Is your laptop a pain in the neck?

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The position of a laptop's monitor is actually more "ergonomic" than the position of the monitor attached to most desktops. The idea that the head must be tilted downward inorder to view a laptop's monitor is totally false. If it were true we would see millions suffering from repetitive stress injuries cause by reading books or writing on desks.

Once upon a time millions of people used typewriters that had a nearly identical relationship between the keyboard and the paper. We didn't see problems until these same typists began using word processors and later computers.

The most common problems for these former typewriter users involved red, sore and tired eyes . These symptoms were the result of staring at ergonomically placed monitors the were placed nearly at eye level. When reading, whether it is a computer screen, book or magazine, we do not blink normally. When the material is at eye level the eyes dry more quickly because the eye lids are fully opened. Doubts? Read a few pages of your favorite book (comics don't count) in your normal reading position. Now hold the book at, or near, eye level and read a few more pages. You will feel your eyes begin to dry out. This, and not some mysterious emission from the screen, is what causes all the red eyes associated with computer use.

Laptops cause far fewer eye problems than desktop monitors do because the positon is actually far more ergonomic.

While we are on the subject of computers and "ergonomics" - those same typists didn't suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome either because they never rested their wrists on the keyboard. Our so called ergonomic experts decided computer keyboards needed wrist cushions instead of telling us not to rest or wrists on the keyboard. Maybe because there is money to be made selling cushions for keyboards, special screens and stands for monitors, etc., etc., etc.

As for the computer toasting your lap, try one of those beanbag laptop desks.

Here endith the lession.

Posted by: nextbend   Posted on: 06/14/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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