October 28th, 2009 in Health No Comments
In this short article the director of Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory at Cornell University was asked to pick three of the best keyboards for aching wrists. The results were:
- Goldtouch Go! — Light weight and ideal for mobile users, this keyboard is divided into two angled halves that naturally straighten the hands and wrists. (Cost: $139).
- Kensington Comfort Type Slim Keyboard – Looks like a traditional keyboard but the keys are angled toward the center, allowing for a straighter and more relaxed wrist posture. (Cost: $20).
- Jasper Freeboard – A good choice for those who use their mouse as much as they type, the Freeboard has a built-in mousepad which prevents overextension and straining and has a snap-on attachment for the left-handed. (Cost: $149).
Source: Shivani Vora, Inc. (New York); Oct, 2009
January 14th, 2005 in Office Management No Comments
If your office is too cold you might not be typing as accurately — or as much — as you could be, according to a study evaluating the influence of indoor environmental conditions on worker productivity. Conducted by Alan Hedge, director of Cornell University’s Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory, the study found a 74-percent increase in typing mistakes and a 46-percent reduction in typing output when office temperatures fell from 77°F to 68°F. The findings were presented at the 2004 Eastern Ergonomics Conference in New York.
The study investigated the link between changes in physical environmental conditions and changes in work performance. During the study, which was conducted at Insurance Office of America’s headquarters in Orlando, FL, nine workstations were equipped with a miniature personal environment sensor for sampling air temperature every 15 minutes for a full working month. Researchers recorded the amount of time that employees typed and the amount of time they spent making corrections.
“At 77°F, employees were keying 100-percent of the time with a 10-percent error rate, while at 68°F, keying went down to 54-percent of the time with a 25-percent error rate,” says Hedge. “Temperature is a key variable that can impact performance.” An abbreviated version of Hedge’s study is available at http://ergo.human.cornell.edu.
A study found a 74-percent increase in typing mistakes and a 46-percent reduction in typing output when office temperatures fell from 77°F to 68°F.
Source: Professional Safety; Jan, 2005
