Microsoft will release this week its latest version of keyboard called Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop keyboard.

Here is a peek at what it looks like as published by Techcrunch.

Original source: Techcrunch

The wireless keyboard is priced at $130 and is part of a three-piece bundle made up of the keyboard, mouse and detached number pad. The three items could be purchase separately, the keyboard at $80 and the mouse $60.

Reviewing the new keyboard, Techcrunch noted that it does not have a single drawback. The reviewer, Alex Wilhlem, said it is the best keyboard yet and for comparison purpose he would use it for a few days and then switch back to his old keyboard.

The keyboard has a contoured design, detachable palm rest and split space bar that has backspace functionality, designed to provide more comfort to the forearm, wrist and palm.

He noted that the number pad is very simple and users would not notice anything different or outstanding about it compared to other number pads. He noted that the mouse's design is to raise the hands of the user off the desk to prevent resting the inner wrist on the table, allowing hand rotation to a more natural position.

The mouse features a right-handed thumb scoop design.

The newly designed devices are the result of the Healthy Computing survey made by Microsoft, covering 5,300 respondents from 10 countries. The study found that 89 per cent of workers suffer from discomfort on the job which affects their productivity and health.

By body part, 39 per cent said their devices caused discomfort to their neck, shoulders (33 per cent), wrists (28 per cent), upper backs (25 per cent) and hands (19 per cent).

The survey pinpointed the cause of the discomfort to the current design of the mouse and keyboard which are not ergonomic.

Source: Microsoft

The ergonomically design keyboard is an improvement for a sculpt mobile keyboard that Microsoft released in 2012.