Ergoblog

Mouse Bridges

I'd never heard of a mouse bridge until I was over browsing the Safe Computing web site.  It's a flat little device that raises the height of your mouse pad and moves it closer to the keyboard (it looks like it's meant to hover over the number pad, which most of us don't use anyway).  Please don't quote me on this, but at some point, I remember reading that the mouse position can actually contribute to problems like RSI and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, because we tend to hold our arms out away from and to the side of the body in order to move and click the mouse, thus putting more tension on the shoulders (which can lead to trigger points and pain in other parts of the body--since I've talked about that in other posts, I won't go deeper here).  Long story short, a mouse bridge seems like a device that might do some good, since it brings the mouse in closer, so you aren't stretching to the side to do your clicking. 

Has anyone used one or have any thoughts on the subject?

The mouse bridges are available over at Safe Computing: http://www.safecomputing.com/deskraisers.html Prices start at $21.99.

Flexible Desk Lamps

Lighting is an important part of your office set up, as poor light or glare can cause headaches and even contribute to repetitive stress injuries (if you find yourself leaning forward or to the side to see the screen, this can take its toll over the days and months). A neat little lamp I found looks like it would work well for lighting your work area. The Soon Desk Lamp, designed by Tobias Grau, has adjustable vertebrae that makes it extremely flexible, and light runs all through the "spine" of the lamp. It comes in clear or orange plastic and can either sit on a desk or clamp to the side.

For more information on the Soon Desk Lamp, search under Lighting/Desk lamps at Topdeq.

Christmas Gifts for Computer Addicts

I know, I know, it's only September, but some of the stores I've visited lately already have Christmas stuff up. So that got me thinking, if you're going to give a computer-related gift anyway, why not choose something that encourages healthy computing habits? I know, that sounds like a cheesy gift. But, believe it or not, there are some pretty sleek cool toys that fall under the realm of ergonomic computer accessories.

Here are a few "ergonomic" gift ideas (they're the kind of things I would like to receive--hm, maybe I should send this entry to family members):

Fingerworks iGesture Pad -- If I ever give up my Touchstream Keyboard, I will definitely be grabbing one of these. It's a mouse replacement that let's you do all the normal mouse stuff just by moving your fingers around the surface and tapping lightly to "click".

Herman Miller Ergonomic Chairs -- I love my Herman Miller Ergonomic Chair and highly recommend them for anybody who spends more than a couple hours a day at the computer. They look cool, too.;)

Shiatsu Back Massager -- In my fantasy world, I'd have one of those $3,000 reclining massage chairs, but I tried one of these out at Bed, Bath, and Beyond the other day, and it actually did kneed my back muscles and feel good--nice for someone who sits all day.

And here are a couple gift ideas from the under $50 category:

Eclipse Computer Light -- Good lights made specifically for use with your computer can both light up your office area and reduce glare on the monitor.

iCurve Invisible Laptop Stand -- A laptop stand that looks sleek instead of clunky. A laptop stand can be a good choice to get your monitor's screen up to eye level, though you'll want to use with an attached keyboard.

And for the final ergonomic toy that I wish would fall off the truck in front of my house... The MyPCE workstation, a complete computing environment, starting at a measly $2,500. If anyone would like to, ahem, donate one to this worthy blog, I'll tell you where to send it... ;)

Flylight Light for Your Laptop

Well, I've heard of book lights, but the Flylight is the first light I've seen made specifically for your laptop. The flexible bendable Flylight is a small light put out by Kensington that is powered by the USB port of your laptop.

Michael Mardings of TheCelebrityCafe.com mentions the Flylight along with several other Kensington products in Kensington Laptop Accessories.

It's available for less than $20 from Amazon:

Massaging Mouse Pad

A massaging mouse pad, now isn't that an interesting idea? The site claims, "Massaging Mouse Pad was designed to effectively reduce and prevent the effects of Cumulative Trauma Disorders that can lead to reduced work efficiency and eventual loss of work, time and earnings." I have no idea whether it would work (though I have heard upper body massage suggested for RSI sufferers), but figured I'd post a link for the curious.

ZSOLT Massaging Mouse Pad

Computer Lighting

Part of creating an ergonomically sound workspace is paying attention to lighting. Poor lighting can cause eye strain (yes, your mom was right) and aside from that, it's nice to be able to see what you're working on. You can get lights anywhere, but I came across a site that specializes in lighting for your computer. It's called the Eclipse Computer Light and "will not produce any glare on the computer screen while properly lighting the work environment." That's what they say, anyway.

Site: Eclipse Computer Lighting

Portable Footrest

I think a good adjustable ergonomic chair is the best seating solution, but if for some reason you're not able to use one in your current workspace, and your feet aren't resting flat on the ground, you may want to consider getting a foot rest. I came across a site that sells portable footrests (I know--you're thinking what footrests aren't portable.... but I guess there's the difference between tucking one under your arm and dragging one behind you like a sled). These footrests weight 4 oz, fold flat, and can fit in a briefcase.

Portable Footrests

A Lap Held Keyboard Platform

A lot of ergonomics how-to sites recommend keyboard trays, usually attached to the bottom of the desk, to ensure your keyboard is at the right height, meaning you can type with your wrists in a neutral position without having to stretch your arms away from your body. (Hm, was that a run-on sentence?) I actually put my Touchstream keyboard in my lap when I type, so when I stumbled across a site that sells keyboard platforms that are designed to rest in your lap, I thought it was an interesting idea. The platform is called the PowerBoard Lap-Held Keyboard Platform and it's designed particularly for "tele-commuters and contract workers who have multiple or make-shift workstations." So, if that's you, check 'em out.

PowerBoard

Laptop Stands

I found an interesting-looking laptop stand called the Notebook Spyder this weekend when I was browsing office ergonomics stores on the web (some people browse bookstores, others look at cars... I'm not weird, really).

Anyway, the Notebook Spyder is a little stand to raise your laptop off the desk so the display is at the correct height and you're not slouching or peering down to read the screen. You'd want to use it with an attached keyboard to ensure your wrists are not raised too high (see my review for the Touchstream keyboard if you're looking for a good portable ergonomic keyboard). The nice part about the Notebook Spyder is it comes with a document holder and cable organizers. It's sturdy enough to support a CRT monitor if you use an external display.

There are pictures of the Notebook Spyder here. (You can also order it for $48.)

Wrist Wand

I found an advertisement for Wrist Wand in the latest edition of ErgoSolutions. It is advertised as a device to stretch your upper body muscles effectively with just one exercise, needing only 20-30 seconds to be effective. This looks like something that may be good to use along with a break reminder program, and the price is reasonable ($14.95).

I wouldn't mind a little about how the Wrist Wand works. There's a bit of information on CTS and the need for breaks/stretching on their site, but not a whole lot on how the Wrist Wand is used. It just looks like a stick with handles. Some drawings or a short video clip would be nice along side the novel's worth of testemonials...

It's something I've bookmarked and may considering buying. If you have one, please post your comments.

Wrist Wand Home Page
Wrist Wand/Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Article

Virtual Keyboards

Apparently, Samsung and Nokia are racing to put out virtual keyboards. These keyboards will be integrated into their mobile phones.

I'm not a huge cell phone user, but phones aside, I've got to say, I love the new keyboard alternatives that have been coming out in the last couple of years. More options for those of us with painful hands.

And having tried text messaging, I can definitely see how a virtual keyboard would be more ergonomic (and easier to use) than trying to type messages using the number pad of your phone. I wouldn't expect 80 wpm and accurate touch typing using one, but they look like neat toys to try next year when they are scheduled to come out.

Read article

Ergonomic Notebook Stand

All right, all you laptop users, here's an ergonomic toy for you. APC is offering a sleek new desktop notebook stand that is, "designed to promote better ergonomic positioning of your notepad computer."

It actually looks pretty cool. The stand allows you to swivel your laptop 360°, raise the screen to eye level, and it's supposed to allow for better air circulation and cooling as well. It also has four extra USB ports.

The downside? You actually have to use your laptop at a desk in order to put it to use. Of course, those of us who pay attention to ergonomics should be doing that anyway, but half the fun of a laptop is being able to drag it anywhere. Oh, come on. Like you never type anything from the prone position on the couch, one leg flopped over the back rest.

What's that? The sound of my joints screaming at me...

APC Desktop Notebook Stands

A Closer Look