|
Ergonomist Provides Tips for Creating an Ergonomic Workspace |
|
|
May 17, 2006 |
|
The “Information Age” can be perilous. Research shows up to 95 per cent of Canadians – a figure that probably applies south of the border as well – spend between four and 10 hours a day on computers. It's a low-energy but high-risk activity because it can lead to painful musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The good news is that they can be avoided. In an article published by Microsoft Canada in April, Dan Odell Ph.D., warned that discomfort while sitting at the computer can be an early warning sign of MSDs. Comfortable computing should be a priority at home and at the office, he explained, because when we work for prolonged periods in a non-ergonomic environment, we unconsciously train our bodies to accommodate discomfort. As a product ergonomist and usability researcher with Microsoft, Dr. Odell is part of a team studying risk factors and designing computing equipment that both lessens the risk and helps people be more productive. He offers these tips for creating an ergonomic workspace: - Always be aware of your posture and avoid non-neutral bending and twisting. A comfortable workstation is a flexible workstation - especially in the home environment, where it must scale to fit both adults and children. - Invest in a chair that allows you to adjust the backrest, armrests and height. Adjust your chair height so that your feet are firmly planted on the floor, or use a foot stool. - Also invest in an adjustable height desk or keyboard tray. After your chair height has been set, adjust your mouse and keyboard height so that they are at approximately the same height as your elbows and are centered on your body. - Use properly designed ergonomic products, such as a split keyboard with a gull wing design. These products encourage a more natural computing posture, which can help reduce the risk for repetitive strain injuries. - To avoid neck strain, position the top of the computer screen at eye level directly in front of you, and centered with your body. Try placing a monitor stand beneath the monitor that can be adjusted to provide the appropriate monitor height for the various members of your family. - Reduce glare on the computer screen, which can lead to visual fatigue. Just as we've taught our children good TV habits, like not sitting too close to the screen or cranking the volume up to ear-splitting decibels, so too we need to ensure our computing environments are ergonomically healthy. Sources: Microsoft |
|
|
5/2006
Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 selected in PC World’s 100 Best Products of the Year (2006) at #54 – the only keyboard selected for the list.
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,125706,pg,13,00.asp
New York Times
September 8, 2005
A Gull's Wing for Flying Fingers
By Andrew Zipern
A new keyboard from Microsoft is designed for the
millions of finger-stressed computer users worldwide.
The Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, released this
week, splits the keys into two sections as it bubbles
up and out in a convex gull wing design. Dan Odell,
Microsoft's hardware ergonomist, said the unusual
shape put the keys closer to the fingers, reducing
reach and unnecessary motion while encouraging a more
natural and comfortable typing position. The $65
keyboard has 108 keys, not including a top row of
dedicated shortcut keys, and it has some useful
extras, like back and forward buttons for Web browser
navigation and a "slider" that sits between the "g"
and the "h" keys and controls the zoom function of the
program running in the foreground. It can be used, for
example, to zoom in on a picture in Photoshop or make
the font size larger in Internet Explorer. A removable
raised platform creates a seven-degree reverse slope
that Microsoft says encourages better arm and wrist
alignment. Atop this raised edge is a cushioned wrist
support that provides a comfy resting place for the
palm's heel. According to a Microsoft study, the
average computer user strikes the keyboard 669 times
an hour. No wonder there's a market for quirky-looking
keyboards.
NEK 4000
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/08/technology/circuits/08keyboard.html?adxnnl=1
&adxnnlx=1126198914-pU/Qzosd/Ju6QjQXmCfXaA
Save
Your Back and Wrists: Top Ergonomic Tips
By Marc Saltzman
Inc. Magazine - 9/2006
Setting up computer equipment the right way can help prevent repetitive stress injuries and other pains.
According to a recent study conducted by the Microsoft Hardware group, one-in-three office computer users said they spent between four and six hours a day using the computer, while nearly half of those surveyed said they were spending eight or more hours a day at the computer.
And that's just at work.
Naturally, there are health concerns with being so attached to our computers. They range from carpel tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) to eyestrain and neck and back problems because of a general lack of physical exercise.
According to Dan Odell, user researcher and ergonomist for Microsoft Hardware, ergonomics is important because of the high potential for physical discomfort associated with computer use. "A recent study found that more than 50 percent of new employees who used computers experienced discomfort within their first year," Odell says. "Good ergonomic design can reduce the risk for discomfort and injury, and helps to make work more comfortable and productive."
If you run an office with cubicle-dwelling employees, you must also take these potential health risks seriously, as it can impact the health, productivity and overall happiness of your workforce. Here are some pointers for creating a healthier work environment:
* Invest in a decent chair. For working at a desk, workers need a chair with lower back support. And you need not spend hundreds of dollars on one. Some discount retailers, such as Costco, sell an all-leather armchair with cushioned lumbar vertebrae support for about $100. A chair with wheels is also a good idea, so you could easily position yourself for more comfort. "Make sure that you buy a chair that offers a lot of adjustability; it's important to be able to adjust your chair so that it properly fits and supports your body," Odell adds. Your mouse and keyboard should be at about elbow level. Both feet should be flat on the floor.
* Position your chair correctly. If you need to place your monitor to the left or right side of the desk, position your chair so that you're not turning your head to see the screen. Over time, this could put unnecessary strain on your neck. Your head should be centered with your body and you should be looking straight ahead at eye level to see your monitor. Also, make sure you have adequate lighting so you're not straining to see the monitor, keyboard or papers on your desk. If you find yourself squinting to see the text on the screen, enlarge the font. In Internet Explorer, for example, click View at the top of the screen and then choose Text Size.
* Purchase a headset. If you frequently talk on the phone, purchase a headset so you're not trying to hold the phone between your neck and ear (and type at the same time). That's a sure way to increase neck strain.
* Test drive your mouse. When shopping for a mouse, try it out at the store first to make sure it's comfortable for you. This includes the size and shape of the mouse. Some may be ideal for both left and right-handed users, too. Your mouse should have a curved hump on top to comfortably fit the underside of your palm. When using a mouse, try to limit your wrist movement -- instead, focus on keeping your wrist straight and your elbow pivoted, only moving your forearm.
* Consider a trackball. If you suffer from wrist discomfort when using a mouse, consider a trackball. These interface peripherals don't require movement on the desk at all. Rather, you simply rest your hand on top and use your fingertips to move the ball on top.
* Keyboards come in all shapes and sizes. There are more ergonomically-designed ones that could help prevent or reduce repetitive stress injuries. Many of these products have a split and slightly-angled keyboard that tilts inwards to better fit our natural wrist-resting position. Keyboards, such as the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 and Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, are designed to promote a healthy position while using a computer, says Odell. Also, try to keep your wrists almost floating above the keyboard so your hands can easily reach all keys, rather than stretching your fingers to reach them. Some PC users prefer a padded or gelled wrist rest that sits right in front of the keyboard.
* Take frequent breaks. Stretch. Do some neck, back and arm exercises. Close your eyes. Stand up and get a drink of water. We all know you can lose yourself at work, but you'll do your body and mind good by taking a breather.
http://technology.inc.com/hardware/articles/200608/ergonomic.html