Electronics & Computers Deals here!
Computer help: Ergonomic software to prevent computer related diseases
Ergonomic software to prevent computer related diseases
by kiolva - 6/11/08 11:48 PMHello,
Who knows good programs, it seems, they are called break reminders, to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome? I use computer every day for a long time and recently I've felt pain in my wrists. If you know something about software to prevent computer caused diseases, please advice me.
thanks in advance
Your title on Google.
by R. Proffitt
- 6/12/08 6:20 AM
In reply to: Ergonomic software to prevent computer related diseases by kiolva
http://www.google.com/search?q=Ergonomic+software+to+prevent+computer+related+diseases&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=mozilla&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:unofficial
Finds the usual titles.
I've found program
by kiolva - 6/17/08 9:45 PM In reply to: Your title on Google. by R. Proffitt
Hello! Thank you, I've followed your link and found the good program Workplace Angel. It has free trial 15 days and now I use it. Maybe I'll buy it, because it helps me. Thank you one more time.
Just a nitpick
by Jimmy Greystone - 6/12/08 7:26 AM In reply to: Ergonomic software to prevent computer related diseases by kiolvaJust a nitpick, but carpel tunnel, RSI, etc, are conditions not diseases. Diseases are generally something caused by bacteria or viruses.
And really this isn't a problem that is solved with software. You just need to think to yourself that when you start feeling those first twinges of pain, to stop for a couple of minutes. You also need to learn about proper posture for things like working at a computer. That will do considerably more than any software that basically pops up with an annoying reminder every couple of minutes.
Truth be told, those reminder programs were created because they're a cheap way for companies to escape liability for workplace related injuries. The next time some employee tries to claim workman's comp for carpel tunnel or RSI that they got while doing their job, the company just points to this reminder software and attempts to shift the blame onto the employee for not following the instructions of this program. Just stop and think about that for a second. If companies really cared about the welfare of their workers, these programs wouldn't exist. Instead they'd have classes on proper posture, they'd buy high back chairs for everyone, wrist pads for all the keyboards, etc, etc... They don't, because there's no comparing the costs between outfitting even a small office with all of that, and installing some stupid little program that just pops up with a message to take a break.
Proper posture, high back chairs, wrist pads, even wrist braces, will all do far far more to prevent and/or alleviate the symptoms of carpel tunnel and a lot of the other computer related conditions.
Your simply wrong
by Riskman - 6/21/08 9:07 AM In reply to: Just a nitpick by Jimmy GreystoneAs an insurance professional and Risk Manager for over 20 years I can tell you that companies cannot escape liablity for a work related injury by simply installing software. By installing software they can try to minimize injuries to employees. It should be used along with ergonomic training and not as a stand alone. the one thing to remember is workers comp is a no fault system-It is not like the civil system where you prove negligence and then shift blame.. Once the injury occurs the employer is on the hook for the injury unless the employee was using alcohol, horseplay or some other exclusion. Simply having software will not let the employer off the hook. Employers do have classes on ergonomic training. Employers may also go as far as having thier entire offices go through an ergonomic evaluation and then buy equipment that is recomended by the consultant. Training may cost some money but compared to a carpel tunnel claim the training cost and the cost of the evalution it is peanuts!
One company I worked for had an employee that asked for the software to be installed-it was not the company that wanted to install it but the employee. If you are having an issue at work be it carpel tunnel, back pain, whatever you should advise your RM or HR department and have the professionals look at it.
RE: prevent carpal tunnel syndrome?
by caktus - 6/18/08 10:20 PM In reply to: Ergonomic software to prevent computer related diseases by kiolvaDealing with Carpal tunnel syndrome my self, I have found that having the keyboard positioned low, just above the lap to be much easier on the wrists. Even using a higher chair accomplishes this.
I've also found it helpful to use the mouse at about lap level so the wrist is not often setting against the mouse pad or desk surface.
Also, wrist braces such as Jimmy mentioned are a [big] help. Personally, I find the braces hamper activities such as typing and driving. But when Carpal tunnel starts giving me trouble, I just ware the braces to bed for a week or so as my doctor suggested and the problem clears up.
Probably the real cause of computer related CTS is simply from resting the wrists on hard surfaces. A bad habit I find really hard to break. 
Charlie
I reduced my carpal tunnel symptoms to almost none
by 4Denise - 6/18/08 10:32 PM In reply to: RE: prevent carpal tunnel syndrome? by caktusby just positioning my wrists and hands so that they don't bend when I go to sleep. I have now trained myself this way.
Apparently, the positions most people take when they sleep make the problem much worse.
Denise
wrists and hands so that they don't bend
by caktus - 6/19/08 5:15 PM In reply to: I reduced my carpal tunnel symptoms to almost none by 4DeniseWish I could kick the habit.
It took some determination
by 4Denise - 6/20/08 5:24 PM In reply to: wrists and hands so that they don't bend by caktusbut I was in pain.
Denise
Ergonomic software
by jaybyrd3 - 6/22/08 1:41 AM In reply to: Ergonomic software to prevent computer related diseases by kiolvaThere is an ergonomic keyboard called a Dvorak keyboard. You can download it from your computer. The most commonly used letters are located in the middle section of your keyboard.
HI
by traceyc60 - 6/22/08 7:21 PM In reply to: Ergonomic software to prevent computer related diseases by kiolvaHi there,
just wanted to answer your question about your wrists,i have the same as you and the only thing to fix it is an operation i have seen a doctor and that is all that will repaire it,go to your docs they will send you to a hand specialist and then fix the problem good luck tracey.
RSI
by JoMilton - 6/23/08 2:55 AM In reply to: HI by traceyc60I used to work in a Call centre and there were times when I was in so much pain it took two hands to turn the key in my front door. Our employer refused to allow us a five minute break every hour as was recommended at that time. Said we could rest between calls! Which was fine except we were often busy with non stop calls.
For several years now I have trained myself to sleep with both arms straight out. Waking up with completely numb fingers is a good reminder not to bend those arms, but I believe I once read about sewing a tennis ball into the crook of the elbow of your pyjamas. Who wears them these days?
Currently I have tennis elbow from having to use a barcode reader that requires a trigger squeeze. How simple it would be for my employer to have bought readers without triggers.
You can get operations for both carpal tunnel and the elbow tendon problem I have, but unless you modify your keyboarding technique the problem will return. I use a gel filled wrist rest at work and a gel filled mouse pad wrist rest at home for playing games. I can mouse with both hands to give one a rest.
I find that it's generally accepted among data entry processors that a certain amount of pain and discomfort goes with the territory. We are all complaining of shoulder pain, wrist pain, neck pain, etc at the end of a hard day - and nothing gets done about it because we never complain to management.
Wrong..... ....
by Grif Thomas - 6/24/08 8:50 AM
In reply to: Ergonomic software by jaybyrd3
"If you use a Dvorak keyboard......you will not get carpal tunnel syndrome"
Making such a blanket statement is irresponsible and incorrect.. Although the Dvorak keyboard may reduce the likelihood or severity of carpal tunnel syndrome for some, it's well known the effects of the syndrome are related to a number of things other than the keyboard itself, including repetitive motion (which the Dvorak board doesn't prevent), the angle at which the keyboard is addressed, desk and chair height, sitting posture, structural differences/weaknesses in the hands, wrists, and arms of users, and lots of other things as well..
For many well-trained typists, it's extremely difficult to relearn a keyboard. Not impossible, but it can be a sacrifice that isn't worth the effort.. I learned to type in junior high school and have been typing on a standard keyboard for 40 years or more. Heck, although I don't and haven't ever had CTS, the increased typing to retraining myself to a new keyboard could surely aggravate the problem. Many find some relief with a standard ergonomic keyboard but that isn't a perfect solution for all either...
Hope this helps.
Grif
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
