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98 lines
6.1 KiB
98 lines
6.1 KiB
\section{Motivation}
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\label{sec:label}
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% In recent years, computers are used to some extend in almost every industry in
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% Europe \cite{eurostat_ent_w_comp} and China \cite{iresearch_ent_w_comp}. This
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% leads to the conclusion, that also other countries must have a high usage of
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% computers in corporations. Furthermore, according to a statistic published by
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% \citeauthor{itu_hh_w_comp} in 2019, nearly half of the worldwide households have
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% access to at least one computer \cite{itu_hh_w_comp}. One of the most used
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% devices for data input while operating a computer is the keyboard
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% \parencite[22]{handbook_chi}. Therefore, people who use a computer, either at
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% home or to fulfill certain tasks at work, are also likely to use a keyboard. An
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% important part of a keyboard is the keyswitch also called keyboard key or
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% key. Those keyswitches use, depending on the manufacturer or keyboard type,
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% different mechanisms to actuate a keypress. More commonly used mechanism to date
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% are scissor switches, mostly used in laptop keyboards, rubber dome and membrane switches,
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% often used in low- to mid-priced keyboards, and mechanical switches which are
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% the main switch type for high-end and gaming keyboards
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% \cite{ergopedia_keyswitch}. Depending on the mechanism and type of key used, it
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% is possible that different force has to be applied to the key to activate
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% it. Normally, the force required to activate a key is identical for each key
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% across the keyboard. However, previous research has shown, that there is a
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% disparity in force generated by different fingers
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% \cite{bretz_finger_force}. This raises the question, why there are no keyboards
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% for personal or work related use cases with adjusted actuation forces per finger
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% or even customizable keyboards, where an individual can select the actuation
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% force for each keyswitch individually.
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In recent decades, computers and other electronic devices have become an
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indispensable part of everyday life. Computers are used in almost every industry
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\cite{iresearch_ent_w_comp, eurostat_ent_w_comp} and 84\,\% of European
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households as well as nearly half of the worldwide households have access to at
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least one computer \cite{eurostat_hous_w_comp, itu_hh_w_comp}. Even 153 years
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after the first typewriter was patented \cite{noyes_qwerty} people still mostly
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use identical looking keyboards as their main way to input data into a computer
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\parencite[22]{handbook_chi} \& \cite{broel_dektop_or_smartphone}. A potential
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problem while interacting with a computer through the usage of a keyboard are
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rapid movements of the fingers over a prolonged time, which can cause discomfort
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and increase the risk for \gls{WRUED} \cite{pascarelli_wrued,
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ccfohas_wrued}. Previous research has shown, that the actuation force, which
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is the force required to generate a keypress, is directly related to the actual
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force an individual generates to press a specific key
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\cite{gerard_keyswitch}. Also, the individual fingers are not capable of
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exerting identical force, which could lead to higher fatigue in weaker fingers
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\cite{bretz_finger, martin_force, baker_kinematics, dickson_finger}. There are
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various designs for alternative keyboards by e.g.,
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Maltron\footnote{\url{https://www.maltron.com/store/c47/Dual_Hand_Keyboards.html}},
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Ergodox\footnote{\url{https://www.ergodox.io/}}, Kenesis
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\footnote{\url{https://kinesis-ergo.com/keyboards/advantage2-keyboard/}},
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etc. Due to the oftentimes unusual layouts and extra keys for the thumbs, all
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these keyboards require the typist to adjust to a completely new way of typing
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and therefore could reduce productivity during this adjustment
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phase. Additionally, a study by Baker et al. (n = 77) revealed, that even after
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several months of using a keyboard with an alternative design, in terms of
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usability, participants still preferred the traditional design because of its
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superb usability \cite{baker_ergo2}. With these insights, the uniformity of
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actuation force across conventional keyboards may be a potential characteristic
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that could be improved on, to reduce the strain on weaker fingers and thus
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reduce fatigue and increase comfort. Therefore, a keyboard with, per key,
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adjusted actuation force, depending on the finger usually operating the key,
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might be a feasible solution without the requirement for typists to invest in
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higher priced alternative keyboards, which also require additional
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familiarization. To become a successful alternative, the adjusted keyboard
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design has to perform equally good or even better than existing conventional
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keyboard designs, while also enhancing the user experience during usage. These
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requirements led to the following research question of this thesis:
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\vspace{1em}
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\begin{tabular}{p{0.3cm} p{0.5cm} p{13cm} p{0.5cm}}
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& \textbf{\large RQ} & {Does an adjusted actuation force per key have a positive impact on efficiency and overall satisfaction while using a mechanical keyboard?} & \\
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\end{tabular}
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\vspace{1em}
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If this question could be positively answered, companies producing keyboards
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could implement the proposed adjustments in actuation force into existing
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manufacturing processes and thereby make adjusted keyboard designs broadly
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available and potentially keep the retail prices acceptably low.
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% This raises the question, if keyboards for
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% personal or work related use cases with adjusted actuation forces per finger or
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% even customizable keyboards, where an individual can select the actuation force
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% for each keyswitch individually.
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% Depending on the mechanism and type of key used, it
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% is possible that different force has to be applied to the key to activate
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% it. Normally, the force required to activate a key is identical for each key
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% across the keyboard. However, previous research has shown, that there is a
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% disparity in force generated by different fingers
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% \cite{bretz_finger_force}. This raises the question, why there are no keyboards
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% for personal or work related use cases with adjusted actuation forces per finger
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% or even customizable keyboards, where an individual can select the actuation
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% force for each keyswitch individually.
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% Input tasks are not only restricted to pure data entry but also include complex
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% inputs required by games. |