ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD AND POINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

An ergonomic keyboard (100) includes an alphanumeric key array (108, 110) having a plurality of alphanumeric keys (102) arranged in a generally orthogonal, concave array. A home row of keys (112, 114) defines a reference position for the fingers. A linear array of function keys (104) is positioned above the reference position and tilted toward the operator. A generally orthogonal array of auxiliary keys (106) is both rotated, to accommodate the natural angle of the thumb and index finger, and elevated with respect to the reference position. A palm rest (136, 138) is elevated with respect to the reference position, so that the fingers extend downward from the palm rest (136, 138) in a natural, curved manner. Alternately, the keyboard may include two pointing devices, preferably joysticks (1302a, 1302b), to accommodate operation by both the left hand and the right hand (fig. 13). These pointing devices (1302a, 1302b) are preferably relatively small, and positioned close to and/or between keys of the keyboard, such as the home keys and/or thumb keys.