Comments on: MIT laptop threatens kids’ arms and backs? If so, a fix could be easy http://www.teleread.com/uncategorized/mit-laptop-threat-to-kids-arms-and-backs/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:55:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Murray Altheim http://www.teleread.com/uncategorized/mit-laptop-threat-to-kids-arms-and-backs/comment-page-1/#comment-4685 Murray Altheim Sat, 01 Oct 2005 23:18:58 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3646#comment-4685 She uses Dragon Naturally Speaking 8, but the Professional version, which I believe works better and works with more software packages. You can see an overview at http://www.dragontalk.com/. One thing to note though, and that one really needs a computer with some horsepower, as this is one area (unlike email and word processing) where those GHz really make a difference. A slow computer won't be able to keep up and will produce more errors, even crashes. She had a heck of a time with Word and Dragon open at the same time on her older computer, but bought a 3GHz model recently which made a huge difference. But her last was a 600MHz laptop, so I suppose there is plenty of middle ground. She uses Dragon Naturally Speaking 8, but the Professional version, which I believe works better and works with more software packages. You can see an overview at http://www.dragontalk.com/. One thing to note though, and that one really needs a computer with some horsepower, as this is one area (unlike email and word processing) where those GHz really make a difference. A slow computer won’t be able to keep up and will produce more errors, even crashes. She had a heck of a time with Word and Dragon open at the same time on her older computer, but bought a 3GHz model recently which made a huge difference. But her last was a 600MHz laptop, so I suppose there is plenty of middle ground.

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.com/uncategorized/mit-laptop-threat-to-kids-arms-and-backs/comment-page-1/#comment-4589 David Rothman Sat, 01 Oct 2005 04:45:17 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3646#comment-4589 Needless to say, I'll be delighted to publish a photo to help emphasize the importance of good ergonomics, so please send 'em on. Thanks, Murray! Meanwhile I've found a legit, $65 copy of the latest Naturally Speaking (without the manual or box or microphone). Is that what your partner uses? If not, what? Thanks. David Needless to say, I’ll be delighted to publish a photo to help emphasize the importance of good ergonomics, so please send ‘em on. Thanks, Murray! Meanwhile I’ve found a legit, $65 copy of the latest Naturally Speaking (without the manual or box or microphone). Is that what your partner uses? If not, what? Thanks. David

]]> By: Murray Altheim http://www.teleread.com/uncategorized/mit-laptop-threat-to-kids-arms-and-backs/comment-page-1/#comment-4575 Murray Altheim Sat, 01 Oct 2005 02:07:36 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3646#comment-4575 David, I learned back in the late 80s about what was considered the correct placement of keyboard, monitor and mouse, and I've tried hard to maintain my own workspace according to those principles: 1. if you were to look at the horizon, then look *slightly* down, that's where the center of your monitor should be; 2. You should be sitting with your back straight in a comfortable position, your forearms roughly horizontal, with your keyboard at the height your hands would naturally fall at that position -- you shouldn't have to reach up, down, left or right; 3. you should avoid mousing if possible (keyboard shortcuts), but if you do, you should hold your mouse lightly, and not rest the weight of your hand on it, on the desk, or on any kind of pad. Same with your keyboard -- you should only be resting your hands when they are at rest, i.e., not typing or mousing. Your hands should be able to swivel from the elbow. Some people mouse from a wrist or forearm that is resting on the table, which is very bad news. My partner blew out her wrists from too much typing, and now uses voice software, a split keyboard for when she absolutely can't get something to work using voice, and a cordless mouse. I didn't want to follow her lead, so I've purchased a lab jack, which is a piece of laboratory equipment used to prop up equipment during experiments, basically two plates separated by an adjustable scissor. Lab jacks can be pretty inexpensive and are usually made of either plastic or aluminum. You would need one that had a base large enough to hold your laptop, and one that was rated to handle the weight (this is usually not an issue, even with the plastic ones). I got a fancy FisherBrand aluminum lab jack, which was about £100, probably cheaper in the US. There are usually educational discounts on these things too. I splurged and also got the new Logitech diNovo cordless keyboard and mouse, as the last two keyboards I had were terrible. So now I can jack my laptop up and down depending on my seating position, and can even drop it down to desk level, close my laptop, and slide it back under my desk's shelf to get it out of the way. With the keyboard and mouse being cordless, there's no wire issues. Works great. (David, if you email me I'll send you two photos.) David, I learned back in the late 80s about what was considered the correct placement of keyboard, monitor and mouse, and I’ve tried hard to maintain my own workspace according to those principles: 1. if you were to look at the horizon, then look *slightly* down, that’s where the center of your monitor should be; 2. You should be sitting with your back straight in a comfortable position, your forearms roughly horizontal, with your keyboard at the height your hands would naturally fall at that position — you shouldn’t have to reach up, down, left or right; 3. you should avoid mousing if possible (keyboard shortcuts), but if you do, you should hold your mouse lightly, and not rest the weight of your hand on it, on the desk, or on any kind of pad. Same with your keyboard — you should only be resting your hands when they are at rest, i.e., not typing or mousing. Your hands should be able to swivel from the elbow. Some people mouse from a wrist or forearm that is resting on the table, which is very bad news.

My partner blew out her wrists from too much typing, and now uses voice software, a split keyboard for when she absolutely can’t get something to work using voice, and a cordless mouse.

I didn’t want to follow her lead, so I’ve purchased a lab jack, which is a piece of laboratory equipment used to prop up equipment during experiments, basically two plates separated by an adjustable scissor. Lab jacks can be pretty inexpensive and are usually made of either plastic or aluminum. You would need one that had a base large enough to hold your laptop, and one that was rated to handle the weight (this is usually not an issue, even with the plastic ones).

I got a fancy FisherBrand aluminum lab jack, which was about £100, probably cheaper in the US. There are usually educational discounts on these things too. I splurged and also got the new Logitech diNovo cordless keyboard and mouse, as the last two keyboards I had were terrible. So now I can jack my laptop up and down depending on my seating position, and can even drop it down to desk level, close my laptop, and slide it back under my desk’s shelf to get it out of the way. With the keyboard and mouse being cordless, there’s no wire issues. Works great. (David, if you email me I’ll send you two photos.)

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