From the ArcaMax Publishing, Health & Fitness Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/healthtips/s-115024-768939
Ergonomics is, basically, the science of comfort. It is the study of
how your equipment affects you when you are at work, both in terms of
maximising your efficiency and reducing any health risks that might be
present.
Where you've probably heard the term, though, is used in relation to
computer equipment: mice, mouse mats, keyboards, monitors, and the
like. The traditional design of a lot of computer equipment is very
unergonomic, meaning that if it is used for extended periods of time
(as you do when you are using it at your job), you can get all sorts
of injuries, the most famous being RSI (repetitive strain injury).
Whatever you might think of your employer, the chances are that they
don't want you getting injured: they'd have to get along without you,
or go to the trouble of replacing you, not to mention the legal
liability they might have if you could prove that it was their
equipment that hurt you. For this reason, ergonomic computer equipment
is becoming more and more common in office environments. If your
keyboard is oddly-shaped, that's because it's ergonomic. If your mouse
mat has a little soft spot to rest your wrist on, that's because it's
ergonomic. There are plenty more examples.
It's these little, inexpensive extras that go some way towards
reducing the possibility that you will get injured at work. One thing
you might not have considered, though, is that they can also work well
in the home. If you use your computer a lot at home -- whether as a
hobby, or as a freelancer, or for home working -- you should get some
ergonomic equipment for yourself. If you injure yourself through
computer use, you'll have no-one to sue or blame but yourself, which
might mean that you won't be able to afford the costs of caring for
and treating the condition. RSI really isn't pleasant, so you should
make sure to take measures to protect yourself, wherever the computer
you're using might be.
John Gibb is the owner of ergonomics resources, For more
information on ergonomics please check out http://www.ergonomics-did-u-know.info.