Blog archive
May 2024
Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024
Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024
Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024
Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024
Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024
Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024
No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024
An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024
Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024
Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024
The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024
Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024
April 2024
Rumor of Humor #2410
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2411
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2412
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2413
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2414
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2415
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2416
04/28/2024
Stimulated by "Caste"
04/22/2024
Tulsa reparations, Religion and Politics
04/09/2024
March 2024
Trumps War with Black Women
03/31/2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
What Is Ergonomics?
By Marvin DainoffPosted: 09/27/2023
What does it mean when an office chair or a keyboard is called “ergonomic”? Ergonomics refers to the “fit” between people and the things that they use. Those “things” include all modern technology. Thus, ergonomics goes way beyond furniture. When you hear terms like “usability,” “user-friendly,” and “user experience,” the underlying principles are based on the study of ergonomics.
My goal is to explain these principles so that each of you can use them in your daily life.
What does “fit” actually mean? One way of looking at fit is in terms of the principle of least effort. If you are working at your computer, fit means trying to find your comfort zone so as to get your task done with the least effort. Finding your comfort zone, in turn, means trying to get into what is technically called “neutral posture.” Each of the joints of your body (wrist, elbow, knee, hip, shoulder, neck) has a range of motion. Neutral posture occurs when your body is at the middle of the range of motion of each joint.
Thus, the starting point for your comfort zone is sitting with feet flat, legs vertical, thighs horizontal, back upright, head upright (not tilted), arms horizontal, and wrists flat. To get to this posture, you need to have “things” in the environment (such as adjustable furniture) and know how to adjust them and why.
This is only the starting place. We also need to consider the task itself. Can you see the text on the computer screen clearly? What about documents you might be working on? Where are they located? Can you read them clearly? And so on. (The “so on” can also include the layout of the apps on your screen.)
There is a really important principle here. Each individual is different. An ergonomic “expert” cannot prescribe for you an “ergonomically correct” working posture. Each person has to solve this problem for themselves; letting their own body tell them what is comfortable. An ergonomist can only provide advice.
For example, I might help you find the adjustment controls on your chair. What happens when you move the chair a certain way? Does it get you closer to your comfort zone? I might also ask what kind of glasses or contact lenses you have. Where do you have to hold your head to read the screen clearly? Are your wrists bent while typing? Is there a way to adjust the height of the keyboard?
In the real world, this process will rarely be completely successful. There will almost always have to be compromise depending on what “things” you have available to support your posture. However, the outcome will usually be an improvement.
My goal is to empower you. I want to give you some simple analytic tools to allow you to solve your own ergonomics issues. I will be giving a Village presentation in November in which I will describe these tools in more detail. Meanwhile, I am a member of the Village IT Support Team, and you can contact me for specific requests by going to our Member Directory.