👋 About John
Hi! I’m John, I’m in British Columbia, and I’m a Geological Engineer.
I love gaming — Helldivers 2 and Civ 6 are my two favourites right now. I’m also an avid hiker and love getting up in the mountains.
🥰 John’s Keyboard
Before Dygma, my setup was very basic — a standard keyboard and monitor — plus a lightweight mouse to help the mouse hand a bit. I’d often be at the computer all day: 8 hours at work and then more at home gaming.
That’s when I began noticing soreness in my wrists, especially the left one. I started researching ergonomics and discovered Dygma Raise 2. I pre-ordered as soon as it was available, and it’s been a game-changer for comfort and efficiency.
“Almost immediately, I noticed an improvement in my wrists and within a few weeks they were almost back to normal again.”
Now I can work and play longer, with far less strain — and a layout that actually keeps up with me.
🚀 John’s Ergonomic Journey
I bought a Raise 2 as soon as preorder was available — I was so excited when it arrived. Almost immediately, I noticed an improvement in my wrists and within a few weeks they were almost back to normal again. I still get occasional flare-ups, but it’s very manageable now.
“Almost immediately, I noticed an improvement in my wrists and within a few weeks they were almost back to normal again.”
The Raise 2 also improved my efficiency: I’ve moved important keys to my thumbs and, with layers, I can access many commands easily without having to stop and look at my keyboard.
🖥️ John’s Setup
I have an MSI Pulse GL66 laptop (my only computer) beside an external monitor. Using an external keyboard lets me keep the laptop screen higher at a better angle while placing the keyboard exactly where I want.
I work sitting, but I also use an under-desk elliptical so I’m often cycling at the computer — it’s helped my lower body get pretty strong! I take regular breaks to walk and stretch.
Favourite feature? The tenting kit. The many ways to set up the keyboard (split, incline, distance between halves) made the transition easy. And the space between halves is super practical — coffee, phone, even an 8.5×11 notepad at work.
Day to day, I don’t think my use-case is unique versus other Dygmates — but the most fun has been showing it to friends and colleagues and enlightening them.
And sometimes my dog keeps me company while I work!
🤖 John’s Layers
When it comes to layers, I’ve built a setup that balances simplicity with powerful shortcuts.
My main layer is fairly standard and serves as the foundation for most of my daily work. It allows me to type and navigate naturally without overcomplicating things.
On my second layer, I’ve mapped document navigation keys and a numpad. This gives me quick access to scrolling, paging, and numbers without having to move my hands away from their natural position. It feels like a small change, but it has sped up my workflow considerably.
The third layer is focused on media control. While I don’t use it as often, it’s helpful to have everything from volume adjustments to playback commands just a key press away. It keeps distractions minimal when I’m working or relaxing with music.
My fourth layer is the one that really stands out. It’s designed specifically for AutoCAD, where I’ve stacked most of my common commands on just a few keys on my left hand. This means I can draft without ever taking my hand off the mouse. Meanwhile, the right-hand side of this layer mirrors the numpad from my second layer, making it easy to type dimensions quickly and keep my workflow uninterrupted.
“Layer 4 is my most unique layer, it puts most of my common AutoCAD commands stacked on a few keys on my left hand so I can draft without taking my hand of the mouse.”
Altogether, these layers have transformed the way I use my keyboard. They reduce unnecessary movement, keep my most important tools within easy reach, and make the Raise 2 feel like it was built for the way I work as an engineer and gamer.
Thanks, John!
From a basic setup and wrist soreness to a split, tented keyboard and efficient layers — your journey shows how the right tools elevate both health and productivity.
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