You Asked for It
September 2004

Hi Sharon,

Thank you for your suggestion regarding the LCD monitors [and workers complaining of eyestrain]. I have been advising people to turn down the brightness when they receive them.

I am seeking your opinion on the Cirque Smoothcat keyboard. I see the benefit, but I also think it may just be another gadget. I have a staff member requesting one; I will be recommending that he move his mouse to the left, to eliminate mouse reach as well.

Let me know what you think and if you have had any experience with this type of keyboard.

Leanne

Response:

The keyboard you inquire about has a touch pad imbedded into the palm pad directly below the cursor keys. I have occasionally used this keyboard, but don't find it as universally useable as the MSN Multimedia.

Advantages

• it moves the mousing / pointing surface closer to the body so that it is not necessary to hold the elbow and arm out to the right.

Disadvantages

• the big issue here is that the pointing activity is still primarily right handed, so that the tissues of the right arm have minimal rest and recovery time.
• the keyboard design is based on the MSN Original, so smaller hands find it difficult to use because they have to reach for the keys. They often report feeling like they have to type with their fingers apart.
• I have observed people using the touch pad with the hand dropped lower than the level of the fingers. This position of extension pulls on the tendons and can contribute to tendonitis and increased pressure within the Carpal Tunnel. If using this device, the worker should have good arm support (through the arm rest of the chair) with the fleshy part of the lower arm supported when the upper arm is against the side of the body.

Hope that helps.

st

Home | Services | About ErgoSum | Contact