Category: Ergonomics News

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

Just a little FYI, Office Designs was offering free shipping on their ergonomic office chairs when I popped in today. Not sure if that is a permanent policy or just a temporary sale, but if you’re in the market, you can get a pretty good deal buying over the Internet. When I bought my Herman…