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The accordion, not normally revered for its technologically advanced design,
could provide inspiration for the next generation of computer keyboards, says
Alan Hedge, an ergonomist at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Vertical
keyboards, such as those found in an accordion, allow two to three times more
typing movement than a traditional keyboard. Using gloves with built-in sensors,
Hedge monitored the hand movements of typists using both traditional keyboards
and a prototype vertical version. He found keeping the wrists vertical allows
the hands to remain in a safer position, thus reducing the risk of carpal tunnel
syndrome.