Information on Ergonomics 

Working with a Notebook Computer
By Greg Hart
Kinesiologist
President, Human Effort

Working with a portable or notebook computer has become increasingly common in the last few years. It is very likely that the trend will continue with the emergence of portable work environments and the decreasing emphasis on traditional centralized office arrangements.

The portable computer poses two critical problems. The first is the restricted keyboard size that may force hands into awkward and deviated positions. The second is the height of the monitor, which is normally attached to the keyboard. This forces either an excessively high keyboard position or more commonly an excessively low monitor position which places constant stress on the neck and cervical spine. This head position also encourages more flexed spinal postures and collapsed shoulder positioning.

If these activities are only being carried out periodically for brief periods of time, the issue is not as serious and can be controlled through regular breaks and more full arm keyboarding technique. When at home or in your other most common location, the best solution is to purchase an additional full sized keyboard that can be set at an appropriate keyboarding height and angle. This allows the notebook monitor to be positioned at a level conducive to neutral neck postures. It also allows for more relaxed hand postures at the keyboard.


The Problem With Passive
By Greg Hart
Kinesiologist
President, Human Effort

If you stumbled out into the street with a microphone and a tape recorder and started asking people at random whether they believe an active approach to living in all respects is superior to a passive approach, what do you think most people would say? What would you say? You would, as would almost everyone else, say that an active approach to life fosters more appealing outcomes and therefore is a superior route to follow. This applies to everything; relationships, career, society, politics and certainly physical health. Anyone could easily reel off countless examples to support this hypothesis. This all raises an interesting question - why do we choose to approach life so passively if the active approach is superior?

The Problem With Passive

 

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