Head movements during two computer work tasks assessed by accelerometry

We investigated whether potential differences in head inclinations and accelerations for two highly similar computer work tasks could be detected using (1) a triaxial accelerometer and (2) a simulated uniaxial accelerometer. Ten subjects' head movements were registered with a triaxial accelerometer system for two similar document-management tasks at their work place: a fully electronic document-management task and one also involving paper documents. In situations where head movements were small, a triaxial accelerometer was able to discriminate between the different degrees of static work of the neck in terms of range of head inclinations and accelerations. A difference in head acceleration was also found by using a simulated uniaxial accelerometer. Thus, in terms of head movement and for work similar to this office work, potential dynamic differences in observationally similar work tasks can be investigated by using a triaxial accelerometer. For acceleration alone, a uniaxial accelerometer can also be used.