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Does elevating and tilting the input device support surface affect typing force and postural exposures of the wrist?
Krishna Asundi1, Peter W Johnson, Jack T Dennerlein
1Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Work (Reading, Mass.)
|June 16, 2011
Summary
Adjusting keyboard tilt and height may not significantly alter typing force or wrist movement. Wrist posture during computer use depends on various factors beyond just keyboard setup.
Area of Science:
- Ergonomics
- Biomechanics
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Workstation ergonomics aim to optimize user comfort and reduce injury risk.
- Current guidelines recommend specific keyboard configurations, but user preferences often differ.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare wrist kinematics and typing forces between a guideline-compliant workstation and a user-preferred setup.
- Investigate the impact of elevated and tilted keyboard support surfaces on typing biomechanics.
Main Methods:
- Twenty participants performed a standard typing task at two distinct workstation configurations.
- Wrist kinematics (extension/flexion, ulnar/radial deviation) were measured using electro-goniometers.
- Keyboard reaction forces were recorded using an under-keyboard force plate.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in typing force or overall wrist kinematics were observed between the two configurations.
- A borderline significant difference (1°) in 10th percentile ulnar deviation for the right hand was noted.
Conclusions:
- Elevating and tilting keyboard support surfaces may not substantially impact typing force or wrist kinematics.
- Wrist posture is a complex outcome influenced by multiple factors beyond keyboard tilt.
- The interaction between the workstation and the user's upper extremities forms a complex kinematic system.
