Ergonomics - Revision history

Elvince: /* TypeMatrix */

2013-05-15T08:06:48Z

TypeMatrix

Elvince: /* Space-chord */

2013-05-15T08:01:22Z

Space-chord

Elvince: /* Installation */

2013-05-15T07:58:23Z

Installation

Elvince: /* Keychord mode */

2013-05-15T07:52:35Z

Keychord mode

Elvince: /* Space-chord */

2013-04-30T15:45:54Z

Space-chord

Elvince: /* Choosing a different keyboard layout */

2013-04-30T08:54:11Z

Choosing a different keyboard layout

Elvince: about caps lock

2013-04-30T08:32:32Z

about caps lock

Elvince: Tips about ergonomics, to avoid RSI (or not)

2013-04-30T08:19:17Z

Tips about ergonomics, to avoid RSI (or not)

New page

This page will focus on how to improve the ergonomy of Emacs. It can be just for convenience, or to avoid a Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).

= Tweaking Keyboard shortcuts =

Emacs' shortcuts were designed for an old keyboard, where the alt and ctrl keys were at a different place from today ! My advice is you should take some time to modify the most used to your liking.

= Tweaking default functions' behaviour =

Some actions triggered by a key may be incomplete. For example, when I press Enter, I'd like it to go to the next line AND to indent (that saves me a TAB press, and a lot each day).

= Extensions =

== Keychord mode ==

'''Keychord''' gives the ability to map pairs of simultaneously pressed keys to commands. So you can define some keyboard shortcuts that do not involve Ctrl or Meta.
(In this package, a "key chord" is two keys pressed simultaneously, or a single key quickly pressed twice (excluding Ctrl, Shift or Meta)).

Be careful, do not map two keys that usely go together, or it will be very inconvenient.

=== Installation ===

In Emacs 24, it is included in ELPA (or Marmelade repo ?), so :
; {{Command | list-packages}} : then search for keychord, press 'i' to mark for installation and then 'x' to execute chosen actions.

Then add this to your [[http://wikemacs.org/index.php/User's_Initialization_File dot-emacs]] :

<source lang="scheme">
Add to your ~/.emacs

(require 'key-chord)
(key-chord-mode 1)
</source>

and some chords, for example

<source lang="scheme">
(key-chord-define-global "hj" 'undo)
(key-chord-define-global ",." "<>\C-b")
</source>

== Space-chord ==

An extension of the above, to use the space key at an Emacs level. Again, be careful what pairs you chose as it can be very inconvenient.

{{http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/download/space-chord.el Download the source}} in your load-path (i.e. .emacs.d/plugins/ ) and add the following in your .emacs :

<source lang="scheme">

(add-to-list 'load-path "~/.emacs.d/plugins/" )

(require 'space-chord)
(space-chord-define-global "f" 'find-file) ; careful ! tweak to your liking
</source>

= Avoid RSI, take a break ! =

Use Emacs built-in solutions or desktop-based.

{{Command | type-break-mode}} : launch counter. It will notify you to take a break.
{{Command | type-break-statistics}} : see your stats.

Os-level : install rsibreak or others : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_repetitive_strain_injury_software

= Choosing an appropriate keyboard =

== TypeMatrix ==

The TypeMatrx keyboard is thin, small, has its keys disposed as a matrix and, most of all, it has the Enter and the Backspace keys on the middle, so that you access them with your «second finger» of both hands. As a result, you stop moving your right wrist on a «big» distance to the right. This is known to be life saving (and my experience said that I can't work without a TypeMatrix).

= Choosing a different keyboard layout =

The '''Dvorak''' layout or the french version '''bépo''' are good choices. Take some weeks to learn them. You can use two configurations at the same time, it is like learning languages. I love bépo.

[[Category:Ergonomics]]
[[Category:Customization]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:54, 30 April 2013
Line 79:		Line 79:

	The '''Dvorak''' layout or the french version '''bépo''' are good choices. Take some weeks to learn them. You can use two configurations at the same time, it is like learning languages. I love bépo.		The '''Dvorak''' layout or the french version '''bépo''' are good choices. Take some weeks to learn them. You can use two configurations at the same time, it is like learning languages. I love bépo.
		+
		+	See the discussion about bépo on [http://wikemacs.org/index.php/French the french page].

@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 == TypeMatrix ==
-The TypeMatrx keyboard is thin, small, has its keys disposed as a matrix and, most of all, it has the Enter and the Backspace keys on the middle, so that you access them with your «second finger» of both hands. As a result, you stop moving your right wrist on a «big» distance to the right. This is known to be life saving (and my experience said that I can't work without a TypeMatrix).
+The TypeMatrx keyboard is thin, small, has its keys disposed as a matrix, can switch its layout on a keypress (with no need of OS drivers) and, most of all, it has the Enter and the Backspace keys on the middle, so that you access them with your forefinger of both hands. As a result, you stop moving your right wrist on a «big» distance to the right. This is known to be life saving (and my experience said that I can't work without a TypeMatrix).
 = Choosing a different keyboard layout =

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 (require 'space-chord)
-(space-chord-define-global "f" 'find-file) ; careful ! tweak to your liking
+(space-chord-define-global "f" 'find-file) ; be careful ! Every time you're going to press space and 'f' OR 'f' and space quite simultaneously,
 </source>

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 ; {{Command | list-packages}} : then search for keychord, press 'i' to mark for installation and then 'x' to execute chosen actions.
-Then add this to your [[http://wikemacs.org/index.php/User's_Initialization_File dot-emacs]] :
+In Emacs 23, you'll have to grab [http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/download/key-chord.el the sources] and put in them in your load path.
 <source lang="scheme">
 	(require 'key-chord)
 	(key-chord-mode 1)
 </source>
 and some chords, for example
 <source lang="scheme">
-      (key-chord-define-global "hj"     'undo)
+      (key-chord-define-global "'k" 'kill-buffer)
 </source>

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 === Installation ===
-In Emacs 24, it is included in ELPA (or Marmelade repo ?), so :
+In Emacs 24, it is included in [[ELPA]] (or Marmelade repo ?), so :
 ; {{Command | list-packages}} : then search for keychord, press 'i' to mark for installation and then 'x' to execute chosen actions.

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 An extension of the above, to use the space key at an Emacs level. Again, be careful what pairs you chose as it can be very inconvenient.
-{{http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/download/space-chord.el Download the source}} in your load-path (i.e. .emacs.d/plugins/ ) and add the following in your .emacs :
+[http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/download/space-chord.el Download the source] in your load-path (i.e. .emacs.d/plugins/ ) and add the following in your .emacs :
 <source lang="scheme">

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 Emacs' shortcuts were designed for an old keyboard, where the alt and ctrl keys were at a different place from today ! My advice is you should take some time to modify the most used to your liking.
 = Tweaking default functions' behaviour =
-Some actions triggered by a key may be incomplete. For example, when I press Enter, I'd like it to go to the next line AND to indent (that saves me a TAB press, and a lot each day).
+Some actions triggered by a key may be incomplete. For example, when I press Enter, I'd like it to go to the next line AND to indent (that saves me a TAB press, and a lot each day). Do you like to type C-a C-k C-k to erase a line ?