I talk about the drawbacks of traditional keyboards, about what problems they cause and why, about possible solutions, scientific studies, rethinking digital interactions and why we still need normal keyboards in the digital future we may dream of. But most of all, I looked very closely at my own fingers when writing. During this time I also gained new perspectives on my own focus as a designer (which is Human-centered design). The more I read, the more questions came up. What at first was only meant to be a small research project soon grew into something quite serious. But again: Why is that so? And what causes it? At the same time, there have been more and more people suffering from this changes, even if they like their profession and their work. For many modern professions, they are actually the basis of existence. Today, there are hardly any jobs in the industrialized countries that do not include computers. Many people experience a similar situation, and as digitalization progresses, their numbers are increasing. I can hardly avoid using the keyboard and mouse if I do what I like to do. When I view and edit my images I again use the computer. I am also a photographer, which means I frequently carry around a heavy camera. Why is that so? Well, as a communication designer, I do a lot of computer work - not just design jobs, but also research, e-mails and the organization of my projects. They disappear after a long weekend or a vacation, only to come back after a few days of work. I’ve had pain in my right forearm for years. This means that modern keyboards still inherit a major flaw: they are not designed to be ergonomic. Yet the general design of keyboards has not changed much to this day, although they have been revised and improved again and again with the transition to electronic typewriters and eventually to personal computers. Their intention was never to be easy to use, but to compensate for the technical shortcomings of the then new devices. Their predecessors, mechanical keyboards, were developed about 150 years ago for the first typewriters. With computer keyboards, it’s a different story. But apart from the engine, the seats and the wheels, there is not much resemblance to the first automobile. Imagine a modern car: Well designed, comfortable and more efficient with each new generation. After 150 years, we should finally redesign the computer keyboard
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