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Been typing up a storm, now have tender fingertips

Posted By: Soft touch keyboard? on 2005-09-09
In Reply to:

I have to type for 10 hrs a day right now.  Can anyone recommend a soft touch keyboard that is under 100 dollars?  Has anyone ever typed so much that it felt as if the fingertips were bruised?  Mine feel so tender.  I have been doing this for over 20 years and have never had this happen! 


Thanks in advance!




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How tender do they need to get?
nm
sore fingertips
I also type 10 to sometimes 12 hours a day between my regular 40 hour a week job and extras that I do - I found my right thumb was getting soooo tender so I have since improvised and put a foam ring (that is actually for toes) on it to take the brunt of my hitting the space bar all the time. It works wonders and can't do without it now. But never had any other trouble with fingertips....
It involves all of the fingers from about the mid-palm to fingertips. I also have
stiffness and pain in the knuckle of my middle finger, same hand. No swelling, redness, or warmth of the joint, though. Thanks!
Medical transcriptionist melts keyboard with fingertips
Ryan sez, "We have a medical Transcriptionist on staff who has been using the same keyboard for the last 8.5 years. My co-worker replaced it yesterday, and when he first showed it to me I thought someone had taken a blowtorch to it! The most frequently used keys have been completely worn through, exposing the mechanism beneath. Zoom in and check out the indentation on the Backspace key! The keyboard still works fine, so there's something to be said for durability. BTW, it's a NMB Technologies model RT2358TW."

Some people are hard on keyboards -- I tend the blow the contacts on the left side of the board really fast, knocking out the Ctrl, Alt and left side of the spacebar. Charlie Stross's keyboards lose their lettering in mere months, and my pal Seth Schoen types like a machinegun, but I've never noticed any particular wear on his keyboards.


I use regular thin winter gloves and cut the fingertips off. Works great! nm
:)
We keep all of ours on 24/7 unless there's a T-storm. nm
s
storm surge
when is storm surge due to hit?

I hope he calls tonight. I just hate crying at work :)
storm anxiety
I'm in Tampa, the lightning capital of the country, and my poor dog has gone crazy ever since our house was struck by lightning (scared us humans pretty bad too). Storms come up so fast that tranquilizers don't kick in fast enough. My vet suggested turning on music, which helps some. I've also created a safe space for him inside my bedroom closet. If at all possible I wouldn't leave your dog outside. Lots of dogs here panic during storms, get out, and get lost.
Let me tell you something about working in a storm
I would NEVER work during a storm. Anytime you hear thunder, the lightning is not far behind. We have had 3 cases in my state- 1 a lady was sitting on her toilet, her home hit by lightning and she was killed by it coming thru the plumbing. The second was someone on the internet typing and lightning again and she was knocked out of her chair. The third is me and I was not working at that time but went into work room, smelled something like burnt rubber and my monitor completely gone. Oh, and I forgot to mention, one of my coworkers had a much dire consequence. Lightning once again and her entire CPU gone. I also do not talk on the phone nor would I take a shower. You are right to be afraid of being zapped.
The storm surge of 28 feet is said what will cause
There are many people who have remained in their homes as they are poor, disabled or quite elderly.

Hard to imagine how they would expect 485,000 people could evacuate in one day.

Yes, have been there, too. It is so historic and a great vacation place.

If the predictions come true, this city may require rebuilding.

I just cannot believe the magnitude of this event. I shudder at the thought of what tomorrow with bring.
I would get off during a lightening storm. My neighbors equipment got fried. sm
my TV volume got fried during a storm. My company has told all of us that if we fry our computers during a storm, we have to replace them. I can't afford that. I wouldn't risk it.
Yea, and you ought to try it in a snow storm. Practically white out and they're roaring
x
Storm malware shapes up as worst 'weather' in years

Storm malware shapes up as worst 'weather' in years


Symantec: Web hasn't seen an infection like this since 2005's Sober.O

Robert McMillan


January 22, 2007 (IDG News Service) -- Malicious software that was sent out in millions of spam messages over the weekend has now infected about 300,000 computers, making it the worst malware outbreak since 2005, Symantec Corp. said Monday.

The so calledStorm Worm e-mail messages first started appearing last Wednesday, advertising attached news reports on topics like "230 Dead as storm batters Europe," or U.S.  Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has kicked German Chancellor."


The attachments have names such as "Full Story.exe" or "Full Video.exe." Once they are launched, these files install malicious software that then waits to receive further instructions over the Internet.


The malware is not actually a worm, however, and infected PCs do not immediately start spreading the software to other computers. Instead, Storm has been spreading more rapidly over the past few days as its creators have pumped out more and more malicious e-mail messages.


"Over the weekend, it really kicked into high gear," said Patrick Martin, senior product manager with Symantec Security Response.


The last time malicious software spread this quickly was in May 2005, when the Sober.O mass-mailing worm affected a similar number of systems, Martin said.


The latest versions of the worm include similarly provocative news headlines and malicious attachments, but the criminals have added a twist over the past few days: the text of the e-mail messages now contains glowing reviews of penny stocks, apparently designed to fuel "pump and dump" stock scams.


Some of the e-mail messages have also been changed to prey on the romantic, security vendor F-Secure Corp. warned. Recent versions of these Trojan e-mails have contained subject lines such as "A Bouquet of Love," "A Day in Bed Coupon," or "A Monkey Rose for You."


After living thru 3 hurricanes last year, including Tropical Storm Bonnie, EVERYONE
coastal or inland,and 50 miles east or west,should be prepared - no matter how far inland you live. Check out www.themountaineer.com to see the pics on the flooding that happened in the mountains of N.C. from the remnants. In Jacksonville,FL we first received a large tornado from T.S.Bonnie,which was nowhere near us,and it was downhill from there. After Charlie, we got our power and phone back 2 days before Frances came and knocked them out again. When the meat began to defrost, we fired up the grill and cooked everything and invited the entire neighborhood. Everyone brought something to contribute, whether it was canned beans or Twinkies. After having to evacuate for Hurricane Floyd a few years ago, I am,and will always be,prepared. You don't have to have a lot of money to prepare. When hurricane season gets close, purchase a couple extra cans of food everytime you go shopping and SET THEM ASIDE. Save and clean your milk jugs or even the plastic soda bottles. FEMA cannot always get there immediately,especially when there is extensive damage. I was a claims adjuster during Hurricane Andrew. There was debris, damaged vehicles,trees and powerlines everywhere. It took us over 4 hours to go less than 10 miles. Imagine what FEMA had to deal with to get their big trucks in. There is absolutely NO REASON for ANYONE in Florida or the other gulf states (that's right - STATES - not just the coast)not to be prepared when hurricane season starts. Do not wait until a storm is expected to strike your area in 2 days. Florida is one of the most prepared states in the hurricane zones and look at the trouble they are having. The government is there to help provide with immediate necessities - not to rebuild your life. That is up to you.
We played our rescue's favorite game if she started looking worried when a storm came up.
Normally we would do as mistoo does and ignore the storm, and she did fine. But one storm was particularly loud, so she seemed a bit anxious. I got down into "let's play" position on the floor, and proceded to play a nice loud growly-bump game with her. We had a good time, and the exercise not only distracted her, but the physical exertion calmed her nerves and made her very happy.

Recently I kept my sister's dog for a week and discovered that fireworks cause her to shake terribly. I called my sister, who had never seen her quake with fear - because they leave the dog outside all the time. So all those times fireworks have gone off in the neighborhood, her dog has been outside alone, quaking in fear. So sad. For her nerves I put a T-shirt on her (supposed to be calming to put on semi-tight clothes) and let her sit in my lap on the couch. Yup, all 50 lb of border collie up on my lap, LOL.
Wow, we are having one heck of a thunder and lightening storm from the heat, finally started to rain
some.....gonna hit 105 here in VA (near  Richmond)....yikes!  Hope we don't lose power, have 1 stand fan and 1 window fan if power does go (have a generator) but still, way to little for such heat. Our poor AC is gonna blow (along with the electric bill).  
Typing. This is NOT typing, it is transcribing. There is a BIG difference. sm
Transcription includes typing, but so much more.
OMG...yep! Air typing!!! it's like

don't even think of typing before you get
nm
80+ and still typing.

A great woman crossed into the arm's of God this morning.  She was 80+ years of age and still doing medical transcription up to the day earlier this year when she was diagnosed with cancer and even then she came to the office just until recently.  She loved her job and everyone loved her.  She will be greatly missed in the world of transcription as well as among family and friends. 


Until we meet again. 


80 and still typing
did she live in NJ?
When I had typing in H.S. (sm)
we had those little pieces of chalky paper that you would have to slip down behind that little "thing" on the platin, and type on that.  Can't even remember what it was called it was so long ago.  Boy, were we thrilled when white out, yellow out, and pink out came along.  LOL
Will you be actually typing them?
If you are then they are ripping you off.  I for one refuse to work unless I get paid for everything I type.  It all adds up over time!
Typing Fun
Hee, I do that all the time.  I like to see how fast I can make them speak and still type along. 
anyone know how to go from typing
To search Google for terms without using the painful mouse?  Thanks.
I did something while typing
that changed my settings on my IE. Now I do not have my toolbar at the top and my icons on the bottom do not show for the programs I have up, but this only is when I am on the internet page. When I am using other programs, my icons show at the bottom. Now my favorites show at the side instead of being able to use the pull down through my toolbar. I do not see anything I can use to fix this. Any ideas?! Thanks...
You will still have some typing with VR.
You'll get more done with the VR, but he'll pay you less for the editing. What type of VR is he wanting to use?
typing
I found that I make out better typing than doing VR. I make half.
What are you typing???

Too broad of a question --  is is a seminar, deposition, insurance statement or what.  I have done a lot and for 60 minutes per tape it has averaged out to over $100 at 10 to 11 cpl -- many years ago.  Again depends on what you are typing and the quality of the tape.  Lost my shirt one time on a planning meeting, too hard to understand, etc.   Took many hours to do and not enough pay.   More details and could answer you better.


Are you first typing what you
want to save, as in "-year-old," highlighting that,and then choosing "Autocorrect"? If so, you should have both choices of "plain" and "formatted text" available. If you then choose "formatted text," it should work. I had that same problem a long time ago and it was explained to me this way. Talk about easy! Good luck! :)
$40/1h rec = 4h typing = $10/h pay only? nm

Just typing, typing, typing.....
Can you do this every day, 8 hours long, with only a total of 40 minute break?
No talking, no emails, no telephone, no nothing? When do you eat and pee?
Don't you have a husband or children, who want to interact with you? What's the advantage of working at home, if you work like this?
This is a 'sweatshop', what a life! No, thanks!
What's going to happen to your blood circulation, your veins and arteries??? Your health? How long can you keep this up?
Are you trying to lure MTs back to this profession under even harder conditions?
No, thanks!
typing
I would call putting in Expanders and normals manual work. Actually, also typing is a manual job.
also, (something different), typing in -- SM
CAPS is YELLING. just plain rude.

you'll be fine.


Typing on your lap

I just moved and my new desk setup is a built-in desk which is too high for comfort for typing on the keyboard.  I can adjust my office chair up, but then it's too high to comfortably reach the pedal.  I have been typing on the keyboard on my lap for two days but my shoulders are sore and so are my calves apparently from flexing when I wasn't aware of it all day.


Awhile back I read here that some MT's type on their keyboards on their laps.  Please give me any feedback how it works for you and also do you know of any products out there or things around the house to support the keyboard and make it easier to balance on your legs.  I kind of like typing like this other than the strain on my neck and legs from trying to keep it balanced and from sliding off.


Thanks in advance! 


always typing

My kids say that is all I ever do anymore---MT work at my computer. When I am home I type! Sometimes 10 or more hours per day........


But, I tell them I could be at work someplace for 8 hours and that is what I would do there.


Typing IME's

Just trying to get a few ideas for obtaining more work.....probably like a lot of other starving MTs!


Does anyone type strictly IME's?  If so, is the pay any better than traditional transcription?  Any info greatly appreciated.  Thanks! 


Sometimes I feel like actually typing exactly...

what they say so they can see it for themselves - or someone who knows the difference can see it!  Some of my faves today:


"Jackson-Pratt draining removed..."


"Muscle strength 4+ on right upper extremities..."  - Pt has more than 1?!


"There was depressed of right scalp secondary to miss of scalp."  (Patient had a laceration and underlying skull fracture)


Could go on and on - but one of my favorites is when they spell a word or a drug for you and it's TOTALLY WRONG!! 


Some though, I have to say, are very aware of how difficult it is to understand them and actually end up being better than some of my American dictators.  Those ESLs I prefer over all others.


150 wpm straight typing.....sm
In high school 1st quarter typing I was doing 70 wpm, by the end of the 1st year of typing in high school I was at 100 wpm.  At the end of the 2nd year of typing I was averaging 140 wpm. 
If it is typing on the screen, then it should not
be a problem, just the same as if you use AutoCorrect or an abreviation expander.  You are NOT after all bringing in text from another word processer...you are creating text on the screen you see.
Maybe someone else in another country is typing it?

Correct typing

Please tell me if I am right or not. On a recent dictation a doctor was giving current medicationa and he said "p.r.n. ibuprofen", I typed Ibuprofen p.r.n., because I was taught that this is the correct way. She informed me to type it the way he said it. I looked at another transciptionist work on this same doctor and she typed PRN Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is not capitalized unless it is in the beginning of the sentence. I do not want to compromise my work or correct transcribing, what do I do? She also informed me that the Book Of Style is not always right. Well, I was taught that it was the final authority. Help!!!!!


speed typing
Okay, ladies.  I have been working for 8 months now as an MT and my typing accuracy still is lacking quite a bit.  I have the typer shark program that I use sometimes.  I type about 50 WPM.  Not good enough for me.  I was hoping that somebody could give me suggestions or hope that it will come with time.  I seem to be a little bit better lately, but I keep hearing about MTs who type 300+ lines per hour.  It takes me a couple hours or more to do that.  Depending on the dictator, of course.  One woman said she used to type the news and that seemed to help her.  I just need some encouragement that I will get better, or maybe some people don't. 
Faster typing
Well, my mother insisted I know how to type, so I took 2 years (yes 2 years) of typing in high school, so my typing speed was pretty fast to begin with (though I graduated high school over 20 years ago!) I have a friend who did the "Mavis Bacon" or whatever it is called typing software and that really helped her pick up speed.

I use Instant Text and try to put in everything. I have been an MT for just under 2 years. I do acute care, and I average 260 lph. On days I'm lucky enough to get a good run of ER reports - I can easily do 350+ plus per hour because most of it is canned, and I have jump codes in my expander, so I can whiz through a lot.

Good luck!
speed typing
I also use IT, as it is through the company I work for. I am still getting to know the program. I tried Mavis. I found her to be cute, but annoying. I think am just being impatient. I really like the typer shark program. It's actually fun. I think I will take the time to work on understanding IT, so I can get it to work for me.

Thanks your input. It did make me feel hopeful!
speed typing
Will do! Thank you for the encouragement.
I used to be a typing teacher...
I used to be a typing teacher and also had long nails at the time. I got one of those split keyboards (ergonomic) and it helped. Having my hands in that position allowed me to type a lot easier with my longer nails. You might give that a try. Keyboards are really cheap.
Because typing pathology from
rare. I would love to do pathology again, but I will never go back to an office environment again.
RU typing in code??? nm
huh????
have u tried typing in google just that?...nm
@@
exercise while typing
Need a work out during your typing day?  Get a Yoga ball ans use it instead of your chair the simple act of keeping you body center on the ball will work your abs. while sitting in your chair, do leg lifts by simply lifting your heel off of the floor.  Instead of ittinf for lunch, stand up at the counter or walk while having a sandwhich or what ever it is that you eat.