Using foot pedals while translating? 投稿者: Andrus Lauringson
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Transcribers often use foot pedals, but sometimes also gamers, programmers, etc.
Could foot pedals be useful in CAT tools or (maybe) for navigation in Word documents? Has anyone used foot pedals for linguistic tasks that are not transcription?
They don't cost much, but I was wondering if they would be helpful or would they just be redundant and cause higher cognitive load instead of staying with mouse and keyboard?
| | | | Dan Lucas 
英国
Local time: 15:41
2014に入会
日本語 から 英語
Andrus Lauringson wrote:
They don't cost much, but I was wondering if they would be helpful or would they just be redundant and cause higher cognitive load instead of staying with mouse and keyboard?
I have one, but I don't use it at the moment.
Most of the discussion I have seen has centered on the use of foot pedals to mitigate the burden on the hands/wrists/arms. For example, some people use them as a replacement for hitting the Control or Shift key. I think with transcription it makes sense because there is that conceptual back (left pedal) and forward (right pedal) motion that may be repeated many times a minute. But for straightforward translation, which is basically text editing, there doesn't seem to be such a clear use case. I guess you could map to start of line/end of line...
Do you have problems with RSI or carpal tunnel syndrome?
Regards,
Dan
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Dan Lucas wrote:
Andrus Lauringson wrote:
They don't cost much, but I was wondering if they would be helpful or would they just be redundant and cause higher cognitive load instead of staying with mouse and keyboard?
I have one, but I don't use it at the moment.
Most of the discussion I have seen has centered on the use of foot pedals to mitigate the burden on the hands/wrists/arms. For example, some people use them as a replacement for hitting the Control or Shift key. I think with transcription it makes sense because there is that conceptual back (left pedal) and forward (right pedal) motion that may be repeated many times a minute. But for straightforward translation, which is basically text editing, there doesn't seem to be such a clear use case. I guess you could map to start of line/end of line...
Do you have problems with RSI or carpal tunnel syndrome?
Regards,
Dan
No. It just seemed unfair that hands are doing all the (physical) work while legs are just idling under the table like a couple of freeloaders.
Moving to start/end of line is a good idea, or perhaps confirming or moving between segments. But as I thought more about it, I guess I will just skip buying them because I'm afraid they would remain unused.
| | | | | I've thought about it | Jan 4 |
Could be useful when working in a CAT tool, when you're using a single key press a lot like CTRL+ENTER to confirm segments. I have a single button programmed for that keystroke on a Bamboo tablet so I can sit back in my chair and just read and press the button, which is useful sometimes, and a foot pedal could be used in the same way.
If you are using certain keystrokes a lot the repetition of a single movement can be problematic, so using a foot pedal some of the time could spread ... See more Could be useful when working in a CAT tool, when you're using a single key press a lot like CTRL+ENTER to confirm segments. I have a single button programmed for that keystroke on a Bamboo tablet so I can sit back in my chair and just read and press the button, which is useful sometimes, and a foot pedal could be used in the same way.
If you are using certain keystrokes a lot the repetition of a single movement can be problematic, so using a foot pedal some of the time could spread the load. ▲ Collapse
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Dan Lucas
英国
Local time: 15:41
2014に入会
日本語 から 英語
Andrus Lauringson wrote:
But as I thought more about it, I guess I will just skip buying them because I'm afraid they would remain unused.
I bought this foot pedal quite a few years ago. It is well made and it seemed to work fine to me. It's buried at the bottom of a box somewhere in the office. At £64.99, it's not a small amount of money for something that you may not use.
Regards,
Dan
| | | | | In defence of legs... | Jan 4 |
Andrus Lauringson wrote:
No. It just seemed unfair that hands are doing all the (physical) work while legs are just idling under the table like a couple of freeloaders.
If you've got a well-tuned work/life balance, those legs ... just idling under the table are actually taking a rest while they wait to take you (and your dog, significant other, kids, ...) on a long trek in the hills, or for a stroll along the beach, after your poor hands (and that grey-matter they work with) have finished the day's revenue-earning tasks.
It's those well-rested legs ... just idling under the table that will give your hands and brain a break, so you can start all over again tomorrow, refreshed and eager to get stuck into the next job in your overflowing inbox.
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Dan Lucas wrote:
Andrus Lauringson wrote:
But as I thought more about it, I guess I will just skip buying them because I'm afraid they would remain unused.
I bought this foot pedal quite a few years ago. It is well made and it seemed to work fine to me. It's buried at the bottom of a box somewhere in the office. At £64.99, it's not a small amount of money for something that you may not use.
Regards,
Dan
I've got a box full of fully functional and moderately expensive gadgets that seemed like a good idea at the time but that I no longer use/never really used.
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Rachel Waddington wrote:
Dan Lucas wrote:
Andrus Lauringson wrote:
But as I thought more about it, I guess I will just skip buying them because I'm afraid they would remain unused.
I bought this foot pedal quite a few years ago. It is well made and it seemed to work fine to me. It's buried at the bottom of a box somewhere in the office. At £64.99, it's not a small amount of money for something that you may not use.
Regards,
Dan
I've got a box full of fully functional and moderately expensive gadgets that seemed like a good idea at the time but that I no longer use/never really used.
To be warned or maybe tempted – could you please name some of those gadgets?
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