Bad Laptops versus Healthy Computing

Computer injuries by bad laptop use never feature in the



fantasies peddled to you by manufacturers, educationalists and



Internet marketing gurus. Run your internet empire, stay in



contact and research and collect streaming information from



anywhere in the world via the technological miracle of a light



reliable portable powerful PC pal.



Sadly there's the rude awakening of real laptop usage- cramped



in an airplane seat, freezing your buns off working at your



kitchen table in your underwear, getting sunstroke, sandburn



and insect bites squinting at the screen on a beach in Benidorm



or Big Sur .... plus the hidden disadvantages as well!



A bad laptop -that's any laptop - is an ergonometric nightmare.



Flimsiness, weights of accessories, poor screen distance, feeble



illumination and size, low processing power, slothlike tracker



response,small keyboard size and awkward positioning give this



travelling package the rugged effortless portability of a tinfoil



bullion box, coupled with the dependability of a chocolate



toothbrush in the Sahara.



OK, laptops may be a necessity for the unfortunate few,but



most of us can at least improve our chances of avoiding



computer related injury, eyestrain, tiredness and resembling



Quasimodo after a weeks potholing if we just use a laptop



more safely and sensibly.





Here are a few approved pointers for healthy laptop computing:





1/ Decide how much time you need at the little monster? Can it



be cut, can it wait and/or be done on a desktop model? Could



you carry DVDs or memory sticks with the data on and plug and



work them on a REAL freestanding computer? (Sorry).



No fooling, are you really planning on gaming, or reviewing



spreadsheets for hours on a hanky size screen, with keys so



small and close they make a TV remote seem like a Bechstein



grand?





2/ Avoid hunching. If you possibly can, put the laptop thing on a



suitable desk and sit in a proper chair, so you can work at the



right height (very top of screen at eye level, screen



perpendicular to you, and 18-20 inches away). This way, you are



not looking sharply downwards at the screen. Or wondering what



that odd stain on your jeans could be...





3/ Avoid laptop misuse by getting your keyboard at the right



height, so you can work in the correct position at your laptop.



In other words, aim for a NEUTRAL WORKING POSTURE.



- Make sure that your hands, wrists, and forearms are inline,



straight, and almost parallel to the floor.



- Your head and torso should be in-line, with head slightly bent



forward, facing towards the front, and balanced.



- your shoulders should be relaxed, with your upper arms lying



normally at the sides of your body.



- Your elbows should be close to your body and bent between



about 90 and 110 degrees.



- Your knees and hips should be at almost the same height,



with your feet slightly forward.



- Your smile should be warm, alluring yet mysterious - no, scrap



that one. Unless you're Nicole Kidman wanting a favour. Make



that Nicole Kidman full stop.





4/ Take lots of breaks. The general suggestion in the healthy



computing media is that you take regular breaks anyway.



Increase the number with a laptop. Be brave, get away from the



nasty little tyke. Remember... Save, close and mock. Chill out at



least every half hour or more. If you feel like, make that every 5



minutes. Say I said so, if anyone asks ;-)







5/ Regularly look away from that awful dim tiny screen,(which



you've already angled away from bright light sources to reduce



glare? HAVEN'T YOU?) as much as possible. Focus on a distant



sunset, the end of your nose, that cute blonde over there. Feel



free. No not with me, the blonde. Either sex, your call.







6/ Carry out lots of gentle stretches before during and after



use. Gets the blood flowing which aids thought and makes you



feel better. Helps break up continued repetitive movements



which can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. Also may



convince the cute blonde in 5/ you naturally work out a lot.

If you like, you can pick up a no cost exercise audio/text ebook



from me below which will give you a stack of extra effortless PC



exercises to keep you fitter, feeling better and safer from laptop



misuse.







7/ Occasionally close your eyes, cover them with your palms



without touching them, and just think of of nothing. Defocus.

Breathe deeply for 20 -30 seconds. Relax, and repeat as often



as need be.

Congratulations! You've mastered a relaxation technique called



'palming', much favoured by top entrepreneurs and hungover



college students.





You want more? Thought not. Well, what you have already got



should empower you to properly prepare pilot and program your



pesky portable PC...what, me biased against laptops? Where did



I dwell on the overheating, poor running time, ease of theft,



difficulty of upgrading, lousy reliability, or danger to your back



and arms in transport?



Nope, they are fine for occasional or unavoidable use (it says



here).



Healthy Computing 2006 and beyond, whatever you run!





PS Dont even start me on hand-size PCs ;-)