A variety of elements can have an impact on the overall comfort of your desk set-up, including room lighting, chair height, and monitor position.
But one factor that you may not have considered in this equation whether you’re working at a North facing or South facing keyboard could be having an even bigger effect on your body and mental well-being than you realize.
We’ll take a look at how to determine which position is right for you and how to go about making the switch today!
North Facing vs South Facing Keyboard
In the world of keyboards, there are two main types: North and South. These terms refer to how the keys are arranged on the keyboard, and they can make a huge difference in your typing experience.
The ergonomic keyboards are more comfortable and less damaging to the hands than old-fashioned ones that required forceful pressing. Some prefer a north-facing ( QWERTY ) keyboard because it reduces strain on the hands and wrists.
Other ergonomic keyboards alternate which hand does most of the work to avoid overuse of one muscle group. It can take some time to adjust from an old-fashioned keyboard to a more modern style, but once you’ve switched you might never go back!
North Facing vs South Facing Keyboard: Which is Best for You?
North Facing Keyboards have been around for a long time because they have been easier to manufacture. This means that they’re cheaper and easier to get hold of than their South-facing counterparts, which are more difficult to manufacture. If you’re looking for an affordable option that’s easy to use, a North-Facing Keyboard may be right up your alley!
South Facing Keyboards are slightly more expensive than their North-Facing counterparts, but they also offer some advantages over their cheaper cousins:
- You can see what you’re typing from a birds-ey view instead of just looking down at your computer screen.
- This makes it easier to catch typos before they cause problems down the line.
North Facing Keyboards
This keyboard layout has been the traditional typing approach since its invention. As such, this layout requires one to move their hands and wrists in a more complicated way to reach the letters that are across from them on the keypad.
That said, those who have accustomed themselves to using this keyboard layout may find the familiarity with this configuration worth any negative impact that it may have on their wrist joints.
However, with advances in medical knowledge and technology, there have been recent studies looking at what happens when you type using a South facing keyboard ( the opposite of North facing ) instead of a North facing one.
These studies suggest that South facing keyboards requires less use of fingers and hands which can be good for those who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or even arthritis.
South Facing Keyboards
This type of keyboard can offer greater ergonomic benefits for some people with different injuries and postures. For example, if you suffer from a wrist injury, RSI, or tendonitis – chances are a south-facing keyboard will be more comfortable than one facing the north.
Additionally, this orientation can also make it easier to use at night when it’s dark because your hands can just stay in front of the light sources on your monitor.
This alternative arrangement doesn’t only benefit individuals with certain injuries though. It has also been reported that this kind of layout might even have an impact on your overall sleep quality and circulation levels throughout the day.
Do You Need an Ergonomic Keyboard?
No matter how well you take care of your hands, typing on a keyboard all day can lead to pain in the wrists, fingers, and neck. An ergonomic keyboard may help with some of these issues. When buying an ergonomic keyboard, consider which type of angles are best for you.
Generally speaking, north-facing keyboards have the standard twist, meaning that the keys on either side of the spacebar are offset from each other so that when you press them with your thumbs they come back to meet at the spacebar.
This design makes it easier to reach all keys while also using less force and moving less.
The Verdict
The first thing to consider when choosing between north-facing and South facing keyboards is the space you have available to your left.
Whether you use a laptop or computer that sits on your desk, the closer it is to you, the more comfortable you’ll be with a south-facing keyboard (even if the resolution seems off). This will give you space on your right for an armrest, mouse, or any other items.
If there’s not enough room to sit at a desk comfortably then there won’t be enough room for a south-facing keyboard either. The same goes if there’s not enough room in front of your desk – it may seem easier and more comfortable at first glance but could prove frustrating as time passes.
If you have a South facing desk, the keyboard will fall on your wrists when you type. On a north-facing desk, you’ll notice that the edges of your wrist will rest against the front edge of the desk instead.
South-facing keyboards have sloped front surfaces to rest your wrists comfortably on. This is a good thing, as it allows you to type without having to bend your wrists too much and possibly getting wrist pain or tendonitis from repeated motion.
However, the downside is that a south-facing keyboard has no keystrokes directly in front of the wrists. This means that if you want to type fast (e.g., when typing emails), you’ll need to move your arm back so far that it’s uncomfortable and may even cause wrist pain again!
North-facing keyboards have flat front surfaces to work on. This gives you a comfortable place to rest your wrists and palms, as well as forearms. You can also use this area for resting your elbows when typing for long periods.
When you’re looking for a keyboard to use at home, the north-facing variety is best. This means that it can be placed in the corner of your room and used as an alternative to sitting on the couch or bed.
If you want one for work, however, South facing keyboards are better suited because they’re more comfortable and if anything is going to make people stay at their desks longer than having access to an ergonomic device like this one does (and we know from experience), it’s comfort!
North Facing vs South Facing Keyboard – Conclusion
Whichever keyboard you choose, make sure it suits your needs. While the south-facing keyboard is slightly more ergonomic, the north-facing one has a smoother stroke and a little less resistance so it can save your wrist from getting tired and possibly hurting or needing surgery in the future.
If you enjoyed this article, check out our “Keyboard is Typing Symbols Instead of Letters?” article here!
