[Ti] ergonomica

[Bill Reburn]

On 2/5/03 9:14 AM, "John Griffin" <jwegriffin at mac.com> wrote:

> On  Tue, 4 Feb 2003 15:19:55 -0500 Kevin Hoth <khoth at arches.uga.edu> wrote:
> 
>> I am considering trading in my desktop for a lovely TiBook. I have had
>> some issues with neck, back, & wrist stain in the past (even with
>> desktops since I spend so much time on the machine) and was wondering
>> how many out there have had any issues having to look down at the
>> powerbook screen all the time, having your arms tight in on a smaller
>> keyboard, etc. Do many of you use pro keyboards and stands? I want a
>> laptop to be a laptop sans all the extra prostheseses, of course.
> 
> I just read an article in the Toronto Star that claims that the old standard
> of having the display at eye level is just plain wrong. New studies are
> showing that it is much better to have the screen down about 20° from
> horizontal. So, the Powerbook level should be just about right.
> 
> To test this out, take an ordinary business card and hold it straight ahead
> and read it. Now lower gradually to about 20° down. Chances are you will
> find that it is much easier to read (sharpness, contrast and focus) at about
> the 20° position.
> 
> However, I would suggest using an external keyboard and mouse (or
> trackball). An external display also is a better alternative (I use the 17"
> Studio Display, and it works great with the Powerbook).
> 
> jg

Good suggestion John, with all that's been said this step seems to make the
most sense. As I sit at my desk the top of my crt monitor (2" above the
viewable area) is just under eye level. I have it tilted slightly upward,
perfect.

The viewable area of the crt monitor starts 8 1/2" up from the desk, where
the Ti display is virtually on the desk. This is where I disagree with 'the
formula' as it pertains to Kevin's (6'2") problem (and proper use of a
laptop, which is a personal pref). The stand I bought for my Ti raises the
'book to the point where the vertical centre of the LCD lines up with the
vertical centre of my crt display. Hits that 20º sweet spot perfectly.

My Ti sitting flat on the desk makes me look down at an angle of almost 45º.
Looking down 20º from straight ahead moves my line of sight down about 6" -
right over the top of the LCD.

That formula is talking about a computer monitor (which probably already has
a stand under it) - not a laptop lcd. How your Ti is sitting in the perfect
placement is relevant to your height and for many a laptop's height is way
too low.

If you are also 6'2" then you must have one funky desk.






Bill Reburn