# Recommendation for Peripherals, my hands & fingers have started to shake **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 19, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-peripherals-my-hands-fingers-have-started-to-shake/832793 "2019-04-19T21:24:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zuer-coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ba9def/32.png) [@zuer-coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuer-coli)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-peripherals-my-hands-fingers-have-started-to-shake/832793/1 "2019-04-19T21:24:08Z")
Denizens of the Dope, greetings and salutations. To all who choose to read this post, thank you for reading. To all who choose to reply, thank you for your reply. My hands and especially my fingers have started to shake and I am finding it increasingly difficult to use my computer peripherals. I’m currently using a Logitech© wireless 101 key keyboard, a Logitech© Trackman© wired trackball and a Logitech© M570 Trackball. I’m not inclined to use the type of mouse that the user pushes around, those seem to take up too much “real estate”. I am hoping someone will know of a source for large key keyboards. I do not need a high contrast keyboard. I would like to find a keyboard with larger keys. I am also looking for a Joystick, something like this one: > **[n-ABLER Pro Joystick | BoundlessAT.com](https://www.boundlessat.com/Keyboards-Mice/Trackballs-Joysticks/n-ABLER-Pro-Joystick)** > > Boundless Assistive Technology is pleased to offer the n-ABLER Pro Joystick. Boundless AT honors all warranty, repair, and replacement claims for the n-ABLER Pro Joystick. The stumbling block with the above linked Joystick is the price. The other issue is; these peripherals must work with a Linux machine. This may not be an issue, but the more specialized the input device, the less likely it’s inter operable with both MS Windows and Linux. With many thanks to all, respectfully yours Zuer-coli ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2019, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-peripherals-my-hands-fingers-have-started-to-shake/832793/2 "2019-04-20T09:55:30Z")
[url=][https://www.kensington.com/c/products/control/trackballs/](https://www.kensington.com/c/products/control/trackballs/) Ball isn’t thumb based. Bigger ball, more comfort. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2019, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-peripherals-my-hands-fingers-have-started-to-shake/832793/3 "2019-04-20T09:56:55Z")
Plus the scroll wheel is helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2019, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-peripherals-my-hands-fingers-have-started-to-shake/832793/4 "2019-04-20T10:15:00Z")
**zuer-coli** , all I can say is I feel your pain. This is something I’ve been dealing with since childhood (It runs in the family). It’s such a big part of my identity. My nickname given to me throughout High School and college was “Shakes”. Shake was also a screen name I used to go by here on this board before I changed it. Anyway, I don’t have much to offer. I’ve found the “drag around” mouse to work best as I can press hard down on the table to stabilize my hand. A drawback to this is that my hand gets fatigued with prolonged use. For trackball mouses, I go to the mouse manager and set the sensitivity to the lowest setting to minimize the effects of my hand tremors. At my work, I had the ergo guys set my computer up with two different types of mouses (One drag around kind, the other, trackball). Alternating between the two I find, helps with the fatigue. ---
**Author:** ![zuer-coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ba9def/32.png) [@zuer-coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuer-coli)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-peripherals-my-hands-fingers-have-started-to-shake/832793/5 "2019-04-21T22:45:54Z")
All, Thank you. I have found some keyboards that have larger keys, however, they sacrifice the numeric pad to, presumably, save overall size. I don’t know if getting a separate numeric keypad would prove satisfactory or not. I like the looks of the Kensington rollerball mouse that was linked, that at least has a reasonable price. Years ago I had a Kensington roller mouse, I don’t recall if the rollerball was significantly larger then the two I’m using now. Respectfully yours Zuer-coli ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-peripherals-my-hands-fingers-have-started-to-shake/832793/6 "2019-04-22T02:13:43Z")
You could buy a separate number keypad to set beside your large keyboard. StG ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-peripherals-my-hands-fingers-have-started-to-shake/832793/7 "2019-04-22T09:31:47Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > [url=][https://www.kensington.com/c/products/control/trackballs/](https://www.kensington.com/c/products/control/trackballs/) > > Ball isn’t thumb based. Bigger ball, more comfort. I use these; they’re good. Do also look at voice control of your PC. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-peripherals-my-hands-fingers-have-started-to-shake/832793/8 "2019-04-22T13:05:56Z")
Have you tried dialing down the sensitivity of your mouse/track-ball? That helped my dad some when his Parkinson’s got worse. ---
**Author:** ![zuer-coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ba9def/32.png) [@zuer-coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuer-coli)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-peripherals-my-hands-fingers-have-started-to-shake/832793/9 "2019-04-23T23:32:04Z")
Thank you, bump, Quartz & StGermain bump, I have dialed down my mouse response and may dial that down more yet. Linux is sufficiently different from MS Windows that I didn’t mention the various things I’ve tried along those lines. I do have a thread over on the Linux Mint forums about the same issues. I’ve gotten some excellent LM specific advice there. Quartz, I’ll go look at your link here directly. StGermain, I haven’t ruled out a separate numeric keypad, but the physical space available at the work station I use at home is already cramped. I admit if I would just get off my kiester and finish the legs of a computer table I’ve had in progress for low these many years, I’d have more space. Respectfully yours, Zuer-coli