Ergoblog

New Keyboard Aims to Thwart QWERTY Evilness

Lots of people with hand problems (RSI, CTS, <insert other initials denoting over-use problem>) make the switch from QWERTY to DVORAK keyboard layouts, but some new keyboards are coming down the line that will offer other alternatives.  This one is put together by a 62-year-old electrical engineer and will premeir at the next Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. With the keys laid out in alphabetical order, it may or may not have a layout superior to QWERTY (I'd think a keyboard that put the most-used keys on the home row would be best), but at least it's a different option.  For more on the board, there's a story up at news.com: Taking on QWERTY's Illogic

FingerWorks Closes Down

I just found out FingerWorks has closed down as a business.  (I noticed one of their TouchStream ergonomic keyboards going for more than $700 on ebay and was mystified since it's a $300 keyboard; I guess this explains things).  Though I only moderately liked the TouchStream, I truly love my iGesture pad from them and would recommend it to anyone worried about getting RSI/Carpal Tunnel Syndrome pain from repetitive mouse clicking.  But it doesn't look like they'll be putting it out anymore. 

According to their site, "FingerWorks products are no longer available for resale, and no further updates to software drivers will be developed."  I hope my iGesture will continue to work with future Windows upgrades or that someone comes out with something similar.  For those looking for support, they still have a help section up on their site at http://fingerworks.com/troubleshooting.html.  Hopefully, it will stick around for a while.

Hot Tubs for Joint Pain?

Do hot tubs help sore joints?  Can they help RSI sufferers? 

Hot tubs were the focus of a recent article posted at Ergoweb: Hot Tubs Offer Therapy - and More - for Aging Americans.  After reading the article, I think the only reason they posted it was because the world "ergonomic" came up a couple times (and I'm not sure the author was using it correctly).  It doesn't really say much other than that hot tub sales are increasing as Baby Boomers reach their 50s and 60s and that they may be helpful for those with arthritis. 

I have nothing against hot tubs, but I haven't noticed them doing much for the kind of ache that comes from RSI.  My parents have a hot tub, and I frequently take a relaxing soak when I visit, but the hot water seems more likely to aggravate my hands if I'm having a bad hand week.  I have seen hot tubs with "carpal tunnel jets" which I have not had a chance to try yet, and it'd be interesting to experience if nothing else.

Thoughts, anyone?  Does hot water help your repetitive stress injuries?

Sites for people looking for more information on hot tubs:

Hot Tubs and Swimming Pools
Hot Tub Reviews

Obesity vs. Ergonomics?

According to a recent article over at Ergoweb, obesity can be a factor in workplace injuries such as MSD (musculoskeletal disorders) and RSI (repetitive stress injuries) because "the workplace is an ill-fitting environment for the obese. Standard chairs and workspaces are too small, and the mismatch can trigger musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and reduce productivity."

You can find the article here: Ergonomics Finds a Growing Role in Reducing the Cost of Obesity for Employers . It discusses some of the steps ergonomists are taking (workstations with adjustability features--and teaching employees how to use them properly--seem to be key). The article also has links to other reports on the topic.

Practical Office Set-up

With all the keyboards, mice, workstations, and chairs out there, along with sometimes conflicting opinions, it can be confusing to figure out just how to set up your office to provide maximum comfort and functionability. An article called "Office Ergonomics: Let's Get Practical" from occupationalhazards.com encourages readers to just start with the basics and do what makes sense on an individual level.  The article suggests paying attention to "freedom of movement within the context of three simple strategies: Stability, Clearance and Support," and not worrying too much about precise angles and measurements.

Lack of School Ergonomics?

An interesting article called The Office Chair Goes to School takes a look at ergonomics (or the lack of) in the classroom, both for students and teachers. Budget considerations may not make $1000 office chairs a possibility (the article specifically mentions an ergonomic chair called the Contessa), but it's good to know there is at least one company (Teknion) working on solutions that schools can afford.

"John Hellwig, vice-president of design and innovation at Teknion, said the company began focusing on the educational market about five years ago, creating furniture such as study carrels and "laptop environments," and components that allow easy reconfigurations."

The article talks mostly about one teacher's experiences in a grade school class, but as someone who's been taking college classes for a long time--it goes slow when you're doing it part time--I can attest to the horrendous chairs in every school I've attended (a stint in the army makes that more schools than you might think). When you're taking two or even four hour long classes, you really do notice the discomfort. So, I'll raise a reverent pencil to anyone who is trying to put ergonomics in the classroom.

Laptops Harmful to Your... uhm, Yoohoo?

Ergoweb is usually a good source for ergonomics information... not sure if this quite falls under that category but it might be worth reading for you laptop-slinging guys out there. Apparently laptops can cause trouble when they're actually used in your lap, for men at least. No mention if women can suffer detrimental effects.

Finally an Answer to That Burning Laptop Question...

Adjustable Workstations Better for Computer Users?

According to a new article, Comfort Means Productivity For Office Workers, up at Ergoweb, a few simple things can make workers more comfortable in their environment and more productive. (For example, fewer typing errors and faster wpms in rooms at 77 degrees vs. 68 degrees. Temperature and height adjustable workstations were mentioned as simple ways to make computer users more comfortable and also less prone to injury.

Related articles:

Workers Like Adjustable Computer Workstations
Adjustable Desks Help Productivity, Muscle Pain

Ergonomic Chairs and Desks and Keyboards, Oh My.

Is it just me, or is "ergonomic" the official new marketing word to apply to all products these days, regardless of whether or not ergonomics has anything to do with their design? Computer/office tools like chairs and workstations seem to be obvious choices, but mops, brooms, and even babystrollers are being advertised as ergonomic any more. I'm not the only one who has noticed this trend, as evinced in Is That Product Ergonomic? a recent article from Ergoweb. The article gives some tips for figuring out if a product really is ergonomic or if that's just a word that's been tacked on for marketing purposes. Also visit Buyer Beware: Is That "Ergonomic Chair" Really Ergonomic?

Ergonomic Input Devices: Pens, Keyboards, Frogpad, etc.

Looking for ergonomic keyboards or other input devices that won't break the bank? An article in Popular Science takes a brief look at 5 options: the Wacom Intuos3 Pen, the VKB Virtual Keyboard, the Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop keyboard, the Logitech Cordless Desktop LX 501 Keyboard, and the FrogPad.

According to the article, Key Differences, "More than half a million people every year suffer from repetitive stress injuries. 'The risk of injury is four times as great for people who spend six hours a day at the computer as it is for those who spend less than one hour a day.'"

If that sounds like you and you haven't taken a good look at your work (or play) area in regards to ergonomics, maybe it's time.