Pew Internet & American Life Project: Health Information Online

Eight in ten internet users have looked online for information on at least one of 16 health topics, with increased interest since 2002 in diet, fitness, drugs, health insurance, experimental treatments, and particular doctors and hospitals.

As reported in the July 2003 report, "Internet Health Resources," certain groups of internet users are the most likely to have sought health information online: women, internet users younger than 65, college graduates, those with more online experience, and those with broadband access.

Some demographic groups showed notable interest in specific topics -- 59% of online women have read up on nutrition information online, for example, compared with 43% of online men. Thirty-eight percent of online parents have checked online for health insurance information, compared with 26% of internet users who do not have children living at home. (Via MedGadget)

Computers & health

Blink if you're reading this story on-line! Blink because when staring at a computer — for hours on end, as if seeking truth on the surface of the moon — we blink less often than is healthy.

Infrequent blinking is one cause of dry eye syndrome, suffered by more than 10 million Americans, according to Dr. J. James Rowsey, a corneal and refractive surgeon at St. Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute in Tarpon Springs, Fla.

The symptoms include irritation, itching, burning, blurred vision — even excessive tearing. (Via Daily Press)

Crabby Office Lady columns from Office Online

Whether bike riding, mowing the lawn, or sitting at a desk, doing it with more comfort is taking part in the practice of ergonomics. The Crabby Office Lady offers her ideas about how to help your body when doing the basics around the office.

Here's a list of the columns I've cranked out so far. If you haven't read them, please do so now. You never know when you'll be quizzed on the topics I'll be featuring.

Think Crabby isn't real? View her live action videos and see for yourself. While you're at it, take a look at our Office demos that are guaranteed to make you a better Office user. (Via Microsoft)

Several articles and videos from Microsoft ...

Trend Setting: How Office Art Improves Productivity

Does the way your employees perceive their physical work environment have an impact on their job performance? You bet your break room it does.

In a recent study conducted by the Business Committee for the Arts in collaboration with the International Association for Professional Art Advisors, researchers established a positive relationship between on-the-job productivity and the presence of art in the workplace.

Along with productivity, the study addressed other human factors including stress, morale and creativity. (Via Yahoo! News)

Input Alternatives

If traditional input devices won't do the job for you, you've got many other choices. We've selected two that are more comfortable for people with repetitive-strain injuries and one that makes a great presentation assistant as well as a mouse. Finally, artists and digital photography enthusiasts will appreciate the ease of the Wacom Graphire3 tablet.

ART Zero Tension Mouse
This mouse will appeal to anyone with hand or wrist injuries, because it lets you hold your hand in a more natural, vertical position while you work. You rest your hand on the molded surface of the translucent blue mouse and push from your bicep, so your wrist doesn't move at all.

IOGear Phaser Mouse
If you'd like to add a little sci-fi flair to your presentations, pick up the Phaser Mouse, a gun-shaped tool that lets you mouse around on screen and click through slides from a distance. The Phaser comes with a large RF receiver that plugs into a USB port, letting you work up to 50 feet away.

Salient V-Mouse VM-101
For those who find holding a mouse uncomfortable, the V-Mouse fits in the hand like a pen and makes working on a computer as easy as writing on paper. The V-Mouse doesn't need drivers and connects via a USB cord. The rocker button on the front works like the left and right buttons on a standard mouse, while a plastic nib on the top lets you write on PDAs. (Via PC Magazine)

Ergonomics Conference and Exposition.