January 28, 2008

Is Your Laptop Hurting You?

By Pamela Findling

road,” explains the University of height and crank your head down to recover.

D. you write your papers with Western Ontario’s website. “It’s see the screen or you can have the The trick is to prevent the your laptop on your lap while you’re this compact design that adds to the screen at the right height and have your _ injury before it develops. Be aware curled up on the couch? If so, you potential for ergonomic risk with wrists, shoulders, and arms suffer the of your laptop usage, pay attention to may be hurting yourself more than prolonged use.” consequences. Neither is an appealing those aches and pains you feel, and you think. Those stiff shoulders and In other words, if you’re using _ option. seek help if you need it. Otherwise, achy fingers are warning signs of your laptop for your main computer, And the consequences are you may end up having an all too valid more serious injuries and are not just you’re using it more than you should. serious. What starts as a mild tingle or reason for not getting your homework normal side-effects of writing a 20-page A big problem with laptops ache in your fingers could progress to done in time.

English paper. is that it’s impossible to adjust both the point where you can’t even hold “Laptop computers were your screen and your keyboard to a cup of coffee. At that point, you

originally designed as portable, ergonomically correct positions. You may end up having to take weeks or

compact computers for use on the can have your keyboard at the right even months off of school or work to

Don’t toss that laptop yet. Here are a few tips to help you keep using your laptop and not end up sore: e Sit properly. The couch is probably not the best place to use your laptop. Sit up straight with your feet flat on the ground.

¢ Use external devices. Plus a separate mouse and keyboard into your laptop and use them instead of the ones on the laptop.

¢ Adjust your monitor height. Your monitor’s height should be about 20 degrees below your eye level. Use books or a box to lift rest your laptop up that high.

¢ ‘Take frequent breaks. Get up and stretch your muscles. Grab a glass of water. Or a beer, whichever you prefer.

¢ Look away. Your eyes need breaks too. Look away from your screen and stare at the poster on your wall for a few seconds every once in awhile. Try not to get distracted by it.

¢ Wrists up. Avoid resting your wrists on your desk while typing or

using your mouse. The wrist pads are only for use when you’re not moving your hands.

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