
Logitech s Comfort Wave Design, its gradual wave-shaped contour, cradles the fingers with a shape that supports the varied length of fingers.
Figure 1 Logitech® Comfort
Wave 450
Instead of the traditional, flat key frame layout (where the keys in each row are the same height) the wave-shaped contour sets every key at a unique, carefully calibrated height to assure maximum comfort. The left (Esc, Tab,
Caps Lock, Shift, Ctrl), right (Backspace, Enter, Shift, Ctrl),
and center (5, 6, 7; t, y, u; g, h, j; v, b, n) portions of the key
frame are set several millimeters higher at a maximum variation of 4 mm than other keys, resulting in a gentle, undulating wave-shaped contour.
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