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Archive for the ‘Ergonomic Keyboards’ Category
Engage™ Keyboard with Anti-Fatigue Comfort Motion learns from how you type and automatically makes subtle adjustments to create the most comfortable computing experience ever
2011 Best of Innovations Honoree on display at CES – North Hall #4022
Englewood, NJ – January, 2011 – SmartFish Technologies is proud to announce the immediate availability of the Engage Keyboard, the first-ever automated keyboard designed to provide the user with the ultimate comfort typing experience. Unlike traditional keyboards that place your hands in a rigid position, the Engage Keyboard features a patented motion system that studies your typing frequency and makes subtle, comfortable adjustments periodically so your hands and wrists are never in a fixed position while you work. These changes in positioning promote the natural motion of your hands and wrists, providing the highest level of comfort possible. The intuitive and beautiful design of the keyboard allows users to immediately become an expert and enjoy the ultimate level of comfort in their computing experience.
Problems such as back pain are a major cause of sickness absence in office-based work. Richard Graveling highlights what to consider when setting up an ergonomically-sound workplaceMany people will have heard of ‘ergonomics’ (or human factors) and many will have their own idea of what it is all about. Some will have encountered ‘ergonomic chairs’, ‘ergonomic keyboards’, or other furniture and equipment with the label ‘ergonomics’. Sometimes the label is justified but, on other occasions, it seems little more than a useful marketing tool.
Ergonomics (or human factors) is concerned with the understanding of the interactions among human and other elements of a system, in order to optimise wellbeing (including the risk of injury) and overall system performance. In the office ‘system’ this can cover physical, environmental and psychological aspects of office work and its organisation, not just the desks and computers. This article will outline the physical elements of the office but it is important to recognise that this is only part of the story.
Why bother with ergonomics?
A survey of over 1,300 office computer users, from a total of 130 organisations from throughout the UK, carried out by the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), found that nearly three quarters of respondents reported one or more musculoskeletal symptom. According to HSE figures, in 2007/08 an estimated 539,000 people in Great Britain, who worked in the last year, suffered from a musculoskeletal disorder they believed to have been caused or made worse by their work. Between them they accounted for an estimated 8.8 million working days lost, averaging an estimated 16.4 days off per person affected.
It is clear that, in office-based work as with many other sectors, problems such as back and neck pain and upper limb disorders are a major cause of sickness absence from work, with many other people functioning at a reduced capability whilst remaining at work.
The Ergo Journal team will be visiting Total Workplace Management on 6th and 7th October 2010 to catch up with sponsors and conduct a series of new interviews which will shortly be published on Ergo Journal.
If you’re attending the show, let us know in the box below. We’d love to have a chat with you at the show!
If you are exhibiting, tell us your company name and which stand you will be at!
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a commonly used term that can refer to a number of clinical conditions.
One of the most widely known is carpal tunnel syndrome, which tends to affect people who work with their hands a lot, such as carpenters, musicians, office workers, etc. There are any number of theories regarding the causes of RSI, including stress factors and psychosomatic illness. What is clear is that the disorder results from repetitive movement within a limited range which results in muscular tension and nerve impingement. Overwork can also be a factor, as well as poor ergonomics in the workplace.
The Goldtouch Adjustable Keyboard is an ergonomic keyboard designed to alleviate the strain placed on the hands and upper limbs often associated caused by continued keyboard use. This ergonomic keyboard has an impressive range of movement which should ensure a comfortable typing position for users of all sizes.
The Fujitsu Siemens ergonomic split keyboard allows the user to alter both the angle and height of the keyboard when typing.
The ‘butterfly’ open format of keyboard can be split into two separate keyboards up to 30 degrees apart, allowing for a more natural alignment of the wrists with forearms while typing.
The Fujitsu Siemens split keyboard features independent, adjustable wrist supports and the ‘tent height’ – the height of the keyboard when split – is also adjustable.
The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 has been designed to allow the hands and wrists to operate in a more natural alignment.
The ‘gull wing’ design features a 14-degree gable, a natural arc and a curved key bed, bringing the keys closer to the fingers to reduce reach and unnecessary movement, while encouraging a more natural typing position.
The Goldtouch Ergonomic Split Keyboard has been designed to help sufferers of repetitive strain injury and carpal tunnel syndrome.
This adjustable ergonomic keyboard can be split both horizontally and vertically (allowing adjustment of 0°-30° in either direction) to achieve the most comfortable position possible for the user.
Posturite has introduced a new compact keyboard with an integrated number pad that slides out sideways from underneath the arched keyboard.
The fully functioning number pad, which remains attached to the keyboard, saves the need to have an extra number pad as with other compact keyboards.
A range of function keys along with quick push paddle keys makes this an ideal all round compact keyboard for the office or multimedia environments where space is a premium.