New Usability Resource

Usernomics is pleased to announce a new section on our main website for Usability Resouces. We hope you find these links to topics in usability useful.

We will be adding resources to the list over time. Please let us know if we missed any informative sites.

Laying Down On The Job With Your 'Book

Getting a good ergonomic posture with a laptop ...

"The advantages of portable computing are not limited to road warrioring. To my way of thinking, even if it rarely or never leaves your house, the portable has it all over desktop machines in that you can use it pretty much wherever you like, in any room and in a favorite comfortable chair, on a sofa, or in bed.

However, literal laptop computing, ie: with the machine on your actual lap, may be okay for very short stints, but the ergonomics and body-English are terrible, and with newer Apple ‘Books, especially the MacIntels, the heat they generate gets uncomfortable - even dangerous - very quickly. The solution is some sort of device that can elevate the laptop above your lap while sitting or laying down, and preferably place the keyboard and monitor at an elevation and angle that is more comfortable and results in less stress on muscles, ligaments, and nerve tunnels.

Currently, I know of only two products that fulfill these requirements; the laptop Laidback, and the surfACE laptop stand. Both have their strong points, and both are unique (albeit quite different) products."   continued ...   (Via MacOPINION)

The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time

Ergonomic designs that did not work ...

"At PC World, we spend most of our time talking about products that make your life easier or your work more productive. But it's the lousy ones that linger in our memory long after their shrinkwrap has shriveled, and that make tech editors cry out, "What have I done to deserve this?"

Still, even the worst products deserve recognition (or deprecation). So as we put together our list of World Class winners for 2006, we decided also to spotlight the 25 worst tech products that have been released since PC World began publishing nearly a quarter-century ago.

1. America Online (1989-2006)
2. RealNetworks RealPlayer (1999)
3. Syncronys SoftRAM (1995)
4. Microsoft Windows Millennium (2000)"   continued ...   (Via PCWorld.com)

America Online

Cell phone users signal strong need for simplicity

Making cell phones usable ...

"The Kansas City-area countertop installer recently traded in a number of feature-laden phones for a stripped-down model. He said he didn't like using them to surf the Internet, rarely took pictures with them and couldn't stand scrolling through seemingly endless menus to get the functions to work.

"I want a phone that is tough and easy to use," said Bales, 30. "I don't want to listen to music with it. I'm not a cyber-savvy guy."

But the wireless industry needs him to be comfortable with advanced features and actively use them. As the universe of people who want a cell phone and don't already have one gets smaller, wireless carriers are counting on advanced services to generate the bulk of new revenue in coming years.

... But they've also shown a growing frustration with how confusing those added features can be. A J.D. Power & Associates survey last year found consumer satisfaction with their mobile devices has declined since 2003, with some of the largest drops linked to user interface for Internet and e-mail services.

That has providers working hard to make their devices easier to use -- fewer steps, brighter and less cluttered screens, different pricing strategies -- so consumers will not only use data functions more often but also be encouraged to buy additional ones."   continued ...   (Via MercuryNews.com)

Ergonomic Mouse helps minimize repetitive stress injuries

An interesting mouse idea for reducing RSI ...

"AliMed, a leading provider of ergonomic products and solutions to the health care industry, has taken on the Hoverstop active ergonomic mouse to expand its line of injury-prevention solutions for the computer workplace.

The Hoverstop is a unique device that eliminates unnecessary overuse of the mouse without impacting productivity. Now AliMed's customer base can provide a risk-reducing measure for its complete computer workforce, rather than dealing with the costly treatment and rehabilitation of injuries that have already occurred.

The Hoverstop looks and functions like a normal mouse. But when a user holds the Hoverstop for more than 10 seconds without use, it gently vibrates. This reminds them to remove their hand and relax, providing several "micro-breaks" during work. The soft vibration will not interrupt the user's train of thought, allowing them to work normally.

The research results on the Hoverstop are impressive; it has been proven to cut static tension in the muscle groups involved with mouse use. Average computer users have their hand on the mouse two-thirds of the time. The Hoverstop reduces this time by more than 25% with no reduction of work speed or quality."   continued ...   (Via ThoomasNet)

Hoverstop Mouse

Hospital Reduces Injuries With Its 'Safe Lifting Environment' Campaign

Trying to improve hospital worker safety ...

"Staff injuries are being reduced at Highland Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., thanks to an innovative, national "Safe Lifting Environment" campaign that promotes the safe movement and handling of patients.

After suffering an injury last year while moving a patient, Tanya Walsh, RN, coordinator of the No Lift Protocol at Highland Hospital, became concerned that other nurses might also injure themselves while working with patients.

Now, Walsh is spearheading an effort to raise patient lifting and safety awareness with staff nurses, and for help in her efforts she is utilizing the resources of the http://www.safeliftingenvironment.comSafe Lifting Environment campaign.

It all starts with education, says Walsh, and without it nurses can find themselves in a difficult situation."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

U.S. Workers are the Most Vacation-Deprived in the World, Study Says

Vacation deprivation effects health and safety ...

"Americans are likely to forsake a total of 574 million vacation days in 2006, with each employee 18 and older leaving an average of one vacation day on the table.

And that makes American workers the most vacation-deprived in the world, according to a study commissioned by Expedia.com.

Expedia.com's sixth annual Vacation Deprivation Survey, conducted by Harris Interactive and Ipsos Reid, found that the number of unused vacation time in 2006 increased by one additional day over the last year, boosting the number of total vacation days by more than 150 million. Such figures have given the United States the dubious distinction of being the country with the worst vacationing habits.

The survey found that the France, Germany and Australia scored the highest in receiving and using up their vacation days. Employed adults in France received an average of 39 days of vacation each year, with 40 percent taking a three- to four-week vacation during the summer months."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

MIT 'Seeing Machine' Offers Hope To Blind

New assistance for the visually impaired on the horizon ...

"This article from Science Daily is about a relatively inexpensive "seeing machine" that can allow people who are blind, or visually challenged, to access the Internet, view the face of a friend, "previsit" unfamiliar buildings and more. From the article: Recently the machine received positive feedback from 10 visually challenged people with a range of causes for their vision loss who tested it in a pilot clinical trial. The work was reported in Optometry, the Journal of the American Optometric Association, earlier this year.

The work is led by Elizabeth Goldring, a senior fellow at MIT's Center for Advanced Visual Studies. She developed the machine over the last 10 years, in collaboration with more than 30 MIT students and some of her personal eye doctors. The new device costs about $4,000, low compared to the $100,000 price tag of its inspiration, a machine Goldring discovered through her eye doctor.

To better examine her eyes, Aiello asked her to go to the Schepens Eye Research Institute at Harvard, where technicians peered into her eyes with a diagnostic device known as a scanning laser opthalmoscope, or SLO. With the machine they projected a simple image directly onto the retina of one eye, past the hemorrhages within the eye that contributed to her blindness. The idea was to determine whether she had any healthy retina left.

It turns out that she did, and was able to see the image -- a stick figure of a turtle. But the turtle wasn't very interesting, Goldring said. So she asked if they could write the word "sun" and transmit that through the SLO. "And I could see it!" she said. "That was the first time in several months that I'd seen a word, and for a poet that's an incredible feeling."   continued ...   (Via VRoot.org)

Seeing Machine

The grand 999: All-time top designs

A great book for design inspiration ...

"It's not something most of us think about, but we all dwell in the world of design.

The toothbrush we use, the car we drive, the phone we answer, the chair we sit in at work - every manufactured object we buy has been pondered, argued over, sketched, and prototyped. In short, designed by someone, or a team of someones.

And quite often, they do a heck of a job, using new technologies to solve old problems, and marrying form with function in ways that not only look great but can even change the way we live. These triumphs of the designer's art, from sewing machines to shavers, airplanes to iPods, are the subject of Phaidon Design Classics, a just-issued three-volume set from London-based Phaidon Press ($175, or $140 at www.phaidon.com).

... The 1959 Princess phone (No. 543) was developed to sell the idea of a bedside phone to a female market. The design for one of its successors, the 1965 Trimline phone (No. 548), was based on the then-little known study of ergonomics, and won a spot in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art."   continued ...   (Via Philadelphia Inquirer)

Phaidon Design Classics

14 Million Suffer Driving Injuries

Driving posture causing injuries ...

"Almost half of all British drivers are suffering from a painful new medical condition experts are calling Repetitive Driving Injury (RDI), caused by poor driving posture, according to eBay Motors. Ergonomics experts warn many drivers are risking serious long term muscle, joint and spinal injuries as a quarter of motorists admit they don't know how to correctly adjust their car seats for comfort and safety.

According to the new study, the five most common Repetitive Driving Injuries are foot cramp (suffered by 81% of the UK), lumbar pain (74%), stiff neck (74%), side ache (74%), and headache/eye strain (73%). Almost two million British drivers start to suffer from these after just fifteen minutes driving with 9% of drivers experiencing symptoms after driving just 22 miles.

"Despite eight out of ten drivers having suffered from RDI's, only one in five (21%) consider car comfort an important factor when purchasing a car," said Charlie Coney of eBay Motors. "Choosing the car best suited to their driving style should be an increased priority for all car buyers to avoid these symptoms."

Ergonomics expert Professor Mark Porter of Loughborough University has identified the four most common driving positions and their related problems. The results reveal we are a nation of 'Racers', 'Pimps', 'Multi-taskers' and 'Rollercoasters'."   continued ...   (Via CARkeys)

Driver Posture

New auto seat, designed in SolidWorks, could help crash victims walk away

Designing safer car seats ...

"A West Coast development team has used software by SolidWorks, a Dassault Systèmes S.A company, to design and analyse a new seat that could double the safety of cars in head-on collisions. Several car companies and seating manufacturers are presently testing the seat, which operates on the same principle as a porch glider - pendulum motion.

American Ergonomics Corp. recently performed an extensive series of crash tests on its Counter-Balanced Motion ("CBM") seat technology under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines. Dummies riding in the seat and wired with sensors were driven into a solid wall at 35 mph. The test results, affirmed by specialized auto crash simulation software, indicated the CBM seat could reduce head injuries by 30 per cent and leg injuries by 70 per cent, according to the company.

Head-on collisions generally involve two impacts, one when the driver's body slams forward in the cockpit and a second, rearward "whiplash" when the head and neck recoil. The CBM seat mitigates the first impact in a collision by arcing forward a few inches on an upturned rail, tipping the body away from the impact and folding the legs safely away from the floor."   continued ...   (Via domain-b)

Safe Auto Seat

Is your workplace making you depressed and ineffective?

Depression in the workplace ...

"A new e-report highlights that many office workers exhibit symptoms similar to Seasonal Depression even in summer months and this can have a significant impact on their work output and interaction with colleagues.

The review of recently published research suggests that employers should be paying much more attention to the mental state of their employees and the time that they spend in the sunshine. Individuals working with computers in subdued lighting can be particularly affected and this can have real implications for those in call centres, computer programming, the media and animation. But all workers are at risk.

Even on sunny days working adults may need 1000x more exposure to sunlight to stay mentally and physically healthy. Access to windows, and even the highest standards of office lighting, has little impact because it is biologically necessary to be exposed to bright sunlight or intense white light for a reasonable period first thing in the morning to suppress melatonin, the sleep hormone. If this does not happen then the symptoms for many can include lethargy, low energy, carbohydrate craving, poor sleep patterns and depressed mood during the day."   continued ...   (Via SourceWire)

Is tech injuring children?

Computer injuries getting an early start with kids ...

"Mitali Perkins worries about her sons' hands.

Her 13-year-old twins, James and Timothy, are avid gamers who own three computers, two Sony PlayStations, a Nintendo GameCube and a Microsoft Xbox. Physically, they're fit, with one oddity: The boys can bend their thumbs all the way back to their forearms, and they constantly stretch and crack their knuckles with ease. For tasks like ringing a doorbell, dialing a phone number and changing the remote, they use their thumbs.

"The word 'arthritis' comes to mind," Perkins wrote in an e-mail to CNET News.com.

The Perkins boys' flexi-thumbs could be genetic--or they could be the physical adaptation of two game fanatics, just like big thighs are to bicyclists and strong shoulders are to swimmers. Whatever the case, the prolonged exposure to technology by a generation of kids has doctors, researchers and physical therapists expecting a rash of new repetitive stress injuries in the coming years.

A study from 2000 in Australia on the effects of laptop computers in schools showed that 60 percent of students aged 10 to 17 complained of neck and back discomfort while using the PC.

"Not since the development of a written language has the task performed by children and adults changed so dramatically," according to the report from the International Ergonomics Association."   continued ...   (Via CNET News)

What Safety Excellence Managers Do

The safety management mind-set ...

"One of the most commonly cited reasons (excuses) for underperformance in safety is lack of management commitment.

The truth of the matter is: Senior managers care deeply about many things; most importantly, delivering results to shareholders, meeting stakeholder expectations and keeping their jobs! And, as extremely intelligent individuals, they clearly recognize that the key to their success and longevity with the company is their ability to deliver products and services – at quota, within specification, under budget and on time – and not injure anyone in the process!

Executives of high-performing organizations have a clear understanding of Peter Drucker's contention that, "The first duty of business is to survive, and the guiding principle of business economics is not the maximization of profit, it is the avoidance of loss."1 Consequently, they recognize that loss, cost and expense are the only things a manager can truly manage; and by effectively doing so, transform top dollars (revenue) to bottom dollars (margin) – the ultimate objective of every manager.

James Champy, author of "Re-Engineering Management," observes: "Much of American management doesn't seem willing or equipped to address directly what is often the real core of operational problems-mindset." And, in safety, it is traditional safety mindset concerning accident causation and correct strategy that impedes most organizations from attaining safety excellence results."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

Scientific publication honors Purdue professor for research

Recognition for ergonomics research ...

"A Purdue professor has been internationally honored in the field of ergonomics and human factors by Ergonomia, a scientific publication. His research makes engineering and computer systems easier to use for all of society.

... Gavriel Salvendy, a professor in the School of Industrial Engineering, is ranked number one for his research, tied with two others. He concentrates on the cognitive component of ergonomics. His research focuses on human-computer interactions and the effective use of new technology.

"I develop methods for more effectively selecting and training personnel, dealing with stress management at work, enhancing productivity and designing computers for ease of use," he said.

Vincent Duffy, an Associate Professor in the School of Industrial Engineering and Agricultural and Biological Engineering, has researched similar areas of ergonomics, benefiting from Salvendy's significant impact in the field of human factors. By continuing research in ergonomics, new technology will be more efficiently utilized in the work environment. "Computer-based models of the human aspect can help to facilitate successful designs in terms of improved safety, acceptance, satisfaction and usability," Duffy said."   continued ...   (Via The Exponent)

Officer Safety in the Mobile Office

Mobile ergonomics for police cars ...

"Laptop computers' benefits to patrol officers have been undeniable. Foremost is officer safety: officers have more information that's more accurate and more quickly retrieved. Mapping, report writing and printing capabilities, among others, have all added to officers' convenience. The entire package means improved public safety: cruiser "offices" mean officers can spend more time on the road and in the community.

However, the mobile office carries with it unforeseen consequences that some police agencies, such as the Omaha (Nebraska) Police Department, have only recently begun to realize.

The Omaha experience - Omaha's initiative to put laptops in its 100+ cruisers began in 2001. The consultants involved with the initial setup, however, had neither worked as, nor discussed the setup with, patrol officers. As a result, says Troy Kister, chairman of the Omaha police union safety committee, officer feedback was overwhelmingly negative. The main concerns: tactical and ergonomic safety."   continued ...   (Via Officer.com)

Police Laptop

Ergonomic devices ease computer-related pain

Effect of trackball on upper body aches ...

"Upper-body aches and injuries can result from hour after hour spent in an awkward posture at a computer terminal. A recent study found that an ergonomic device at a workstation can result in less pain and fewer injuries.

The study involved 182 people, mostly women, who worked more than 20 hours a week at a computer. They were randomly assigned to get ergonomics training only or to combine training with use of either a forearm support or a mouse replacement known as a trackball, or both. The forearm support, a padded arm board, was attached to the front edge of the work surface. The trackball used a large ball to move the cursor. Training included advice on posture, positioning a mouse and adjusting chair and monitor heights.

During a one-year period, 63 participants were diagnosed with musculoskeletal disorders related to their computer work. Those who used arm boards had about half the neck and shoulder problems as those who got training only; they also reported less neck, shoulder and right-side pain and used less pain medication. Use of a trackball had little effect on the occurrence of neck and shoulder problems or pain but did correlate with fewer complaints of left-side pain.

Researchers speculated that the trackball's effect on the left side may have stemmed from decreased keyboarding with the left hand and increased use of the mouse replacement. Some participants reported difficulty using the trackball."   continued ...   (Via Star-Telegram)

Trackball

Visual ergonomics for computer users

Visual ergonomics for working with computers ...

Most of us are dependant on computers for some form of interaction these days. We are now able to work, shop, play and communicate -- all from our desktop! But our eyes were not designed to stare at this type of image of extended periods of time, so our eyesight may suffer. Let's look at the different factors that affect the eyes while using a computer.

The Monitor

Viewing a computer display differs significantly from normal paper viewing. The images are created differently and the quality can vary. If the screen flickers or jitters, your eyes will strain to see it. Be sure the brightness of the screen is uniform with the background brightness of the room. LCD (flat) monitors are different the CRT (deep) monitor but not necessarily better for viewing. The best choice will depend on what type of work your patients are doing and other factors."   continued ...   (Via SheKnows)

Study: Ergonomic devices help office workers

From the British Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ...

"Upper-body aches and injuries can result from hour after hour spent in an awkward posture at a computer terminal. Might certain ergonomic devices at a workstation result in less pain and fewer injuries to the musculoskeletal system?

This study involved 182 people, mostly women, who worked more than 20 hours a week at a computer. They were randomly assigned to get ergonomics training only or to combine training with use of either a forearm support or a mouse replacement known as a trackball, or both. The forearm support, a padded arm board, was attached to the front edge of the work surface. The trackball used a large ball to move the cursor. Training included advice on posture, positioning a mouse and adjusting chair and monitor heights.

During a one-year period, 63 participants were diagnosed with musculoskeletal disorders related to their computer work. Those who used arm boards had about half the neck and shoulder problems as did those who got training only; they also reported less neck, shoulder and right-side pain and used less pain medication. Use of a trackball had little effect on the occurrence of neck and shoulder problems or pain but did correlate with fewer complaints of left-side pain."   continued ...   (Via The Sun News)

Ergoblog: Chronic Muscle & Joint Pain Caused by Vitamin/Mineral Deficiencies?

Do vitamin deficiencies contribute to RSI? ...

"Chronic Muscle & Joint Pain Caused by Vitamin/Mineral Deficiencies?

One of the first things doctors do when you go in complaining about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or some Repetitive Stress Injury is tell you to take it easy for a while (sometimes offering a wrist brace) and give you a prescription for anti-inflammatory drugs. This helps some people, but a lot of us just have trouble again once we get back to work. Since visiting a new doctor (one who specializes in natural medicine, which involves getting to the root of the problem instead of just throwing drugs at you) for something else (see my heartburn blog), I'm starting to wonder about the role vitamin/mineral deficiencies might play in repetitive stress injuries.

The main reason I'm wondering is that I found out I'm not digesting things properly, so my body is short on vitamins, and minerals. I'm currently being tested for food allergies (which can be the basis for all of this). After finding out that joint pain is one of the side effects of this malnutrition, I'm wondering if that may be at the root of my RSI (as well as my other issues). It's something you don't necessarily think about (at least I didn't, because I eat a healthy diet), but now it's got me looking up these things on the Internet (and I'm definitely going to ask my doctor about it when I get the results for my food allergy tests)."   continued ...   (Via Ergoblog)

Safety Catalyst: The Power of Incorrect Ergonomic Thinking

Paying attention to individual differences ...

"The science and art of ergonomics helps safety strategists make adjustments that bridge the gap between people and their work.

The aim of ergonomic design and/or behavior modifications is to create safer and more efficient performance, as well as boost worker satisfaction. A one-size-fits-all approach, while understandably easier to implement, is antithetical to effective ergonomic interventions, and only will help to a point of diminishing returns, in the same way that a second scissors lift brought in to sit right next to an existing one is unlikely to further reduce injuries.

Too often, we've heard of ergonomic interventions that solely are based on preprinted checklists that treated all workers as if they were identical. This doesn't make sense to me as a developer of soft-tissue injury and other prevention interventions.

Sometimes pressures to be "politically correct" would have us pretend that everyone is exactly the same, with equal risks and identical concerns. As one of my colleagues, Paul McClellan, responds when asked about the "best" way to do a job, "Best for whom? A 5-foot-6-inch, 52-year-old worker who's had previous back injuries or a newly hired, 6-foot-7-inch, 25-year-old worker with no history of being injured?"

No surprise that in addition to age, height and experience, gender differences also can affect safety. Of course, "different" doesn't mean "superior" or "inferior."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

Human factors/ergonomics professionals are improving health care

Human Factors in health care ...

The latest issue of Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society contains a special section describing ways in which human factors/ergonomics professionals are improving health care.

Nine articles cover a wide range of devices, systems, and processes. Several of the articles cover findings and recommendations for improved medical displays:

- Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) relies heavily on imaging devices that display the inside of the body. Despite its benefits to patients, MIS presents challenges to surgeons because of reduced field of view and degraded depth perception. The results of DeLucia and colleagues suggest ways that surgeons can navigate better during MIS.

- Something as simple as using capital ("tall man") letters to highlight sections of drug names on labels may lead to fewer errors in dispensing drugs that have similar-looking names. Filik et al. found that using tall man letters to emphasize differences in similar names resulted in increased attention to high-risk drug names.

- When sudden changes occur in patients under anesthesia, anesthesiologists rely on displays to help them identify the problem and remedy it. This literature review by Drews and Westenskow shows that graphical displays can improve patient safety, though few are in use today. They suggest ways to improve such displays.

-Providing feedback to the user is critical in ensuring that a procedure is being performed accurately. Drews and colleagues found that when anesthesiologists were able to view a display that visualized drug concentrations in a simulated patient, they could more precisely and safely monitor anesthesia."   continued ...   (Via News-Medical.net)

Hearing Stirs Heated Debate Over Non-Consensus Standards

Still struggling for safety standards ...

"A recent public hearing in Washington pitted supporters of non-consensus standards versus those who argue that incorporating such standards into safety regulations flies in the face of open government.

The April 27 hearing, held by the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee, focused on concerns that regulations written without wide participation from the public – particularly those issued by the Cincinnati-based American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists – circumvent Constitutional checks and balances. Supporters of non-consensus standards counter that such standards are needed because OSHA has dropped the ball when it comes to promulgating new workplace safety regulations.

Rep. Norwood 'Declares War'

Four years ago, the subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., held a similar hearing about an alleged attempt by the Department of Labor to incorporate standards set by outside standards-setting organizations into the hazard communication rule.

According to a member of a panel at the April 27 hearing, that practice continues."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

ASSE Urges Teens To Be Aware Of Work Hazards

Job safety for teens ...

"As teens contemplate taking a summer job they should be aware of the fact that although most of them may work fewer hours and hold less dangerous jobs than adults, teenagers have a high rate of work-related injuries, according to the American Society of Safety Engineers. As ASSE and U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials in Washington, D.C., kick off North American Occupational Safety and Health Week that runs through May 6, at the Department of Labor this morning they are urging teens to be aware of and how to address workplace hazards.

To drive home this message, an ASSE Career World insert titled “Teens At Work: Safety First!” is being distributed to students in 95,000 high schools countrywide.

Approximately 80 percent of U.S. teens work annually at some time during their high school years, many during the summer. While they earn extra money and gain valuable work experience, the risk of serious injury or even a fatal injury is present. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2004 alone, more than 38,000 teen workers were injured on the job, and another 134 were fatally injured. Workers aged 15 to 17 spend most of their work hours in food preparation and service jobs, handling stock or in labor jobs, farming, forestry or in fishing. Common injuries sustained among teens include sprains, strains, contusions, lacerations, and fractures."   continued ...   (Via Safety Online)

Car seat aims to lessen collision injuries

New advacements in car seat safety ...

"A new car seat can help cut down on collision injuries.

The auto-tilting car seat is the product of American Ergonomics, makers of the Ergomax office chair, and uses the company's Counter-Balanced Motion technology. After a large series of tests involving dummies (not real people like some other manufacturers), the company has predicted that the CBM seat could reduce head injuries by 30 percent and leg injuries by 70 percent.

The CBM seat keeps the head from being thrown forward into the windshield while also folding the legs underneath the person a bit, working in harmony with the safety belt. In addition, the time to impact for the face into the airbag is expanded. The final result is, the company believes, higher safety standards."   continued ...   (Via Mobile Magazine)

Automobile Seat

The First Laptop Computer Stand Designed Specifically for Business Travelers and Use on Airplanes

New product for in-flight use of laptop ...

"With the prospect of in-flight internet and 92% of all business travelers carrying laptops on flights, passengers need more comfort, safety and ergonomics when they use their laptops on commercial airliners. The new AVIATOR ™ Laptop Stand from Keynamics® LLC is the first and only stand specifically designed for business travelers.

To provide comfort for laptop users aboard commercial aircraft, careful consideration was given to not only the position of the laptop for optimal user comfort, but also to accommodate the reclined seat in front. The AVIATOR is designed to be sturdy and extremely stable to handle turbulence and bumping from other passengers.

The AVIATOR Laptop Stand safely extends the laptop keyboard 2.5 inches over the front edge of the tray and raises the screen by 3 inches. The keyboard is positioned at a comfortable angle for typing and the screen is placed at the proper eye level for reduced neck bending and back strain.

The stand eliminates the "hunch" and allows the passenger to rest their back against the seat for spinal support, achieving neutral postures as OSHA recommends. The AVIATOR™ doubles as a portable desktop stand for use at the hotel, coffee shop or office."   continued ...   (Via Keynamics)

Motorola Cell Phone Automatically Adjusts to the Elderly

Advancements in hearing assistance technology ...

"Often the special needs of the elderly can be a disadvantage when attempting to use cell phones, and these options can be especially confusing to consumers with minimal technical abilities. To help ease the problem, Motorola has patented cell phone technology adaptable for the hearing impaired.

By automatically detecting speech patterns of the elderly, the technology automatically boosts incoming and outgoing audio while simplifying menu structure and increasing font size.

The special needs of the elderly can often be in conflict with other users, such as the youth which often desire the smallest, most feature rich devices possible. Hence, the technology allows one device to adapt and accommodate to both market segments."   continued ...   (Via Mobiledia)

Adjustable Cell Phone

Healthy Vision Month Focuses on Workplace Eye Safety

Eye injuries major issue in workplace ...

"Each day, more than 2,000 U.S. workers receive medical treatment because of work-related eye injuries, while more than 800,000 eye injuries occur annually. In an effort to reduce those numbers, the National Eye Institute and other organizations are focusing on workplace eye safety as part of Healthy Vision Month 2006.

Workplace injuries are a leading cause of eye trauma, vision loss, disability and blindness, according to Paul Sieving, Ph.D., director of vision research at the National Institutes of Health, which house the National Eye Institute.

Many eye injuries occur because workers are not wearing the right eye protection, their eye protection does not fit or they are not wearing any protection at all. Flying fragments of metal, wood, concrete and other building materials, along with windblown dust and debris, splashes from chemicals and molten metal, hot sparks, optical radiation and even the everyday nail, are common workplace eye hazards.

"To help promote eye health and safety at work, Healthy Vision Month 2006 will focus on what employers and employees can do to reduce the number of job-related eye injuries," Sieving said."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

Lifetime Costs of Year's Worth of Injuries Top $400 Billion

The high cost of workplace injury ...

"The lifetime cost of injuries occurring in a single year in the United States is about $406 billion in medical expenses and productivity losses – including lost wages, fringe benefits and ability to perform normal household responsibilities – according to new findings released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly $80.2 billion is attributed to medical expenses, while $326 billion is estimated for lifetime productivity losses for the almost 50 million injuries that required medical treatment in 2000. These costs begin to accumulate when the injuries occur and are spread over each injured person's expected lifetime.

"The financial and economic impact of injuries in the United States is serious," CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said. "However, by expanding our science-based injury prevention programs, we can drastically reduce these costs and even, more importantly, help people live longer and healthier lives."

The new data and findings were released in the book "The Incidence and Economic Burden of Injuries in the United States" by scientists from the CDC as wells as scientific research contractors at RTI International and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. The book, which is a comprehensive analysis of the economic costs of injuries, makes use of 2000 data to update and expand a 1989 Report to Congress."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

Safety Catalyst: The Power of Incorrect Ergonomic Thinking

Safety through ergonomics ...

"The science and art of ergonomics helps safety strategists make adjustments that bridge the gap between people and their work.

The aim of ergonomic design and/or behavior modifications is to create safer and more efficient performance, as well as boost worker satisfaction. A one-size-fits-all approach, while understandably easier to implement, is antithetical to effective ergonomic interventions, and only will help to a point of diminishing returns, in the same way that a second scissors lift brought in to sit right next to an existing one is unlikely to further reduce injuries.

Too often, we've heard of ergonomic interventions that solely are based on preprinted checklists that treated all workers as if they were identical. This doesn't make sense to me as a developer of soft-tissue injury and other prevention interventions.

Sometimes pressures to be "politically correct" would have us pretend that everyone is exactly the same, with equal risks and identical concerns. As one of my colleagues, Paul McClellan, responds when asked about the "best" way to do a job, "Best for whom? A 5-foot-6-inch, 52-year-old worker who's had previous back injuries or a newly hired, 6-foot-7-inch, 25-year-old worker with no history of being injured?"

No surprise that in addition to age, height and experience, gender differences also can affect safety. Of course, "different" doesn't mean "superior" or "inferior."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

Workplace should be adapted to workers

Creating an ergonomically ehanced workplace ...

"Any business owner knows that misusing or failing to maintain machines, tools and office equipment doesn't make good financial sense.

They'll malfunction or break down before their time.

But employees-- who typically don't come with operating manuals -- can wear out under a strain, too.

And in many cases -- whether they're pounding on computer keyboards in offices, working in factories, arranging merchandise in stores or doing just about anything else -- workers have no choice but to adapt to their surroundings and the tools of their trades, rather than vice versa.

As a result, some end up performing their jobs in awkward, uncomfortable, unhealthy positions, according to Fran Greene, chairman of Human Factors and Systems at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. They may get eyestrain and back pain, become unnecessarily stressed and fatigued, and develop conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

When the principles of ergonomics -- the science of adapting environments and tools to better suit people -- are ignored, a company's bottom line is also likely be hurt, Greene recently told members of the Volusia Manufacturers Association. Decreased productivity and increased health costs typically result."   continued ...   (Via Daytona Beach News)

PDA popularity triggering eyestrain

It's not just your thumb, it's your eyes as well ...

"Chris Kwak, a 31-year-old financial analyst, spends hours a day glued to the tiny screen of his Palm Treo hand-held computer. He fires off e-mails, checks stock prices and recently plowed through the novel "The Da Vinci Code."

But staring at the 2-inch screen is taking its toll on Kwak's eyes: He regularly pops Tylenol to dull the headaches he gets from focusing on the tiny font he has chosen for his device.

"It definitely hurts," said Kwak on a recent afternoon, as he stood outside his Wall Street office, reading messages in the glaring sun.

As use of portable hand-held gadgets soars, Americans are becoming a nation of squinters who spend hours hunched over gadgets such as PDAs, cell phones, game devices and iPods, straining to read small text everywhere from dimly lighted restaurants to sunny park benches. With mobile technology growing increasingly sophisticated -- allowing people to surf the Web, build PowerPoint presentations and watch "The Daily Show" on screens barely larger than a postage stamp -- many users say they are experiencing eyestrain."   continued ...   (Via baltimoresun.com)