Microsoft Corp. this week introduced the Sculpt Comfort keyboard, an ergonomic keyboard featuring an enlarged split spacebar with optional backspace functionality that enhances typing efficiency and speed. The keyboard boasts thoughtful design and ergonomic shape as well as Windows 8-specific keys.

With the Sculpt Comfort keyboard, Microsoft is introducing its first keyboard to feature a split backspace-spacebar key. This design choice is the result of internal research that showed 90% of typists use only their right thumb to press the spacebar, leaving a lot of unused real estate on the left side of the bar. Research also showed the backspace key is the third most pressed key on the keyboard - behind the spacebar itself and the letter “e” - but constantly striking backspace breaks a person’s typing stride because of its location on the top right-hand corner of the keyboard. In response to these findings, Microsoft increased the width of the spacebar and split the spacebar to make use of the neglected left-hand side as an extra backspace key to help increase typing efficiency and speed.

In addition to increasing typing efficiency, the keyboard’s split spacebar also improves ergonomics by virtually eliminating the awkward “pinky reach” to the standard backspace key, keeping wrists in a comfortable position. The keyboard also sports Microsoft’s own contour curve design, which features a six-degree bend in the keyboard layout with a dome-shaped arc to help promote a comfortable, neutral wrist position while keeping keys within easy reach. Its removable palm rest can be used for added comfort or easily detached with the press of a button.

The Sculpt Comfort keyboard also includes several keys that give customers quick access to the most commonly used Windows 8 features, including Search, Share, Device and Settings hot keys and an updated Windows key.  The keyboard features wireless USB connectivity.

The Sculpt Comfort keyboard will be available soon at the online Microsoft Store and other participating retailers. Estimated retail price is $59.95.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows 8, Sculpt, Sculpt Comfort