Healthy Computing Microsoft Hardware’s Guide to Ergonomics at Work Ergonomics 101: What is it? Healthy Computing Did you know? Microsoft Hardware’s Guide to Ergonomics at Work • Polish professor Wojciech Jastrzebowski coined the word “ergonomics” in 1857 in a philosophical narrative “based upon the truths drawn from the Science of Nature.” • The word is derived from the Greek “ergon” (work) and “nomos” (laws). Contents Ergonomics and You 1 Putting Ergonomics to Work 3 Ergonomics, Work, and Health, Stephen Pheasant, 1991, Macmillan Publishing Ergonomics at Microsoft 4 Microsoft user research results. Microsoft Hardware Timeline 1983 1985 1987 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Microsoft Mouse Mouse 5.0 Microsoft Ballpoint Mouse Mouse 2.0 Natural Keyboard, EasyBall IntelliMouse IntelliMouse IntelliMouse Internet Keyboard, Trackball Explorer, Office Keyboard, Wireless Optical Desktop for Bluetooth, Mouse Home Mouse Trackball Pro Natural Keyboard Pro, Trackball Optical Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer, Wireless Optical Desktop Pro, IntelliMouse Optical IntelliMouse Explorer Notebook Optical Mouse 2 3 Ribbed Wheel and Surround • Better control Left & Right Buttons • Finger grooves provide maximum comfort Making of a Mouse • Help locate the hand position Undercut Area For Pinch Grip Of Mice and Hands • Maximum surface area for actuation • Helps you lift and reposition the • No uncomfortable edges to feel mouse easily and comfortably Soft-Touch Material • Provides extra comfort Finger Support • Lifts the ring and little fingers to avoid dragging on the Forward Button/Back Button surface below • Placed just above the relaxed position of the thumb • Easy access without Give your mouse the comfort test: inadvertant actuation 1. Place your hand palm-down on a flat surface and let it rest naturally. 2. There should be a cavity under your palm as the hand and fingers form a Maximum Palm Support natural arch. 3. Now place it over a mouse. The mouse should feel natural, supporting the Thumb Scoop arch of the hand but not pressing hard against any one area of the palm. • Keep the thumb from being dragged on the High-End Titanium Finish surface below • Undercut to help you lift and reposition the mouse (Source: Gartner, Inc. “Buying a Better Mouse,” 2001) Did you know? • Douglas Engelbart, an electrical engineer at the Stanford Research Insitute, is credited with inventing the first mouse in 1963. • Engelbert patented the mouse in 1970 under the name “X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System.” • Over 150 million mice were sold worldwide in 2002.6 6 NPD data Evolution of a Mouse Microsoft Mouse “Green-Eyed Mouse” Pressure Sensitive Glove Mouse 2.0 Infrared Thermography Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer 1983 (Metaphase Design Group, Inc.) 1993 2001 4 5 The Keyboard Evolves Bimanual Control Split Keyboards Did you know? • The number of keys on a keyboard varies per country. There are Internet Buttons 104 on a standard flat keyboard in the U.S., 109 in Japan, 105 Go back and forward within Web sites in Italy and 107 in Brazil. on the Internet with a single touch. • The keys on the original typewriter, developed by Christopher Scroll Wheel Latham Sholes in 1873, were arranged alphabetically. However, Scroll easily without using the on-screen scroll bar. Used in combination with the people became so adept at typing the keys would jam when hit mouse scroll wheel, you can navigate using in quick succession. Sholes rearranged the letters so the most whichever hand is free. frequently used keys were as far apart from each other as possible Shortcuts in order to slow down the speed of typing. His keyboard became These easy-to-use buttons allow you to cut, copy known as the QWERTY keyboard, the standard key arrangement and paste. The buttons were customised to fit still used today. to finger pad size when resting on the keys. • The average typist on a conventional QWERTY keyboard will move 8 Honan, M., E. Serina, R. Tal, and D. Rempel, “Wrist Postures While Typing on a Standard and Split Keyboard.” Proceedings of the Human Application Switch their fingers between 19 and 32 kilometres per day. Factors and Ergonomics Society 39th Annual Meeting–1995. Human Factors & Ergonomics Society, Santa Monica, CA, Vol. 1, pp. 366–368 Toggle between program windows with a quick touch. This key replaces the 9 Tittiranonda, P., S. Burastero, M. Hudes, and D. Rempel. “Productivity and Long Term User Comfort: Effects of Four Computer Keyboards ALT+TAB method of switching between program windows. on Users With Musculoskeletal Disorders,” Marconi Research Conference 1997 Proceedings, Ergonomics Program, University of California and Center for Ergonomics, University of Michigan. April 13–16, 1997. paper #19 10 Microsoft focus groups and retailer feedback 11 NPD Group data Microsoft Natural Keyboard Timeline 13 Microsoft user research results 14 Microsoft internal research (2001) 1994 1998 1999 2002 Natural Keyboard Natural Keyboard Elite Natural Keyboard Pro Wireless Optical Desktop Pro/Natural Multimedia Keyboard . 6 7 Looking Ahead Frequently Asked Questions: 8 10 Tips to Getting Comfortable 1. Select a good chair. 2. Clean under your desk. 3. Be aware of your posture. 4. Know your easy-reach zone. 5. Use a headset. 6. Position your monitor 7. Take breaks. 8. Think when you lift 9. Integrate your tools. 10. Ask for help This document is provided for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this document. Information subject to change without notice. © 2003 Microsoft Corp. All rights reserved. Microsoft, IntelliMouse, Natural and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. http://www.microsoft.com/australia/mouseandkeyboard 9.