The Effect of Computer Workstation Design on Student Posture

Laeser, Kathryn L.; Maxwell, Lorraine E.; Hedge, Alan

doi:10.1080/08886504.1998.10782249

Cited by 51 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Researchers has been trying to quantify muscle activities, to examine the physical impact of the use computers on the MSK system of children, to identify or propose risk factors for development of MSDs, or to compare paper-based tasks with computerbased ones in order to quantify the variation in muscle activity regarding the computer use of children. (Oates et al 1998;Leaser et al 1998;Ciccarelli et al 2006;Breen et al 2007;Maslen and Straker 2009;Straker et al 2008a, b;Straker et al 2009a;Brink et al 2009;Harris 2010;Zovkic et al 2011;Dockrell et al 2010). However, there are very few studies about new mobile technologies such as laptops and tablet PCs and risks associated with their use by children for educational purposes.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are no risk assessment tools yet designed specifically for children; however, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment method has been utilized frequently in the literature (Leaser et al 1998;Oates et al 1998;Breen et al 2007;Dockrell et al 2010). RULA is known to be a subjective observation method of posture analysis, which does not require previous skills in observation techniques.…”

Section: Risk Assessment Tools For Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Posture, Musculoskeletal Activities, and Possible Musculoskeletal Discomfort Among Children Using Laptops or Tablet Computers for Educational Purposes: A Literature Review

Binboğa

Korhan

2014

J Sci Educ Technol

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Educational ergonomics focuses on the interaction between educational performance and educational design. By improving the design or pointing out the possible problems, educational ergonomics can be utilized to have positive impacts on the student performance and thus on education process. Laptops and tablet computers are becoming widely used by school children and beginning to be used effectively for educational purposes. As the latest generation of laptops and tablet computers are mobile and lightweight compared to conventional personal computers, they support student-centred interaction-based learning. However, these technologies have been introduced into schools with minimal adaptations to furniture or attention to ergonomics. There are increasing reports of an association between increased musculoskeletal (MSK) problems in children and use of such technologies. Although children are among the users of laptops and tablet computers both in their everyday lives and at schools, the literature investigating MSK activities and possible MSK discomfort regarding children using portable technologies is limited. This study reviews the literature to identify published studies that investigated posture, MSK activities, and possible MSK discomfort among children using mobile technologies (laptops or tablet computers) for educational purposes. An electronic search of the literature published in English between January 1994 and January 2014 was performed in several databases. The literature search terms were identified and combined to search the databases. The search results that the resources investigating MSK outcomes of laptop or tablet use of children are very scarce. This review points out the research gaps in this field, and identifying areas for future studies.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Risk Assessment Tools For Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posture, Musculoskeletal Activities, and Possible Musculoskeletal Discomfort Among Children Using Laptops or Tablet Computers for Educational Purposes: A Literature Review

Binboğa

Korhan

2014

J Sci Educ Technol

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“…However, neck, upper back and lower back pain have all been associated with school furniture features (Murphy et al 2007). About 10 years ago, Laeser et al (1998) lamented the lack of comprehensive standards from which educational administrators and product designers could base decisions regarding computer environments for children; unfortunately, this situation appears to have changed little in the subsequent decade. Compounding the problem, schools tend to place more emphasis on the quality of computer equipment rather than the workstation environment (Zandvliet and Straker 2001), presumably as a result of budget considerations.…”

Section: Child Computer Use Environments Are Differentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Principles for the wise use of computers by children

2009

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Computer use by children at home and school is now common in many countries. Child computer exposure varies with the type of computer technology available and the child's age, gender and social group. This paper reviews the current exposure data and the evidence for positive and negative effects of computer use by children. Potential positive effects of computer use by children include enhanced cognitive development and school achievement, reduced barriers to social interaction, enhanced fine motor skills and visual processing and effective rehabilitation. Potential negative effects include threats to child safety, inappropriate content, exposure to violence, bullying, Internet 'addiction', displacement of moderate/vigorous physical activity, exposure to junk food advertising, sleep displacement, vision problems and musculoskeletal problems. The case for child specific evidence-based guidelines for wise use of computers is presented based on children using computers differently to adults, being physically, cognitively and socially different to adults, being in a state of change and development and the potential to impact on later adult risk. Progress towards child-specific guidelines is reported. Finally, a set of guideline principles is presented as the basis for more detailed guidelines on the physical, cognitive and social impact of computer use by children. The principles cover computer literacy, technology safety, child safety and privacy and appropriate social, cognitive and physical development. The majority of children in affluent communities now have substantial exposure to computers. This is likely to have significant effects on child physical, cognitive and social development. Ergonomics can provide and promote guidelines for wise use of computers by children and by doing so promote the positive effects and reduce the negative effects of computer-child, and subsequent computer-adult, interaction.

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“…Keyboard height should allow the user to maintain elbow in 90° flexion 20 . Sauter et al in their study on workstation design and musculoskeletal discomfort found that arm discomfort was associated with keyboard height above the elbow level 21 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%