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Mice bite less with ergonomic designs
February 5, 1997
Web posted at: 7:00 a.m. ESTFrom Correspondent Lori Waffenschmidt
ATLANTA (CNN) -- Today's pain in the neck, or pain in the wrist, is as often the result of spending hours glued to a computer as it is being rubbed the wrong way by a coworker or boss.
Repetitive motion injuries are the bane of modern technological existence. Luckily, an army of ergonomic engineers is trying to stem the tide of pain.
Products designed with consideration for comfort and continuous ease of use are flooding the market; here is a sampling:
The MouseMate from ErgoView Technologies is a soft rubber device that attaches directly to your mouse. It's designed to maintain the moving wrist in a more natural position while "mousing," decreasing the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome and other stress injuries.
Ergobreak for Office from Vanity Software tracks a user's time, keystrokes and mouse activity, reminding computer worker bees to take breaks at regular intervals. Animated cartoon characters guide you through short exercise routines designed to reduce the dangerous effects of repetitive office tasks.
The Mouse Surf Board from Command Position Products is a rigid, lap-supported surface that allows you to sit back and relax while you point and click. Designed for both right and left handed users, it has "guard rails" to prevent a runaway rodent and cable keepers to control excess cord.
The Springboard Chair from Steelcase lets you "personalize" the fit of your cyber throne. There's a lumbar adjustment for lower back support, the arms move up or down, and the arm caps flip in or out. And since most of us have bodies that move as one unit, the synchro-tilt moves the chair's seat and back together.
Microsoft's IntelliMouse get its brains from its "IntelliPoint" software. The software allows users to customize a mouse with a features best suited for the task at hand. The Intellimouse is also ergonomically designed to support the hand and lower-palm and features a built-in wheel that makes scrolling as easy as a flick of the finger. So, to go really ergonomic, assemble the above menagerie and sit in the Springboard Chair, use the Intellimouse, with the MouseMate, on top of the Surf Board while following the Ergobreak Software.
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