Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Ergonomic Products To Compliment Your Keyboard Tray

In addition to under desk keyboard trays there are many other ergonomic products out there that will only help further your progress to a completely healthy and productive workstation. Let us take a look at what some of these items are and what benefits each can bring to your body.

First, you bought (or are looking to buy) a new keyboard tray system for the purpose of positioning your standard or ergonomic keyboard in the optimal place for reduced stress on the arms and shoulders. If you use adjustable keyboards you have greater control over the tilt and angle of the keys, therefore having the ability to create the best setup possible.

The next input device to seriously consider upgrading is whatever you like to use for mousing. Investing in an ergonomic mouse makes perfect sense when computer ergonomics are considered. They are designed to put your hand in a safer position while lessening most of the pain and strain one feels in the hands, wrists and forearms from ordinary mice. There many different styles available to choose from including high-tech trackball mouse devices and wireless bluetooth mouse models for those who dislike cords. The most popular product has to be the Vertical mouse by Evoluent which moves your hand and wrist into the neutral handshake position.

The type of seating you choose can also have a great impact on the comfort of your work station. The easiest way to find the best ergonomic chair is to research reviews and ratings of different models online before buying. If most of your time seated is spent in front of a computer your best bet is to look for a high quality task chair manufactured by one of the really well-known brands like Herman Miller or Humanscale. If those are too expensive there are cheaper varieties available, but stick to brands like VIA Seating if you go this route.

Even when you're at home relaxing there are things you can buy to help take care of your body. Most people never even think of it but if your living room chairs were even the slightest bit ergonomic you could be saving yourself from unnecessary back discomfort. The last thing you want to do is hurt yourself while you're just lounging around your house.

Another popular upgrade to create more space on your desk top is a computer monitor arm. Most people these days have LCD monitors which are fairly light compared to CRT screens, which makes them easy to move around and fix in the desired position with an articulating mount.

If your job consists of being on the phone a lot in addition to computer use you can definitely benefit from using a usb headset. These allow you to free up your hands when on a call to either type, mouse or write on paper with greater ease. Although not widely known, there are even ergonomic earbud headphones on the market that have specially sloped and contoured ear buds that enhance comfort during long periods of use.

Fairly new to the world of ergonomics are anti-glare computer glasses, which feature special lens coatings and tints engineered to reduce eye strain and increase visual performance when looking at a computer screen for an extended period of time. Most of us spend a lot of time in front of a monitor so these may prove themselves to be a worthy investment for sure.

Lastly, and slightly unrelated, is another type of item that is now being designed with the user's comfort and safety in mind. Those who work in a retail or a warehouse environment may have the duty of keeping track of inventory, which almost always involves the use of a handheld barcode scanner. Newer and more sophisticated models now feature ergonomically designed handles, which make it easier on the operator to work for longer periods of time without discomfort.

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