Mobile Computing Ergonomics By Nicolas Milani, Business Development Manager, Havis, Inc.

A properly mounted mobile computing system (at left) allows the computer to be positioned close to the driver, eliminating the need to twist in the seat to reach the keyboard (right). The system can be easily returned to the center position and locked to avoid movement while the squad car is in motion. Advances in wireless communications and work cubicle — environments that have been mobile computing have turned today’s squad shaped by decades of ergonomics research and car into a fully functional office on wheels. development — the mobile office has, until re- Unfortunately, officers manning the squad- cently, been largely neglected as far as ensur- car-turned-office often discover that the ben- ing the comfort of vehicle-bound workers. To efits of mobility come at the expense of com- the great relief of the hundreds of thousands fort and performance — and sometimes even of patrol officers across the United States who health and safety. spend much of their shifts behind the wheel, At the heart of the problem is a disregard the principles of ergonomics are finally begin- for ergonomics. Unlike the typical office or ning to be applied to the mobile workplace.

“Mobile Computing Ergonomics” is part two of a three-part series that presents vital information for the proper selection of mobile computer mounts in police vehicles. The final installment, addressing mobile computing mounting system reliability, will appear in an upcoming issue. Mobile Computing Ergonomic Issues Discomfort and Especially Challenging Affect Comfort and Injury Are Not the for Officers Performance Only Consequences Compared to the squad car’s assem- Ergonomic principles are currently Although the pain and discomfort asso- blage of communications, warning, and being employed to address several issues ciated with poor squad car ergonomics are mobile computing equipment, the typical related to working within the confines of a significant problems in and of themselves, civilian office desk is a truly bare environ- squad car. ergonomic deficiencies can result in an- ment. With so much more gear with which Eye Strain – Eye strain is caused by other, equally serious consequence — typ- an officer must interface — often with great poorly lit mobile computing solutions. In ing errors. At first blush, this may seem like speed — the importance of optimizing er- contrast to the well-lit offices most of us a trivial matter. But when you consider the gonomic placement of important equip- are accustomed to, the squad car work en- frequency with which court cases are dis- ment, vital controls, and creature comforts vironment provides multiple illumination missed because of simple clerical errors, the is obvious. challenges. During certain times of the importance of providing an optimized work The typical driver interacts with only day, for example, bright outdoor conditions environment becomes even more obvious. about seven controls (shifter, steering wheel, can make it difficult to see the computer’s Job satisfaction and productivity are three pedals, turn signals, horn). During ag- screen. Eye strain can also result from screen intimately related to how comfortable a gressive driving a police officer is required to vibration caused by an unstable mount. At- worker is when performing his or her duties. interact with three to four times the number tempting to focus on a computer screen that When deploying a mounting solution fleet- of devices, including all of the “traditional” vibrates while the vehicle is in motion can wide, simple things like access to cup holders input devices already mentioned, plus light sometimes trigger migraines. and availability of armrests can influence bar switches, multiple radios, computers, Night Blindness – Darkness can user acceptance of the equipment, and can radar, and video systems. All of this inter- make it difficult to see the keyboard at night. greatly affect the daily productivity of the action occurs under conditions that would Screen brightness, on the other hand, can officers. Too often, thousands of dollars are normally stretch an officer’s abilities, even adversely affect an officer’s natural ability to invested in a vehicle in the form of comput- without the unique in-cabin challenges. see in darkness and can greatly impact his ers, while mounting and usability issues are or her situational awareness. totally ignored. It doesn’t make sense to let a lack of cup holders or difficulty reaching Back Strain – By far, one of the most microphones undermine a high-dollar proj- common complaints related to poor mobile ect when these minor — but important — office ergonomics is user back fatigue. The issues can be addressed so easily. stretching, twisting, and turning associated User evaluations can help you identify with improper placement of the screen and and assess any ergonomic traps before you keyboard can lead to potentially debilitating upfit your entire fleet. Once you have suc- lower back pain. Problems of this nature are cessfully addressed officers’ concerns, it’s not limited solely to the officer driving the important to make EVERY vehicle as con- squad car. Passengers who are forced to twist sistent as possible so that officers can easily their legs to avoid bumping into improperly operate any fleet vehicle without concern positioned equipment can suffer, as well. for locating critical interfaces when called Wrist Strain – Another common er- to action. gonomic hazard associated with both sta- tionary and mobile computing is that of wrist strain. A glance at the pages devoted to supports, pillows, rests, cushions, and other wrist-related devices found in just about any office supply catalog provides convincing evidence of the importance placed on prop- er wrist alignment when using a keyboard. Most of the available wrist aids, however, are not designed to function in the mobile environment. This center-mounted docking station features a pos- itive-locking swing arm that rotates and extends to position the computer close to the driver or passenger. The most critical switches are placed highest in the cab, and all controls are easily accessible. A pad- The low profile of this mobile ded armrest between the driver and passenger seats computing mounting solution doesn’t incorporates a printer. interfere with passenger legroom. A Systems Approach out obstruction. Also ensure that all members tion it at an ideal angle. If a separate keyboard of the department (both short and tall) can see is used, it, too, should utilize a tilt mechanism. to Mobile Computing the channel indicator. Never allow an external keyboard to be loosely stowed in the cab, as it could become a projec- Ergonomics Screens – Screens must be positioned as close to the horizon as possible to improve situ- tile during an accident. Since the mid-1990s, when the issue of ational awareness, reduce neck strain, and im- Microphones – These devices should workplace-related musculoskeletal disorders prove daytime visibility. The brighter the better, be mounted within easy reach of the officer. (MSD) first gained widespread attention, em- but be sure to educate your officers on how to Once again, priority should be given to the ployers nationwide have invested billions of dol- dim the screen for nighttime use. Most laptops microphone that is most frequently used. Keep lars to ensure the health of their workers. For offer shortcut commands to decrease screen in mind that the reach path to the microphone office workers, this has meant investments in brightness and improve the officer’s night vision. should be unobstructed as this is a critical move- furniture and computer peripherals ment during times of duress and that are ergonomically designed to call-to-action. prevent workplace-related injuries. Lightbar Switches – Light- For the mobile worker, ergo- bar switches and controls for sirens, nomic solutions primarily take the alarms, and other critical compo- form of devices designed to properly nents should also be positioned to position computers, peripherals, and allow officers to activate them easily other equipment to avoid the types and comfortably during a pursuit. of problems described previously. Printer Mounts – Printer From a patrol officer’s perspective, mounts should hold the peripheral an ergonomic mobile computing so- securely and allow the officer to easily lution should contain the following access printouts. Just as with laptops, elements: the printer should be as close as possi- Tubes/Poles – Tubes should ble to the centerline of the vehicle to be adjustable, allowing the solution avoid airbags, or it should be mount- to be set to an ideal height. Ideally, ed in the passenger footwell area. A the solution must clear the center number of companies offer armrest console and provide enough clear- printer mounts which not only pro- ance for the officer to easily access vide a great mounting location, but the shift lever, radios, or light switch- also enhance officer comfort es that are located under the dock- Storage and Miscellaneous ing station. The tube should also – Traditional office workers don’t be as thick as possible to minimize worry about where to store their vibration, reducing the likelihood of pens or where to place their morning eye strain. coffee. Too often, creature comforts Swing Arms – These devices are forgotten in the mobile world. A allow an officer to position the com- good storage console will offer cup puter in several locations throughout holders and a place to store tissue, the cab. While driving, the laptop pencils, and paper. Don’t underesti- should be positioned as close to the mate the impacts these items have on centerline of the vehicle as possible worker comfort and job satisfaction. to avoid possible injury. During a Passenger Comfort – stop or while completing a report, Ergonomics in the mobile office do the laptop should be positioned as not apply only to the driver. Of- close to the driver as possible to im- ten, the solution used to create a prove comfort, and reduce the risk proper ergonomic environment for of injury or key-stroke mistakes. A the driver negatively impacts the passenger. If swing arm that could come in contact with an If multiple screens are present (Laptop, in-car the solution interferes with passenger legroom, occupant must lock into place securely to avoid video, infrared cameras, etc.) ensure that priority it could force the passenger into an awkward possible injury during aggressive maneuvers. positioning is given to the device most frequently or uncomfortable position — one that is po- Radios – Radios should be mounted in a used – typically the laptop. tentially dangerous in a crash. If the passen- way that allows easy access to critical switches. Keyboards – Critical for data entry, key- ger seat will be occupied, special consideration Always give priority to the radios that are ac- boards must tilt to provide wrist relief during must be given to how the mobile computing cessed most frequently and mount them in a data entry. While using a laptop mount, the system’s components, especially the mounting way that allows the officer to reach them with- entire laptop will tilt, allowing the user to posi- base and tube, will affect the passenger. The Importance of System Design and Installation Regardless of the mobile computing mounting solution you select to enhance squad car ergonomics, it is important to remember that under no circumstances should officer safe- ty be compromised. A poorly made ergonomic solution that poses a potential hazard is worse than no solution at all. Make certain that the solution is solidly constructed from quality ma- terials, and be sure to install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you can get your hands on samples of the different mounts under consideration, com- pare them side by side, feature by feature. Note the thickness of the material, the quality of the welds, and other fabrication details. The pres- ence of any sharp edges, rough surfaces, or other defect should send up a warning flag — if you see obvious signs of poor quality, there’s no telling what other problems may be lurking beneath the surface. Finally, solicit the input of your officers. An ergonomic mobile office that features amenities, such as a padded armrest and Have officers of various statures try out the conveniently positioned cup holders, increases officer comfort, safety, and productivity. proposed solution and assess it on the basis of functionality and comfort. To help ensure that all users rate the mounting solution according MSU Police Recognize Value of Ergonomics to the same criteria, use a standardized evalua- tion form. This will prove not only more conve- The Michigan State University (MSU) Po- switches mounted above the OEM radio, and nient for the officers, but it will help you quickly lice Department has experienced both the a padded armrest that incorporates a printer. identify any areas of potential concern. good and the bad of mobile computing er- “Before we installed the new Havis docking so- Some day — hopefully sooner, rather than gonomics. lutions, the keyboard would swing freely dur- later — patrol officers will be able to take com- Previously, the MSU Police fleet of old- ing maneuvers, causing a distraction. Now the puting ergonomics for granted, just like the rest generation Chevy Tahoes was upfitted with equipment is mounted in a way that is easily of us. But until that day arrives, the officers’ tablet PCs and external keyboards mounted reached, but lockable. It’s ergonomics without health, comfort, and safety rest in the hands of on swing arms. Radios were installed verti- sacrifice,” said Detective Robert Clugston, the the managers who supervise the upfitting of cally along a center console and the radar was MSU Police Department’s mobile computing their vehicles. The more you know about the mounted on the dashboard. Light controls point person. equipment options available to you, the better were positioned above the keyboard, and a In contrast to the old system, all switches are prepared you will be to fulfill the role of ergo- camera monitor sat along the floorboard. now easily accessible, with the most critical nomic guardian. The highly unergonomic system generated switches (radar, lightbar, primary radio) placed plenty of complaints. Criticisms ranged from highest in the cab. The keyboard is backlit to With a degree in mechanical engineering, and ex- difficulty reaching climate controls and cup avoid night blindness issues. Cup holders are perience in a number of mobile computing environments, holders, to keyboards that would swing around conveniently placed, and an integral storage Nicolas Milani travels the world, educating resellers and and hit the driver’s hands while turning. The bin keeps pens and paper organized and ac- customers on both the advantages and risks associated upfacing radios also presented a problem, cessible. System stability has also been greatly with mobile computing. Prior to joining Havis, Inc., as they forced the officer to direct attention improved, resulting in less vibration. Milani worked for Motorola. downward in order to see the display. “While our existing solutions required officers The new setup, installed in the department’s to access controls in many locations, the new fleet of 2008 Chevy Tahoes, features a hori- solution places switches, radios, and the lap- zontal radio mount console, a docking station top close to the driver’s line of sight, greatly mounted to a positive-locking swing arm that improving situational awareness,” Detective rotates and extends to meet the driver, light Clugston adds.