See full bio

Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

• Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
• Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
• Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
• Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.

See full bio

The keyboard is one of the most overlooked tools when it comes to productivity. When we think of increasing our productivity, people tend to change everything, including their desk, chair, and cable management, but still choose to ignore one peripheral: the keyboard.

Chose Your Keyboard

However, once you switch to the right keyboard, meaning get a keyboard with a specific layout and use particular switches, you unlock efficiency that you never knew you had. Let me explain. 

Mechanical Keyboards For The Win

Mechanical keyboards particularly stand out when compared to low-profile, mushy or membrane keyboards. Every keystroke feels deliberate, unlike most keyboards, where you’re more likely to mistype. 

This deliberate feel provides a satisfying experience, as you receive active feedback with each key press. In mechanical keyboards, there are two options to choose from depending on your taste: linear or tactile. 

Linear switches offer a faster click experience and are also more suitable for quick strafing in games. At the same time, the tactile switches are popular because of their tactile bump, which acts as a bump of feedback; they are best for coders, editors, and writers. 

Actuation Force Isn’t Only For Gamers

In modern keyboards, we also get the actuation force of a switch, which also impacts our productivity without us realizing it. A switch with a larger actuation force might feel heavy and slow down your typing experience.

While a lightweight switch with minimal actuation force feels like you’re gliding your fingers across the keys seamlessly, which in turn reduces fatigue and improves your typing speed by a mile.

People usually associate a lightweight switch exclusively with gaming, but after doing so, they’re robbing themselves of a better typing experience, which enhances their productivity. 

I personally use the Razer Huntsman TKL Tournament Edition for writing articles like these because of its low actuation point (1.0mm). All I have to do is press the key ever so slightly without exerting any force, and the key is registered. This has eliminated the stress my fingers had to face on a tactile blue-switched keyboard.

Layout Matters

Layout also plays an important role in productivity, and this is something most people are aware of (thankfully). Most users swear by the numpad, so the 100% layout is for them.

While others like me love to have a compact keyboard but still have access to keys like DEL, END, and HOME, which is why the TKL (Tenkeyless) layout is the best for users like me, many also go for the 75% because it strikes the perfect balance.

This way, you still have more desk space, and you have a natural hand position to use the keyboard. Less wasted movement results in faster response times and a reduction in stress over longer sessions. 

Sound & Feel 

Then there’s the satisfying sound and feel of a keyboard. Some people prefer clicky keyboards, while the majority lean towards keyboards with a creamy sound. Many users have reported increased productivity simply by using a keyboard that feels and sounds good to them.  

The reason why it enhances your productivity is that when you feel good about typing on a keyboard, it makes you work even more. If you want a creamy keyboard, I recommend getting the Akko MU01. 

And the best part is that work stops feeling like a chore because you’re now looking forward to typing more since the keyboard sounds so good, and it becomes a feedback loop of positivity that works in your favour.  

Customization

Customisation is also one of the best features that aids in your productivity, but sadly, some people don’t take full advantage of it. You should always opt for hot-swappable boards, as this allows you to add experience with any switch you prefer.

This resolves the issues I’ve mentioned above that you’re experiencing with your current keyboard (unless it’s not a hot-swappable one). You can replace the switches with ones that you love and that help you type more efficiently.

You can also go the custom keyboard route and even replace the stabilisers, foams, and the board itself to get the best sound and feel that suits your taste and increases your productivity as a result.

Verdict

You should try out a few keyboards to see which one suits you best. Once you’ve locked down a few specifics, then you can either get that keyboard or build one on your own, and you’ll thank me later after you drastically improve your productivity. 

See full bio

Avinash Jaisrani

At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.

See full bio

Gaming is among the biggest hobbies in the world today, and platforms like PC are constantly growing. As the industry welcomes an influx of new players, it’s important to understand that playing games can often be more than just an entertaining hobby.

Games have proven to be beneficial for players in several ways, improving cognitive and emotional health along the way. In particular, focusing on genres like turn-based RPGs, which include well-received games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Baldur’s Gate 3, can be incredibly useful.

Why it matters: Turn-based games have had a bit of a resurgence recently, thanks to releases like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and more.

The Many Benefits of Turn-Based Games

It’s no secret that turn-based games encourage players to think analytically. Players study patterns, go through past performances, and attempt to come up with possible strategies when playing these titles.

This skillset is similar to the one needed for academic writing, but many skilled gamers still struggle with formal academic writing. For instance, Europa Universalis IV players have a solid grasp of strategic thinking, but they still struggle when attempting to translate these skills into structured writing.

Students who seek research paper writing help usually come across new ways of arranging complex information and presenting persuasive arguments. This is because academic success requires applying gaming skills in a different manner, something that becomes obvious when analyzing game theory concepts.

Planning Is Everything

Management is among the many real-world skills players can expect to learn when going through strategy games. In particular, history-focused RPGs like Crusader Kings 3 portray themes of feudalism and politics.

The game’s difficulty also improves decision-making. Similarly, the Total War series educates gamers about ancient military strategies and laws of governance. In my opinion, a firm grasp of these skills can develop leadership qualities within gamers.

As another example, XCOM 2 can help teach players about resource management and organization since it gives players limited resources.

Science and Other Education Fields

For those looking to improve quick thinking and problem-solving, I recommend playing chess online. These platforms help with logic-building and pattern-recognition. Moreover, planning and thinking ahead are key components of any chess game.

I also believe that playing chess helps gamers become more competitive, something essential when aiming to do well in STEM fields. Also, playing bullet chess is a great way to boost thinking under pressure.

Historical Education

Games like Civilization cover practically all of human history, whether it be the Stone Age or the modern era. These types of experiences can be crucial for students and gamers exploring fields related to history and geography.

Other titles from the same genre, including Age of Empires, focus on the economy and wars of the past. These glimpses into bygone eras are important to understand human evolution and the past’s contribution to the modern era. Also, I believe there’s always something to learn from the strategic minds of old.

Other Examples

As someone who used to play a fair bit of Hearthstone at one point, I can confidently say that it helped me learn risk management and statistics. I also recommend a game like Magic: The Gathering to understand logic and reasoning.

Magic: The Gathering’s complicated card combos can be a great way of developing skills that come in handy when learning to program.

Conclusion

Ultimately, gamers who partake in turn-based titles have much to gain. Research has found that playing games can boost both memory and proficiency for completing visual tasks. Moreover, participating in games like chess can go a long way in aiding one’s Mathematical skills.

It’s also important to note that turn-based games are becoming harder by the day. This means that newer players have the added benefit of adapting to a more challenging environment, which should further boost abilities and learning.

Advancements like virtual reality should also prove pivotal as things progress, with the use of immersive recreations showcasing historical reimaginings in more detail than ever before.

Finally, the popularity of mobile gaming and innovations in tech like the iPhone’s SoC should make these advancements more accessible to all.