HEALTHY COMPUTING EMAIL TIP 506: LAPTOPITIS
"Can't you leave the computer at work instead of being married to it and
taking it on our vacation?" is no longer an uncommon complaint. The
ubiquitous laptop is used at work, in subways, planes, cars and on the
kitchen table, writing desk and sometimes even in bed. When using of the
laptop, we often collapse to see the screen or place our hands at
incorrect heights. Presently more laptops are sold than desktops. Optimize
the ergonomic environment and reduce LAPTOPITIS.
HOW TO REDUCE LAPTOPITIS:
Optimize the ergonomic set up and check your angles.
--Are your hands too high because the laptop is on a kitchen table or regular desk? Raise your seat so that your elbows are in a 85-110 degree range and your writs are level (e.g., sit on a pillow).
--Are you tilting your head down to read the screen? Look down with
your eyes while holding your head slightly more erect. Take every
opportunity to look away from the screen while you work. Move and
rotate your head from side to side and back and forth. Curl and
uncurl your spine by gently arching and rounding your back and neck.
--Use a laptop stand for convenience with an external keyboard, mouse, trackball or track pad.
--Use a docking station for ease of use and/or use an external monitor that can be adjust to the correct height so that the top of the screen is at eyebrow level.
Practice micro- and large movement breaks.
--Move your head, neck and back every 15 minutes (e.g., imagine a pointer at the top of your head and draw figure "8" on the ceiling while relaxing your shoulders and continuing to breath).
--Relax your shoulders and arms every minute (e.g., drop your hands
to your laps after hitting return and then continue to type).
