We all take them for granted, but can they affect our health? Well, yes. A common problem is repetitive Strain Injury or RSI. Here prolonged use of the keyboard & mouse causes damage within the hand & wrist. However, good posture, a desk set at the correct height & frequent breaks can help. Too often we use a desk at the wrong height and do not support the wrists, which can soon tire when left unsupported. The addition of a wrist rest for the keyboard and mouse can certainly help. Cleanliness of the keyboard & mouse is also important, particularly if several people share the computer. Do use bacterial wipes to stop the spread of germs and try not to eat or drink when using the PC. Other factors can also affect our health, which in turn can affect our productivity. Headaches, aching shoulders and eye strain are indicative of poor ergonomics. A badly setup or poorly placed screen can cause eye strain and physical discomfort. Here are some tips that might help:
1. Place your monitor or laptop screen directly in front of you, not at an angle.
2. When seated normally, your screen should be within arm's reach.
3. Do not place the monitor too high or too low. Your back posture should be straight and your eyes should be tilted slightly downwards when you are looking at the centre.
4. Place your monitor so that it and your face are roughly parallel.
5. Try to avoid reflections and glare, particularly if you are sitting near to a window. Do not place the screen in front of the window as you will strain your eyes adjusting to the screen & the variable daylight levels. A uniform lighting level will make for a more comfortable working environment.
6. Take a break every 20 minutes or so & try not to sit in exactly the same position for too long. If necessary, reposition your screen accordingly. Stretching exercises may also help. Also try to focus your eyes on a distant object to give them a break too.
7. Flat-panel monitors are usually easily adjusted so that you can get comfortable however tall you are. Stands on some models allow some height adjustment and should tilt quite readily. The latter can help improve the contrast and reduce reflections aiding readability.
8. Whilst you are at it, do check the contrast & brightness settings on the monitor as the defaults are often not the best. To check this, Windows 7 includes a useful utility that also checks the gamma, colour and screen font settings. It really does make a difference.
I hope the points above will help you feel more comfortable with your technology, without giving you a pain in the neck!
Do you want to learn more about computing issues that protect your health and also your computer? Do visit Ingham Associates website at http://www.tetburycomputershop.co.uk/ for more advice, hints and tips.
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