Tips for learning to type with one hand

Comfort and posture are essential for anyone working with one arm for this reason. This is why I find Bluetooth keyboards to be the most accessible to one-handed users. Not only are there a variety of choices, but a Bluetooth keyboard can be repositioned and moved to find the angle that works best for you.

Multiple keyboards

If you find that your hand is still sore after long hours of typing, you may also want to consider investing in a second keyboard. I’m the fastest on my inexpensive little Amazon keyboard, but I’ve also invested in something heavier and more sturdy to go through every now and then when I’m working at home. Plus, it’s yet another hand position that keeps me from having cramps continuously. It changes things.

The Lofree Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard is a good option for someone who likes raised keys. The device helps you make good use of your sense of touch and has sounds to help you distinguish keys without having to watch what you’re doing too often. The keys are slightly concave, allowing you to delimit each one. And it makes a “snap” when you press keys, like a typewriter. My favorite part is that it provides a more rugged, sturdy feel without adding too much surface. This way, it is still usable for someone who has difficulty reaching multiple keys at once with one hand. The back is raised. So your hand can also rest comfortably on your desk rather than hanging over your keyboard, causing additional cramps.

One-handed keyboards

The part that many find difficult with a one-handed keyboard is the need to adapt to a device that is completely unfamiliar to them. For someone with a congenital hand or arm disability who grew up learning to type on a one-handed keyboard, this may not be a problem. But suppose your disability is acquired later in life. In this case, the one-handed keyboard can prove to be an additional learning curve in itself. So this is something you will need to keep in mind.

But there are one-handed devices that don’t require you to learn something Morse-like to get them to work. Dominique Kemps’s left hand was paralyzed 18 months ago following a stroke. Kemps struggled to achieve good typing speed on a standard keyboard, so she turned to the TiPY keyboard, which was specifically designed for one-handed use with optimally placed buttons. “After a little practice, it allowed me to type blind in an ergonomic and fast way. Plus, it includes the mouse function, so I don’t have to switch between keyboard and mouse, ”Kemps explained. The built-in mouse is a great addition for anyone working with programs that require the simultaneous use of a mouse and keyboard, like the architecture software mentioned by Barlondo. TiPY can also be connected to any Mac, iOS, Windows or Android device via USB-C, making it not only accessible but universally compatible.