Archive for July, 2006
July 14th, 2006
Ergonomic computer workstations can make a great difference to the health of many people. With putting a little bit of extra effort in designing ergonomic computer workstations, employers can improve the productivity of their employees. This will also make employees feel more comfortable and minimize the possibilities of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
According to a study, it is not the time you spent on computers that cause these MSDs, but the factor responsible for MSDs are the poorly designed computer workstations. A well-designed ergonomic computer workstation can prevent many injuries and illnesses. It would be not an exaggeration to say that ergonomic computer workstations may offer biggest economic advantages to employers in reduced health insurance costs.
Designing Ergonomic Computer Workstations
Designers of ergonomic computer workstations keep in mind that the safety of people is important and they design ergonomic computer workstations in such a way that employees feel that working conditions are comfortable and conducive to producing better results. On the contrary, if the workplace is not designed ergonomically, it will reduce the possibilities for growth.
A study revealed that ergonomic computer workstations should have best positions for placing the mouse and that more attention should be given to the posture of upper extremities and mouse handling while doing the work. Importance of ergonomic computer workstations further increases with the fact that the offices are becoming less spacious. We cannot do anything with the space of the office. However, making ergonomic computer workstations in smaller spaces is up to us.
For making an ideal ergonomic computer workstation, we need to concentrate on the design of the chair. Chair is the most significant part of the overall design of the ergonomic computer workstations. Most prevailing health problem the office workers suffer today is back pain. Do you know the root cause of this disease? Most of the time, a person starts feeling back pain after months of sitting in an uncomfortable chair that is not designed ergonomically. Sleep aside, an office worker does not spend more time on any other activity than the time spent sitting in an office chair. This higher interaction between the user and the equipment clearly indicates why designers of ergonomic computer stations need to concentrate more on the chair.
Features of Ergonomic Computer Workstations
Here are some important features that a chair ideally should have in ergonomic computer workstations. As all of us know, changing postures and making movements frequently are vital for a person to live healthily for a longer time. Therefore, the ergonomic chairs should allow and encourage the movements. Another feature that a chair should have is that its size and shape should be according to the requirements of particular person. You should also be able to adjust the height of the armrests.
Here are some more tips on the design of ergonomic computer workstations. While working with the computer, you need to have constant contact with the monitor. Therefore, the level of monitor is a crucial factor. You must place the monitor in such a way that the top of the monitor is a little lower than your eye level. Moreover, you should keep the monitor in a centered position. Similarly, the keyboard should also be centered in the position. Glare on the screen is also not ergonomic.
July 14th, 2006
Adjustable Height and Angle
Ergonomic keyboard trays refer to the platforms for keeping keyboards below your desk. It is possible to adjust both the height and the angle of the keyboard placed on it. Ergonomic keyboard trays are an essential part of your overall ergonomic computer desk setup.
Some ergonomic keyboard trays free up your desk space, which is very valuable, especially if it has a mouse tray also. The adjustable height and angle help you fit the trays to your own personal daily requirements or when you just want to change your posture. Ergonomic keyboard trays can make a great difference to you if you need to sit at a computer for longer period.
Avoiding Uncomfortable Postures
Ergonomic keyboard trays help you avoid uncomfortable postures by keeping your wrists and hand in a straight line with padded palm rests. Computer users often call these wrist rests instead of palm rests.
However, make your mind clear that it is not wrists but palms that require rest when you are not keying in anything. However, experts do not agree on how much period the rest should be given and what should be the time interval. As far as positioning, the mouse is concerned, it is advisable to buy ergonomic keyboard trays that allow keeping the mouse close to the keyboard. This kind of ergonomic keyboard tray will prevent you from unnecessarily moving your arm every time you use the mouse.
No More Pullout Trays or Keyboard Drawers
Pullout trays or keyboard drawers cannot be considered ergonomic keyboard trays. You cannot adjust the height or the angle. Because they don’t offer adjustment features, pull-out trays and keyboard drawers are likely to be uncomfortable. As tilting is not possible either, you cannot avoid the awkward positioning of hands while typing. Most ergonomists and safety professional prefer ergonomic keyboard trays to keyboard drawers.
Changing Your Posture
You know well that you can’t sit in the same position for the entire work day. You want to be able to change your position. Ergonomic keyboard trays allow just that, thereby resulting in more comfort, fewer injuries, and higher productivity.
Ergonomic keyboard trays come with a track system. The width of these tracks is 6 inches (in). Depending on the model, the length ranges between 16 in and 28 in. However, before making any buying decisions, make sure there is enough depth to install the track you have chosen. If there is not enough sufficient space you may need to cut the track with a tool similar to a hack saw.
Choosing the Tilting Side
When we consider tilting capability of ergonomic keyboard trays, three options are available:
• Ergonomic keyboard trays that allow only upward angling: This is called positive slope. These are not advisable because they are not wrist friendly.
• Ergonomic keyboard trays that allow only downward angling: This is called negative slope. These are wrist friendly and highly recommended.
• Ergonomic keyboard trays that allow both positive and negative slopes: Use these only if you have discovered that only downward tilting is comfortable for your wrists.
• If your desk is not deep enough, you gave a fourth option. These are called lap-help ergonomic keyboard trays. These prevent users from keeping the monitors too close. Users of these trays have the flexibility of maintaining appropriate viewing distance.
July 12th, 2006
Ergonomic mouse pads save you from many musculoskeletal disorders related with wrists, palm and shoulder. It also puts an end to the tingling sensation in your fingertips. If you work for longer period of time on computer and do not use ergonomic mouse pads then you may have to keep the hands in an awkward situation for whole of the duration and underside of the palm may experience sharp pains. Ergonomic mouse pads are designed keeping in mind that human body is not designed for typing at the speed of sixty words per minute or using the mouse endlessly.
Ergonomic Mouse Pads Have Far Reaching Consequences
There are many people who go to the office every day for the work and never bother about the consequences of working without considering ergonomics of the office equipments they use. Result of such ignorance is that they work on the computers without having ergonomic keyboard trays or ergonomic mouse pads. Every company should sincerely consider the principles of ergonomics to prevent various health problems of their employees. People believe that it is only physical labor that causes stress on the body. However, when you work for longer period on the computers you may experience same type of stress. Most common places of injury are wrists, palms, elbows, shoulders and back. Most people are not aware about the reason of these injuries and they continue working in the same environment and their conditions keep on deteriorating. You need to know about the latest office technologies like ergonomic mouse pads to cure your diseases that have surfaced only because of working in conditions that are not ergonomically correct?
Designer are Coming Up With New Ideas
With more and more people complaining of MSDs of palms and wrists, importance of ergonomic mouse pads are increasing day by day. Designing experts have realized the severity of the situation and are coming up with new ideas. Thanks to the sincere efforts made by the designers, there are several options available in the market today to solve the problem of increasing MSDs. They have designed the ergonomic keyboards that can be divided into two halves. Each half is capable of accommodating each hand with less wrist twisting. However, when it comes to the designing of ergonomic mouse pads, the solutions are much easier. Basic requirement from ergonomic mouse pads is comfortable lifting of wrist and relaxing the stress caused by mouse holding for longer periods. Different manufacturers have devised different techniques. Some ergonomic mouse pads come with memory pad for relaxing the wrists. These memory pads are somewhat like TempurPedic mattresses that you used to watch on television. These wrist friendly pads help in relieving points of pressure and improving the blood pressure.
Experience Piece of Mind
These factors highlight the importance of ergonomic office equipments. Now, anybody can understand what difference ergonomic mouse pads and ergonomic keyboard trays can make. Once you have realized the importance of ergonomic office equipments and start using ergonomic devices like ergonomic mouse pads and others, you will experience only peace of mind and no more injuries. This is very crucial factor. Having ergonomic mouse pads and other such equipments not only relaxes the employees working in the office but also improves the efficiency. Instead of concentrating on the level of discomfort, they will now focus only on the task at the hand.
Arm Support is Also Helpful
For the people who need to use mouse for hours, it is advisable that they should also have an arm support that can provide support to both arm and shoulder. This will not only take off the stress on your spine but also help in alignment of wrists. You will also be able to prevent diseases such as Repetitive Stress Injury and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Ergonomic mouse pads come in grip less design so you do not have to feel the pressure of gripping the mouse for all the day while you are working in the office.
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Author: Kevin Whales
July 11th, 2006
Ergonomic keyboard tray is a very vital part of the ergonomic workstation. If you need to work on the computers for longer period, then not having ergonomic keyboard tray may create several health hazards such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, pain in upper and lower back and neck pain.
Natural Reach Zone
Before we understand more about the ergonomic keyboard ray, let us first learn what natural reach zone Is. The natural reach zone is defined as the region where you can reach easily and without any kind of discomfort. Your upper arms must remain at the side in their natural position and you should be able to reach with the easy movement of forearm. Designers of the ergonomic keyboard tray pay special attention to this point so that when you use keyboard or the mouse you only need to move your arms in the natural reach zone. This is a safe posture for working longer hours on the computer.
If you choose right kind of ergonomic keyboard tray, you can avoid awkward postures of the body along with the contact stress and repetition. Your keyboard should be placed exactly in front of you. You should be able to work with relaxed shoulders and naturally placed elbows. Similarly, placement of wrists should also be comfortable that is in line with the fore arm and straight. When choosing the ergonomic keyboard tray, you must concentrate on following points.
• Height of the ergonomic keyboard tray
• Distance of the ergonomic keyboard tray
• Designs and Uses
• Use of the left hand key
In addition to this, when you buy an ergonomic keyboard tray, you must also keep in mind the placement of mouse and wrist/palm rests along with the keyboard.
Height Adjustments
First, we start with the importance of height adjustment in the ergonomic keyboard tray. If the height of the keyboard is too low then it will result in bent up wrists when you type something. If it is too high, you need to strain your shoulders and raise them to lift the arms up. Both these situations lead to several musculoskeletal disorders. To solve this problem you need to adjust either the height of the chair or the height of the desk. However, if you use an ergonomic keyboard tray, then it is possible to adjust both the height and angle of keyboard. Before buying ergonomic keyboard tray, ascertain that there is enough space to accommodate mouse or other input devices along with the keyboard. It should also have space for foot and leg clearance.
Distance Adjustments
Second point is the distance of ergonomic keyboard tray. You need to set the distance of keyboard in such a way that it is neither too close nor too far. Because in both the cases you may end up either leaning, forward using torso or extreme elbow angles. MSDs of the wrists, elbows and shoulders are the results of these awkward postures. How to solve this problem? Distance of the keyboard should be so adjusted that the forearms and floor remain parallel to each other and elbows rest at close to the body.
Designs of the Keyboards
As far as the designs of keyboards are concerned, there are many drawbacks of using traditional keyboard. It may require bending of your wrist to reach all the keys. Smaller keyboards like one used in laptop may further gravitate the stress. Contact stresses to the tendons that move within the wrists are the result of such awkward wrist postures. You can solve this problem by adjusting the keyboards in such a way that you get neutral posture of wrists. You may also opt for alternative keyboards that help achieving neutral postures. Manufacturers of ergonomic keyboard tray provide them on case-to-case basis and you need to learn how to use them.