Positioning

• Proper positioning of the keyboard will reduce the possibility of strained muscles and tendons from repetitive actions and awkward movements. Sit comfortably in your chair and place the keyboard directly in front of you, lining up the "G" and "H" keys with the center of your body. Move the keyboard toward or away from you until you can reach the center row of the keyboard with your elbows close to your sides. Do not rest your hands on the keyboard or desk while typing, as this may apply pressure on the wrists and increase the risk of injury.
  
  

Key Types

• In addition to the numeric and alphabetic keys, a computer keyboard offers three other types of keys -- control keys, function keys and navigation keys. The control keys include "Ctrl," "Alt" and "Esc," and are used by themselves or in conjunction with other keys to perform specific operations. The function keys are the keys located at the very top of the keyboard labeled from "F1" to "F12," and perform differently depending upon the program. The navigation keys include the directional arrow keys, as well as the "Home" and "End" keys, and the "Page Up" and "Page Down" keys. They move the cursor around documents and Web pages, while the "Delete" and "Insert" keys allow for quick and convenient text editing.
  
  

Keyboard Commands

• Every action performed by a mouse, such as saving a document and opening a new one, can be performed by a combination of keyboard commands. The "Ctrl," "Alt" and "Shift" keys are typically used in combination with a letter to perform a specific function. In Microsoft Word, for instance, "Ctrl" plus "S" will save the current document, while "Ctrl" plus "B" will bold highlighted text. These keyboard shortcuts are found to the right of the command in program menus.
  
  

Cleaning

• Regular cleaning between and beneath the keys with quick blasts of compressed air can help remove any loose debris such as dirt, lint and hair that may have settled in there. For a more thorough cleaning, remove the keys to clean them individually and to expose the base for better cleaning. Disconnect the keyboard from the computer before attempting any cleaning to avoid possible damage or injury. Carefully remove all the keys and clean them with soapy water to remove any residue. Clean the keyboard's base without dripping water inside the keyboard's circuitry. Once everything's completely dry, replace the keys and resume use.