Ergonomics of Computer Pointing Devices

Posted by on 03/09 at 12:06 PM Permalink

Being the dedicated geek that I am, I spend a lot of time with my face in the computer screen. Much of that time, I am driving a cursor around the screen using a pointing device of some kind. In this installment, I want to talk about the long-term physical effects of computer pointing, in other words, the ergonomics of riding a mouse.

We will look closely at how to use a computer-pointing device for maximum comfort and minimum wear-and-tear on your arm and shoulder. This is not something to ignore unless you want to be too crippled in your geek old age. Don’t laugh, it really happens, as I will personally relate.

Read Full Article Here:
http://www.geeks.com/techtips/2006/techtips-09mar06.htm

Do you wish to add to this article? Click the “comments” tab below and let your voice be heard!

    Posted by Peggy Hall  on  08/23  at  12:07 PM

  1. Where can I get the mouse for carpel tunnel clients. My boss just asked me to order him one but our contract with Office Max doesn’t have any. HELP!!

    2. Posted by Jason  on  09/17  at  11:06 AM

  2. Great article.  I too found a trackball to be a good solution for the sore arm. 

    Another thing that I would add is that a secondary navigation device like 3D connection’s “space navigator” or “space ball” (if they still make it).  They have other models too.  The main idea is that you can use your left hand to pan, zoom, tilt, and scroll in 3D space, or zoom and scroll in 2D space.  When I was doing a lot of design/CAD work in the past it helped with the discomfort and increased productivity.  I used a trackball on the right hand for drawing and selecting tools and the space ball on the left hand to fly through my design environment. 

    Some models also have several programmable buttons that eliminate the need to go back and forth between the keyboard and the navigation/pointing devices further reducing drawing time and fatigue.

    I found this to be the best approach and soon had the whole department using the same setup for 3D modeling and 2D CAD applications.  Everyone commented on how amazed they were that they’re mouse arm was no longer sore and how much faster they could work with the “space ball”

    Jason

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