What mouse prevents RSI

[Areva]

Has anyone had experience using a “Quill Mouse” for CAD work?

The standard horizontal type rodent is giving us CAD operators RSI. The “Quill” is vertically orientated, cradles the hand in the upright position and has been developed for RSI sufferers. My concern is will operators find it strange and perplexing adopting from a horizontal input to a vertical input.

I’ve read reams of paperwork about correct posture, swapping hands and the need to take regular breaks etc but to me the fundamental problem is the number of clicks using the index finger us CAD users have to do to get the work done.

What mouse do other CAD jockeys use to prevent RSI?

Eddy

(Posted to several CAD forums)

 

[smcadman]

I would recommend a Spaceball because it has reduced the amount of work my left hand has to move. My right hand is another story; I've never even heard of the Quill mouse until I just Googled it.

I've been thinking of trying one of those trackball mouse with the ball on top. Not sure if that would help, but I've heard some users say that it's easier on the wrist than a regular mouse.

SW06 SP5.0

Flores

 

[Areva]

smcadman

The trackball eliminates mouse movement, but excessive clicking with the index finger with the wrist in a horizontal position I’m lead to believe causes the RSI problem. The vertical position is reckoned to be more natural and less prone to RSI. Or is my perception flawed.

Thanks for your input.

Eddy

 

[handleman]

I tried a Kensington TurboBall for about a week. It might be OK in conjunction with a Spaceball, since the Spaceball (if I understand correctly) takes over all rotation, panning, etc. Any trackball is harder to do click-and-drag operations, since you have to hold one finger or thumb still and move the ball with the others.

 

[bluesman0007]

Areva,

I have been using a Logitech Marble Mouse and a 3D Connexion CadMan for about 4 years now. Ball movement is made with two fingers and my thumb is the left button clicker and the finger next to my pinky is the right button clicker. I got so used to this setup I duplicated it at home. It not only cut down on my right hand movement but is also great for limited desk space. I haven't found the trackball any harder to click and drag than a conventional mouse and at times much faster. It's what you get used to.

Dennis

SolidWorks 2007 SP0.0
Windows XP Pro, Pentium4 3.00GHz
1.5 GB RAM, Matrox P650
Logitech Marble Mouse, CadMan

 

[MadMango]

I'm a Marble Mouse user too, going on 5 years.

Thumb does the left-clcking, index finger does the ball movement, middle finger acts as a support resting between ball and rick-button, ring finger does the right-click, pinky is on siesta.

In use, my wrist is at a very natural feeling 45deg angle.

I've been saying this on Eng-Tips since 2001, I think the most important thing to consider is ergonomics and proper posture while anyone is sitting at a desk/computer for 8 or so hours a day. If you don't have the correct sitting posture, no fancy anything will help you for long.

[green]"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."[/green]
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[Theophilus]

I have a client who uses a vertically-oriented mouse (not sure if it's called a Quill). He was having bad back/shoulder pain--switched and everything is feeling much better.

If this whole situation works like many other ergonomic/posture issues, I'd say you want as obtuse an angle as possible between the back surface of your hand and the back surface of your forearm. Works the same with keyboards, which always makes me wonder why keyboards have prop-up legs under the back of the keyboard--they should clearly be under the front of the keyboard.

I'd recommend some good, bone-jarring exercise, too. I never seemed to face issues like these when I was commonly found ripping down a trail at 35 mph. Excellent muscle tone probably does wonders for such sedentary activities as CAD.

Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe trumps reason.

 

[TateJ]

I got rid of the stupid keyboard tray & I "belly-up" to my desk. I can fit an 11 X 17 drawing between me & my keyboard. My monitor is just behind my keyboard... all straight in front of my face. I adjusted my chair height so that my elbows rest comfortably on my desk. Both my forearms support the weight of my arms on my desk. My wrists don't ever touch my desk. I use a wheel mouse & also have a SpaceBall. The only improvement I could make to this would be to have a drafting table instead of my desk. I could either sit on a drafting stool - or stand. I've read that the most ergonomically comfortable position is the "next" position.

The moral of this story is to eliminate any posture that distributes the weight of your arms on a small surface... like your wrists. Once I shifted all that to my forearms... my problems went away.

Also, I have an ottoman (cardboard box) under my desk so I can put my feet up.

My job is so tough...

Windows XP / Logitech "Premium" Optical mouse
SolidWorks 2006 SP4.1 / SpaceBall 5000
Lava Lamp
www.Tate3d.com​

 

[ridein]

YOU might be looking for the "vertical" evoluent mouse.
I have been using this for about a month and it works good for me. I can tell a difference on the stress and strain on my wrist by the end of the workday compared to my regular mouse at home. I just wish there were more than its 5 buttons to program. The mouse buttons can be configured per application though so that definitely helps. I believe there is a new and original configuration. They also make a version for lefties.
see their website testimonials:

http://www.evoluent.com/user_reviews.htm

 

[keepinitcool]

You should definitely look at the 3M Renaissance mouse (used to be Anir vertical mouse). It is great. It uses your thumb to active the main buttons and it a joystick like shape. Your thumb is stronger so it doesn't have the problems of index finger position and clicking. I've used it for years and going back to normal mouse can hurt. You should probably use it in conjuction with a spaceball or spacetraveler.