Re: line-move-visual

["B. T. Raven" <nihil@nihilo.net>]

Uday S Reddy wrote:
> On 6/16/2010 8:55 PM, Evans Winner wrote:
>> ,------ Stefan Monnier wrote ------
> 
>>
>> |   Another way to look at it: if you have hand-health
>> |   problems, first try to unlearn to touch-type.
>>
>> I would be very interested if you were willing to expand on
>> this.  Do you mean to say that touch typing is unhealthy in
>> general, or just more pragmatically that if it hurts when
>> you do X, then don't do X?
> 
> As somebody that does touch typing and have had heavy RSI problems, I
> can throw some light on this.
> 
> Touch typing is perfectly fine normal text, but it wasn't designed for
> Emacs. The heavy use of the little finger for Control and Meta keys puts
> undue load on it.  Keyboards that had single Control or Meta keys
> worsened the problem by making the hands stretch over long distances.

Either Keytweak (w32) or xmodmap (Gnu-Linux) can swap all modifier (or
most other) keys. An important consideration in the keyboard layout is
that it be strictly bilaterally symetrical, so that modifier keys are
used exactly the way shift keys are. E.g. Right-shift, a to make A,
right-control, a to go to beginning of line, and the same for all other
combos: right-control x left-control f to find-file. [On Dvorak
layout]It may sound unworkable until you try it. Bottom row is (left to
right) super, alt, ctl spacebar ctl, alt, super. Even more comfortable
would be slpit spacebar with backspace on left half. Since the process
of moving a tiny plastic dome down 1/4 inch doesn't require any vigorous
motion (unlike for instance in playing the piano) it might even be
useful to move the shift key between ctl and left-space-bar (backspace).
This could be accomplished by stealing from space-bar real estate and
moving it half a key to the right. This optimum (for me anyway) layout
would be:

Super[1] Alt[1] Ctl[1] Shift[1] Backspace[2] Space[2] Shift[1] Ctl[1]
Alt[1] Super[1] (Numbers are widths in standard alpha keywidth units)

Now all modifier keys are on the same row and the keyboard can be played
instead of worked. Remember, the key justs sends a scancode; it doesn't
have to move any heavy metal around.

> 
> As part of my recovery from RSI, I had to retrain myself to avoid the
> use of Control/Meta keys for long periods (for instance by using the
> arrow keys or the mouse), and also to get away from the "home position"
> when needed so that I can use other fingers for Control/Meta keys.

But the RSI is caused either by a key layout inappropriate to the
application or by grueling gruntwork like typing from hard-copy, data
input, or dictaphone transcription. If a sane keyboard layout is a
temptation to work too hard then we'll just have to add a subroutine to
get out of the chair every 15 minutes to say prayers, thumb wrestle, or
what have you.


> 
> I am now perfectly fine for typing normal text, but I get sore tendons
> when I have to do TeX/LaTeX.  They make a heavy use of '\' which is
> placed on lousy positions on most keyboards.

Try putting |\ on the Caps Lock key. The dash-underscore is already in a
good place for Emacs on the Dvorak layout. In my dream keyboard (vide
supra) the open and close parentheses could be mapped to Right-Shift
back-space and Left-Shift Space, respectively. Such a keyboard would
cost about $5 to manufacture and would be worth $200 to me.

Ed



> 
> Cheers,
> Uday
> 
>