How Do You Laptop?
Bad news. It turns out that pretty much any way you sit/stand/lounge while using your laptop, you are risking some pretty serious repetitive stress injury (RSI).
Lifehacker has a great article, Common Laptop/Netbook Positions to Avoid discussing the work of a Dave Malouf, Professor of Interaction Design at Savannah College of Art & Design. Malouf's case study, Freescale Netbook Design at SCAD produced the handy chart pictured.
How do you laptop?
I'm guilty of six of the ten laptop positions, none of which is the one position without the bright red dots of RSI goodness, which means I have some serious joint pain to look forward to. Position 2 is starting to look more and more comfortable.
--Happy sitting/standing/lounging
1 comments:
If you're going to use the laptop a lot get an external mouse. The trackpads on most laptops are quirky (due in part to driver software) and centered. That being in the center may be part of the problem.
But make sure you get a pointing device that fits you and is comfortable to use even if it costs a hundred dollars ($100 US) or more. I've used cheap mice that were too small and have had painful cramps in my right hand. With my laptop I use a trackball called a "One Finger USB Mouse" (EverCool, $15 - $20 US). Looks a little strange but I can sit back and be comfortable while clicking my way around the web.
Same sort of thing applies if you are doing a lot of typing. Laptop keyboards tend to be aimed for the hump on the bell curve. If you are off to the sides then get something that fits.
Even if the keyboard is okay consider a split layout - laptop off to the left or middle back, external kbd. middle front or in your lap, external mouse on your right. Be ornery - configure your laptop with add-ons to suit yourself. Don't cave in to the vendor's assumptions.
I know this will make your laptop bag something of a pain. Mine weighs in around fifteen pounds with all the added gear (trackball, USB hub, headphones, extension cord, power supply, cat5 cable). When I leave the house with my laptop (e.g. a trip to the local library) I bark a couple of times as I slip the strap onto my shoulder and mush on my way.
P.S. Don't forget to take hand and eye breaks !!!
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