Doctors Put Laptops Under Fire

Notebooks Bring a Number of Possible Injuries

by Yaroslav Lyssenko

[ 05/31/2005 | 10:59 PM ]

Long ago mobile computers became popular among road warriors who had to work outside of home or office, but today a number of people using notebooks is growing day by day, which is primarily a result of their cost decrease. Historically, there has always been a tradeoff between mobility and performance, however the compromise that we have recognize when using a contemporary notebook is influence of a laptop’s ergonomics on our health.

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“The main problem with laptops is that the screen and keyboard are so close together. Without the aid of peripherals, laptop users have two choices, neither of which would win them any points for posture. They can cramp their neck down to view the monitor or they can elevate the machine to eye level, which can wreak havoc on shoulders and arms,” writes CNET News.com.

“When you look at the design, laptops were never (meant) as a replacement for a desktop computer. The idea was portability for occasional use. It was never intended to be a machine you would work at for eight hours a day, 52 weeks a year,” said Alan Hedge, director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory at Cornell University.

• CNET News.com: Is Your Laptop a Pain in the Neck?