SteadyType® Exo
Because Holding Your Elbows at 90° Isn’t Neutral
If you’ve been using a computer keyboard long enough, you’re probably aware of the need to guard against repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) such as carpal tunnel syndrome, by placing the forearms and wrists in the most neutral position possible when typing. Doing so reduces the strain on numerous muscles and tendons running from the fingertips and wrists to the elbows and shoulders and all the way up to the neck.
A truly neutral forearm position is one that is completely relaxed, hanging down by the force of gravity. Picture a sleeping astronaut. That’s neutral.
Obviously we can’t type on our computers if our forearms are hanging straight down, but the latest ergonomics research has shown that the 15° available on traditional articulating keyboard trays (AKTs) just isn't enough. A steeper angle will create a more neutral typing posture, which will always translate to less discomfort, less potential for injury, and a higher typing proficiency.
iMovR’s has been a popular option on our state-of-the-art standing desks since 2014. The SteadyType Exo is our latest innovation in standing desk and treadmill desk ergonomics, bringing the same ergonomic benefits of SteadyType to everyone who owns a standing desk, regardless of make or model. (It's all part of our groundbreaking research in the new field of 'ergodynamics' you can read more about .)
Installation Nightmare? Meet Installation Breeze
There are millions of standing desks out there without any keyboard tray at all, and the reasons are twofold. First, installing a conventional keyboard tray on a conventional office desk can be . Even if you have the ideal power tools for the job it can still take over an hour for a first-timer. Second, most sit-stand desks have a stability crossbar running between the left and right lifting columns. This prevents the installation of the rail that the majority of keyboard trays use for sliding under the desktop.
If you’re seeking the best ergonomics available in any keyboard tray (i.e. maximum tilt control and rock-solid stability), you might think that engineering a solution for standing desks would result in an installation nightmare, however the SteadyType Exo will astound you with its simplicity of installation. The SteadyType Exo neatly solves both keyboard tray problems with clever design and robust materials. It can be steadfastly installed on literally any standing desk in just 30 seconds, with no tools! Nothing screws into the desk, and all the frame components are located well in front of any crossbars.
The SteadyType Exo detaches just as easily as it attaches, so you can easily share it between desks in different offices. No other keyboard tray can do that without significant de-installation effort (see installation video - it's quick!).
If you really need to stow your keyboard under your desk, we refer you to our or our as the best alternatives for that situation.
Find Your Perfect Typing Angle
With the freedom to rotate a complete 360° around its axis, the keyboard tray on the SteadyType Exo can be set to technically any angle. In practical use, however, most standing desk users will find that an angle of -20–35° suits them best. Touch typists that do not need to keep the keycaps in view can enjoy even steeper, more neutral tilt angles. Gamers that like to use their keyboard trays with a positive tilt angle will enjoy the same limitless adjustment range.
For treadmill desk users, using an even steeper angle will eliminate pressure on the base of the palms and tension from holding the fingertips in position on the keyboard, especially at higher walking speeds.
Whether you use the SteadyType Exo while standing, walking, or simply sitting, it only takes a couple of minutes to find the “sweet spot” keyboard angle and desk height for your particular anthropometry (see our how-to video).
Keeps Your Shoulders Back
The rubber bumpers on the SteadyType Exo are designed to perform two functions at once. First, they keep the keyboard from sliding off the tray at steeper angles.
Second, they allow the user to position their keyboards as close to their bodies as possible, to minimize shoulder hunch. This patented feature is unique to iMovR SteadyType trays.
Compatible With All Keyboards and Pointing Devices
Four adjustable bumpers that go into any of the seven slots on the 28”-wide keyboard tray of the SteadyType Exo make it possible to accommodate all keyboard designs, even those with variable contour lines along their back edge. Even more impressively, they work with split keyboards commonly prescribed by ergonomists to users who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome and other ergonomic maladies. Each keyboard half can be individually canted to completely eliminate any radial or ulnar deviation—the technical term for when the wrists are skewed out of alignment with the forearm.
Up to four fencing pins are used to create a cradle where your mouse or other device will rest when the tray is set to a steep angle. With the pins correctly positioned, you can simply let go of the mouse and it will slide into its cradle, keeping it always close at hand and preventing it from sliding off the tray.
While the SteadyType Exo works perfectly well with any conventional keyboard, it’s ideally paired with an ergonomically oriented keyboard with a built-in gel wrist pad, such as the , or keyboards, among many .
Any pointing device can be used with the SteadyType Exo, including regular and , and even . The pins for your mouse or other device can be arranged in one of three zones. Whether you are left- or right-handed, you'll find the SteadyType Exo easy to configure to meet your needs. Plus, if your ergonomist has instructed you use a split keyboard and a centrally positioned pointing device, there's a zone to accommodate that as well. There's no other keyboard tray as configurable or that supports as many users.
Rock-Solid Stability
With a number of joints and moving parts (like sliding tracks), combined with cheap phenolic resin plastic trays, many, if not most keyboard trays exhibit a bounciness that amplifies the typist's every movement, and can even transmit that movement into the desk. When seated, this effect may not be readily noticeable, but at a standing desk, it begins to affect the user's performance. With the added motion of walking on a treadmill, typing on a conventional keyboard tray can become a nightmare.
The SteadyType Exo, on the other hand, is made of precisely machined steel, ABS plastic and extra-thick MDF wood components. The long mounting bracket attaches to the user-edge of the standing desk with an exceptionally strong physical connection, making it virtually part of the desk itself. And like our standing desks, the SteadyType Exo is
Adding a SteadyType tray to any treadmill desk will improve the user’s typing proficiency to be the same as when standing or even sitting at their desk. The result is the complete elimination of typos that are often induced by the floppiness of traditional keyboard trays.
Any of Our 3D-Laminated Colors
The SteadyType Exo is available in all of iMovR’s exclusive 3D laminate colors. 3D laminates wrap seamlessly around the rounded edges of the keyboard tray, making it beautiful and comfortable to rest your hands on, or even lean against. 3D laminate not only looks great—it is extraordinarily durable. Learn more about the advantages of , and about iMovR's .
