In your PC you surely have a keyboard, better or worse, but it is there and with it you communicate, work, play, do your business or consume content by entering what you are looking for in search engines like Google. But as you surely know there is not a single type of keyboard and some are very particular, among them perhaps the most striking are the so-called “one-handed keyboards”what exactly are they for?
We’re not going to get into the definition of a keyboard because it’s obvious and we’ve done it before, but we need to do it now with this particular type of device because many may not understand what we really mean when we’re talking about those “one-handed keyboards”, although there’s no science locked up here.
One-handed keyboards, what are they?
Well, the definition is given by the name itself: keyboards that are going to be used with one hand, but there’s a lot more to add to that. These are input devices that are generally intended for left-handers because their function is generally very specific.
Here it must be added that there are types in this world, which we will get to know later, but above all it must be understood that one-handed keyboards are not suitable for writing, they are not designed for this and this is not is not their main function.
So… what are they for?
Well, its function is related to the types of one-handed keyboards that we can find, so defining its function is really defining the type. We will therefore list them and explain them:
- One-handed keyboards for video game: They are a mix between a classic keyboard and a gamepad, to which we usually add a wrist rest for more comfort. Its function is to improve the performance of a player and for this it offers the most used keys in the game at your fingertips, where we will have the famous W, A, S, D, Shift, CONTROL, Space, Tab, Esc and Enter.
Some incorporate more additional keys that can be used for macro or secondary functions, as well as number keys for the same functions. Some even incorporate a joystick to improve accuracy in certain types of games. - One-handed keyboards for productivity: Here what prevails is the greatest number of keys available and with specific functions and for this reason we try to integrate all the keys F, Insert, delete and others. As if that weren’t enough, they also usually include a number pad which normally shares a key with other main keys and will be activated by pressing FN more the key to rigor.
- One-handed keyboards for in writing: they are the last in the list and they are the rarest, because their shapes are really strange and they try to fit the maximum number of keys of a normal keyboard in a minimum space, reducing their size and playing with chunky 3D shapes against a normal keyboard which is flat.
There are not too many models and mastering them is an art, especially since ergonomics are not their general strong point, and they are generally very expensive.
Is a one-handed keyboard recommended?
Well, it depends on what you are looking for and what type of user you are. For games they are a complete hit and if you barely write on your PC they are the best option, although most users use it as an add-on. The best thing is that ergonomically they are more suitable, everything is (pun intended) at hand and therefore the performance of the player increases.
For productivity, recommending a one-handed keyboard is risky. it’s very personal, there are people who do not want anything else, on the other hand, others do not. Here the model and its quality have a great influence because it requires an arrangement of keys and advanced functions that the design grants or removes depending on the manufacturer.
Therefore, it is a personal decision that everyone must value, because in work time is money and there is no more reliable way than the empirical to ascertain what is necessary or nope. Finally, one-handed typing keyboards are only needed in very specific environments and used by very skilled people because they aren’t comfortable, they aren’t easy, and they take time to get used to after all that.
In short, one-handed keyboards can be an improvement in functionality, ergonomics, and overall performance, or they can be an ordeal you’ll have to return. if you don’t end up adaptingwhich takes time.
