I've been toutchtyping from late elementary school, and do it "too much" especially with a genetic predisposition for fine joint problems, so I'm always trying different input devices.
I do OK on splits, except for tending to reach for "b" with my right hand. I've mostly corrected that as I've used them more. They certainly help with wrists and shoulders, especially being able to tent, and take the least retraining per ergonomic benefit.
I haven't tried an ortholinear/columnar, it's somewhere on the list.
I can not get myself fully acclimated to a non-qwerty layout, whether mechanically conventional or not, its just too deep in my hands. I've been making an occasional pass at dvorak since the mid 2000s, and somewhat more frequent and dedicated attempts to get a BAT/Spiffchorder style chorder (specifically a left handed one) into my fingers for the last decade or so, and I always end up sore and slow because I start to twitch toward the qwerty motion before making the right one for the other design. It doesn't help that they're unusual enough that there aren't (AFIK) any good tutor programs suited to the progression on that style of chorder. Better every time I try, but never quite good enough for real work.
I suspect a certain degree of limited benefit using something unusual, in the same way using a non-bash shell increases friction with the rest of the universe.
I do OK on splits, except for tending to reach for "b" with my right hand. I've mostly corrected that as I've used them more. They certainly help with wrists and shoulders, especially being able to tent, and take the least retraining per ergonomic benefit.
I haven't tried an ortholinear/columnar, it's somewhere on the list.
I can not get myself fully acclimated to a non-qwerty layout, whether mechanically conventional or not, its just too deep in my hands. I've been making an occasional pass at dvorak since the mid 2000s, and somewhat more frequent and dedicated attempts to get a BAT/Spiffchorder style chorder (specifically a left handed one) into my fingers for the last decade or so, and I always end up sore and slow because I start to twitch toward the qwerty motion before making the right one for the other design. It doesn't help that they're unusual enough that there aren't (AFIK) any good tutor programs suited to the progression on that style of chorder. Better every time I try, but never quite good enough for real work.
I suspect a certain degree of limited benefit using something unusual, in the same way using a non-bash shell increases friction with the rest of the universe.