Pro Fit Ergo Wired Keyboard

The Kensington Pro Fit Ergo Wired Keyboard features a winglike design that orients the alphanumeric keys at approximately 11° with the navigation and keypad keys being at 0°. This sloping of the keys reduces pronation of the hands and forearm while typing. The left and right key groups are also splayed outwards at 33° to encourage a more neutral alignment and reduce ulnar deviation at the wrists. The integrated palm support on the Pro Fit Wired Keyboard is just over 3" in depth, and offers cushioning for the palms. It is covered in a leatherette material that is easily cleaned.

The angle and height of the Pro Fit Ergo Wired Keyboard is such that the wrists are supported in a fairly neutral alignment when the elbows are about 1" below the desk surface. For those who would rather sit at a more ergonomic height (i.e. elbows at or just above desk height) and benefit from a slight improvement in wrist alignment there are legs built into the underside of the palm support. When deployed these elevate the front to create a nominal 4° negative slope. When the keyboard is flat the highest point on the keys is 1.4" and with the negative elevation legs deployed the highest point is 1.9".

The island-style keys are fairly quiet but it should be noted that they have a moderately high peak operation force of 55 grams, which over time can cause fatigue and strain on the fingers. As well, the inner columns of keys are wider to create a more appealing look but this can lead to inadvertently striking the keys off-centre. When struck to the edge there is a tendency for these keys to partially bind, thus requiring more force to complete the key activation. This could lead to dropped keystrokes and an overcompensation response of exerting a higher degree of force to ensure activation. With a limited travel distance of just 2.5mm this will likely lead to the fingers impacting at the end of each keystroke.

• Preset Fixed "Splay": The keys are arranged with a outward splay of approximately 36° to help reduce ulnar deviation.
• Partially "Tented" Winglike Design: The alpha-numeric keycaps are angled outward at approximately 11°. The navigation and numeric keypad are at 0°.
• Negative Tilt Legs: Small legs on the underside of the palm support can be used elevate the front edge of the keyboard to create "negative inclination". (see notes in Usage Tips)
  NOTE: The palm support itself is NOT removable.
• Visual Indicators: Indicator lights for Caps Lock, Num Lock, & Battery are included.
• Integrated Fixed Palm Support: Kensington Pro Fit Ergo Keyboards feature a lightly-padded integrated palm support. At just over 3.0" deep it will support the palms of most typists, reducing the potential for Wrist Extension. The leather-like material is quite easily cleaned.
• Spill-Proof Keys: Spill-proof design reduces the risk of downtime.
• Alternate & Special Functions: Specialized Functions ((Media Player/Mute/Vol +/-, Previous Track, Play/Pause/Next Track), Task View, Home, Search, Favourite, & Mail are all supported via F-Key Alternative Functions. There are dedicated keys for Calculator and Screen Lock.

• Width: 18.23" (46.3 cm)
• Depth (front-to-back): 8.5" (21.6 cm)
  Note: The depth of the integrated palm supports (just over 3") is included in the above measurement.
• Height:
  Keyboard Flat - 1.42" (3.6 cm)
  Negative Incline -4°: 1.9" (4.8 cm)
• Weight: 26.4 oz (747 grams)
• Cable Length: 70" (180 cm)
• Interface: USB-A 2.0
• Key Travel Distance:
  Pre-Activation: 1.6mm
  Post-Activation: 0.9mm
  Total Travel: 2.5mm
• Key Activation Force: 33 grams
• Peak Operating Key Force: 55 grams
  Note: Some of the wider keys - especially those on the inside row of each half can bind depending on finger placement. This will lead to a higher maximum activation force on these keys.
• F-Key Alternate Functions: Media keys (Media Player/Mute/Vol +/-, Previous Track, Play/Pause/Next Track), Task View, Home, Search, Favourite, Mail
• Dedicated Hotkeys: Screen Lock, Calculator
• Compatibility:
  Windows 7/8/10
  Mac OSx (with limited functions)
  Android (with limited functions)
• Colour: Black
  
  
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited - Manufacturer direct only
• Package Contents: Pro Fit Ergo Wired Keyboard, Documentation, Warranty Card

• The depth of the permanently affixed palm rest, just over 3", can potentially move this keyboard too far away from those of smaller build, forcing them to "reach forward" to access the keys. This can lead to unnecessary strain on the shoulders as the arms are no longer able to hang in a neutral position with the elbows below the shoulders. If you find that your elbows are positioned ahead of your keyboard the first thing you should do is to ensure that your keyboard and your body are positioned at appropriate heights. If you still find yourself reaching forward it may be that your forearms are not long enough to comfortably reach across the palm support. In that case you may wish to find a suitable keyboard solution that requires less forward reach.
• The negative inclination legs that this keyboard is equipped with create a negative slope that is generally considered a desirable feature. However this can be a potential concern because the front edge of the keyboard is now elevated. This elevation increases the potential for the edge of the keyboard palm rest to come in contact with the underside of the wrists, creating a potential pressure point. This would be more of a concern for those with smaller hands, especially if they are already sitting too low and having to reach forward and up to access the keyboard. The only ways to address this are by either elevating the chair to compensate for this increase in height (which may request additional adjustments to the workstation) or by lowering the keyboard tray (if used) to where it is sitting directly on the lap.
• Our recommendation is that the Pro Fit Ergo Wired Keyboard be used either on a keyboard tray where the tray is able to be lowered right to the legs or on a height-adjustable desk that can be lowered to provide similar positioning. In this position the shoulders will be able to remain relaxed, with the elbows hanging directly below them. This will also aid in positioning your hands in alignment to the splay of the alpha/numeric keys.Note: If a sit-stand desk is lowered to better position the keyboard to achieve optimal positioning an increase in monitor height may be required due to the desk surface being lower).
• Caution should be exercised when using the Pro Fit Ergo Wired Keyboard with a mouse placed on the right side of the keyboard. Although not as large a reach as some other keyboards, the Pro Fit Ergo Wired Keyboard still requires a reach of almost 10" from the home row "J" to the right edge of the keyboard). For many typists, especially those of smaller frame or with narrower shoulders, this will result in "over-reaching" outside of the Comfort Zone.Learn More About the Risks Associated with Over-Reaching.