Clinical validation of lower RSI risk for keyboard-based interaction versus mouse/trackpad

Establish through clinical trials whether keyboard-based interaction reduces repetitive strain injury (RSI) risk compared to mouse or trackpad use among computer users.

Background

A central ergonomic motivation for PAD is to replace fine-motor mouse movements with keyboard actions, under the assumption that keyboard use entails lower RSI risk. The paper explicitly acknowledges that this assumption currently lacks clinical-trial evidence.

The authors also note broader epidemiological context and mixed observations (e.g., limited left–right asymmetry in carpal tunnel surgeries), underscoring the need for rigorous clinical validation before claiming RSI benefits for keyboard-first predictive interfaces.