I've recently switched from two flat screen monitors to a single very wide flat screen monitor. The issue I am having is placing my fingers on the correct keys when the active screen is to one side or the other. So I am wondering whether I should invest in a curved screen. I do like the wide screen but not always aligning my fingers on the keyboard leads to a lot of correcting.
Thanks in advance for your comments!
Within the last year, I went from a 13-inch laptop screen to a 24-inch external monitor with no issues. Touch-typing issues came from neurological issues, not the screen.
In your case, it sounds like a curved monitor might be the right choice for you...
you've not said if you think your issue is 'alignmnet'. what I mean by that is if you touch or semi touch type or if you're a two or one finger typist. I learnt to touch type before high school, before what Americans call middle school. and I sometimes have 'alignment' issues when swapping between my central and out rigger screens (I'm running 3) I find that this happens less if the keyboard is further back on the desk rather than near the front edge. another thing that may help it to practice typing with a dishcloth over the keyboard so that you rely more on muscle memory rather than other methods to type.
a curved screen may make some difference but I'd recommend concentrating on your typing technique with 'free' methods first before sinking cash into a new screen. the other thing you can look at is a convertible screen I've seen a couple. they are adjustable between curved and flat but they are pretty dear and only sit at the higher end of the product stack price wise. I'll see if I can find you a model name and post it back here to help but last I looked they were around $2K USD give or take depending on local taxes etc. not sure if that's too rich for your blood but may be a better investment if you're unsure if you want to go flat or curved.
You might check your keyboard if you are placing your fingers wrong. As I recall, all my keyboards that I owned, have have a small bump on the 'f' and 'j' keys. you might be subconsciously shifting your body slightly when looking at the side monitor.
So I am wondering whether I should invest in a curved screen
I would think the answer to that, depends on how you use your screen. Personally, I wouldn't swap my two screens for a singular one (curved or otherwise) because I would lose some of the functionality (the ability to have one screen in full screen with either a game, video or some other media medium and the other in tabs or small windows). I'm not sure that would work well with one singular screen (games would try to take up the entire screen of a wide monitor). I would probably have to change settings in the game(s) to stop it doing that, but it's just one more hassle when I want to exist in a world of as few mouse clicks as possible.
At the moment, I have my two screens set up in a wide 'V' with my eyes naturally pointing at the middle bezels. I'm sat in a swivel chair, so it doesn't take much for me to change angle sightly to meet each screen head on. As for typing straight on to the screen, I just move the keyboard slightly.
I thought at first, the bezel in the middle would annoy me (back in the day), but I grew up with CRT's being my multi monitor setup, and the race tracks that used to surround them, so I have grown used to having the equivalent of an RSG in front of my eyes. Now, bezels are really thin and if you angle (position) one screen slightly behind the other, you in effect only have the one bezel. I may have a curved screen in the future as my main and keep one of my existing flat screens as the second, but in all honesty, I haven't seen much need in swapping to a curved screen. In fact, I'm still a little dubious about curved screens being anything more than a marketing gimmick.
From what I've read, a curved monitor isn't effective until you exceed 27". They are most beneficial for gaming, and have no real benefit for office work using word processors and spread sheets. For a dual screen setup, you need to make sure to continue the curve from one screen to the next, and don't mix radii. I'm currently using a 27" flat screen and frequently have multiple windows open at once.
For a dual screen setup, you need to make sure to continue the curve from one screen to the next, and don't mix radii
Not sure about that. My first dual screen set up was a 12inch screen and a 10 inch screen, with two different bezel sizes. It was only recently (five? years or so) when I finally moved from CRT to flat screen that I finally had two monitors the same size. Not once over those decades (yes, decades), did I have any issue with the screens being different sizes. Though I did tend to have the largest as the main.
As for the screens in question being curved and needing to be the same? I think that might be more personal choice than any biomechanical necessity. But I don't know, as I have yet to be in that situation, though I have no problems with show rooms when they display an image over multiple screens of different sizes and contrasts (I actually like it when they do that, so I can get a rough idea as to image/referesh quality.)
Not once over those decades (yes, decades), did I have any issue with the screens being different sizes.
I made no reference to screen size. I used to have a 14" CRT next to a 20" CRT. I was referring to the radii of the curved screens. A different radius means a different eye focus.
I was referring to the radii of the curved screens. A different radius means a different eye focus.
Now you mention it, I'm curious as to the effect (if any) that it would have. There are admittedly a lot of variables (like if one eye is more dominant than the other and by how much) and I have absolutely no idea as to how eyes work (other than if I poke my finger in one, it's not going to work as well for a while...), but if you had two curved screens in front of you, with different curvature, how much of an issue (if any) would it be?
I'm presuming the left eye would focus on the left screen and the right eye on the right screen. How much the screen curved, would only effect your peripheral vision, wouldn't it, since the eye would focus on the centre of each screen. Actually, now I think about it, you would only focus on one screen at any time anyway, wouldn't you? With the other screen in peripheral vision. So it wouldn't make any difference the curvature being different as your eyes would adjust automatically anyway when you turned your head to focus your attention on the other screen, wouldn't they?
Who here has curved screens and do you have them in different curvatures? So that you can put them side by side and let us know what happens? ie nothing or a monumental headache after an hour...
Just had a thought. I used to use a monocular sight on a regular basis and did so with both eyes open, with both eyes at a different focus. Not sure if that's comparable with looking at two curved screens with a different angles of curvature, but I experienced no ill effects over extended periods of use, night and day.
I should have included the current screen size in my original post. It is a flat screen that is 34 inches wide.