Laptop ergonomic woes: The price for mobility

I remember an ad from some years ago showing a guy using a laptop at the beach. At the time, this was designed to paint some futuristic fantasy of ubiquitous computing. I clearly remember how the ad alternately intrigued and horrified me. As a bit of a web geek, I loved the idea of mobility. On the other hand, the luddite in me balked. I'm not always keen on the blurring of the line between work and personal space. Nice to work at home now and again, yes. Not always quite so nice to have work follow you when you are enjoying a Margarita on the beach.

Today, mobile computers are the fastest growing segment of all computing devices. About one in every four computers purchased last year was a notebook. That's a whopping total of more than 45 million new laptops. More and more workers are mobile today. People are working from the road, working from home, and yes, they are probably working from the beach. Mobile computing affords both employer and employee freedom from the constraints of geography.

But as Newton told us, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The downside to this mobile nirvana is an upsurge in laptop-related ergonomic maladies. In a recent article, Is Your Laptop a Pain in the Neck?, Alorie Gilbert of CNET News discusses this phenomena.

Essentially, laptops were never designed to be permanent workstations. Good workstation ergonomics dictate that the optimal place for the computer screen is just under eye level, and that the best place for a keyboard is at wrist level. With a laptop, you can have one but not both. They violate just about every aspect of the CDC's ergonomics guidelines, and then some.

Strains, sprains, and …. infertility?
Regular laptop users can experience neck and back strain from poor posture. Cramped keyboards and mouse buttons can do a number on wrists and hands, leading to repetitive stress injuries. There have also been reports of burns from the heat of a machine. And if all that isn't bad enough, the temperature of a notebook on the lap can also cause fertility problems. (Now there's an interesting liability claim waiting to happen.)

If you are only using a laptop now and again for short periods of time, risk is likely to be minimal. But if you are using a laptop as your main computing device, and you are online for much of your workday, you may be in trouble. Woe to us bloggers.

There are many steps you can and should take to minimize your (or your employee's) risks by improving the ergonomics of your laptop workstation. Here are a few tips from experts:

• Take frequent breaks and do stretching and flexing exercises.
• Whenever possible, use a docking station and a separate keyboard.
• Avoid a right angle setup - tilt the laptop so the screen is leaning back.
• Use heat-resistant pads to shield your lap.
• If you are accustomed to carrying lots of material along in your computer case, consider a wheeled cart for transport.

Additional resources:
Ergo tips - workstation design
Blackberry thumb
5 tips for using a laptop computer
Laptop ergonomics