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perhaps after a weekend or a vacation, or at the very least rst thing in the morning. This gives you body a change to rest
and make a fresh start. If possible, Kinesis recommends starting with the Advantage2 during a period when you are not
under a lot of work related stress or pressure. Trying to learn a new keyboard layout can be frustrating, and if you are
working long hours or under a deadline that can make matters worse. Do not overtax yourself early on, and if you have not
been using a keyboard regularly, build up slowly. Even if you are symptom free, you are still susceptible to injury. Do not
dramatically increase your keyboard usage without rst consulting your health care professional.
If your thumbs are sensitive
The Advantage2 keyboard is designed for increased thumb usage compared to a traditional keyboard which places more
strain on the little ngers. Some new Kinesis contoured keyboard users initially experience fatigue or discomfort as their
thumbs adapt to the increased workload. If you have a preexisting thumb injury, be especially careful to move your hands
and arms when reaching for thumb keys and read the paragraph below about thumb-free typing option.
Guidelines for using your thumbs
Avoid stretching your thumbs to reach the furthest keys in the thumb clusters. Instead move your hands and arms slightly,
being careful to stay relaxed, and keep your wrists straight. If you thumbs are especially sensitive, consider using your
index ngers instead of your thumbs to activate these keys. You may want to speak with your health care professional
about these options. If pain persists for more than several days, stop using the Advantage2 keyboard and contact your
health care professional for advice.
Thumb-free typing options
If your thumbs are especially sensitive, your keyboard can be congured for minimal thumb use or even thumb-free typing
if necessary. This approach is most effective when using one or more Kinesis foot switches in conjunction with the
Advantage2 keyboard. Generally speaking, thumb-free typing is accomplished by remapping thumb key actions to the
embedded layer, preferably accessed through an optional Kinesis foot pedal, where they can be typed with by your ngers.
Personal preference will dictate the exact details of any custom layout but see Section: “Customizing Your Keyboard” for
details.
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