[stevebmark]

It's funny he mentions RSI, using a mechanical keyboard with greater key travel distance is worse for RSI than a flat low travel keyboard. The mouse is also much more efficient than the keyboard for many tasks, including in Vim. Reaching for the mouse doesn't affect the muscles related to RSI. In fact, for RSI, I'd say ditch Vim to avoid having to type constantly, since it's just a text editor, and use an IDE which gives you more powerful and automatic coding abilities.

[throwaway675309]

It actually depends. The type of keyboard is not necessarily as important as the manner in which you depress the keys. RSI is usually caused by performing an action that isolates a muscular movement.

So for example, you might have a mechanical keyboard which may have a longer vertical travel, but if you depress the keys through the usage of the weight of the arm and let gravity do some of the work, you might be able to ameliorate some of the potential causes of RSI.

Source: studied ergonomics including the Alexander technique and Taubman for piano, some of which applies to computer keyboards.

[helmholtz]

My god, thank you! Why don't people talk more about key travel? I've had many types of keyboards. Split, tented, columnar layout. The one that does the best for me is a keychron low profile ten-keyless. Just because of the lower travel distance.

Hundred percent agree with the rest of your comment too. 'Vary it up' is the key to avoiding RSI. Almost a tautological point.