ERGONOMICS ON A STUDENT BUDGET

Katarina Petrovic

Ergonomics is not economics as one might think when having a quick glance at the word. The definition of ergonomics in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is "an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely."

Where might you see ergonomics in a daily setting? You can see Translink bus drivers considering ergonomics, especially when a new driver takes over. You can observe them change the driver’s seat height, the steering wheel height and angle, and occasionally bringing in their own seat and back cushions for extra support. You might also see ergonomics at a large grocery store. You may notice that the height of the check-out tables varies depending on the height of the grocery store employee.

You might be wondering how this all applies to a student. After working hours on your laptop do you experience fatigue or pain around your neck or shoulders, or sore wrists? This is when ergonomics can come into play for a student.

When laptops became popular, they were great for occasional use when you were not near your desktop. Now, many individuals are using laptops exclusively, and education about how to use them long-term never really gets talked about.

On a laptop, the monitor and the keyboard are attached, unlike with a desktop. When we work off a laptop our shoulders are usually hunched forward, and our neck is angled down to see the screen. Working in that position occasionally should not cause major issues, but if you work in that position 4-8 hours a day, five days a week, it could start causing some major issues down the road.

How do you make your laptop station more ergonomic? If your budget allows, you can start by looking at laptop risers. When you raise your laptop, you are supposed to use an external keyboard and mouse. The laptop riser is supposed to raise the screen height to allow you to look straight at the screen while keeping your shoulders back and your neck straight. Additionally, the screen should be about an arm's length away. As a result, it will allow you to work comfortably for up to eight hours at a time.

The second key component to set up an ergonomic workstation is the external keyboard. If you were to try to type on the raised laptop’s keyboard, you would lift your arms to reach it and end up causing tension in your shoulders. So, the external keyboard should be positioned close to you to allow the elbows to be by your side. If you had to choose between either the laptop riser or the keyboard and mouse combo, I would recommend purchasing an external keyboard and mouse and then using a few textbooks to prop the laptop screen up to eye level. Do not be afraid to adjust the setup as needed until you find the best fit.

There are many interesting ergonomic tools and products out there to help improve your daily tasks, far more than we could list. If you would like to dig a little deeper into the ergonomics of a desk setup, search the following terms: ergonomic chair, ergonomic keyboard and mouse, footrests, and lighting. Good luck!

Top, Editor Chantel Tanaka's dorm workstation. Without a lot of space, she fits in a variety of items.

Center, Senior Editor Lauren Edwards workstation. Note the enourmous jar of coffee to the right of the chair.

Bottom, Publications Manager Shaleeta Harrison's workstation. This station has several more ergonomic comforts, including a footrest, wrist support, and appropriate chair.