What Big Mouth Pliosaur would have given for a wireless – deskless computer mouse. December 1, 2009
Posted by Dr Revlis in Computer Mouse, Health, RSI, Wireless Mouse.add a comment
A prehistoric sea monster that could swallow a man whole and snap a car in half, has been unearthed by a fossil hunter in southern England. The skull from the ferocious prehistoric predator the Pliosaur is 2.4 metres long and could belong to a creature measuring up to 16 metres in length from tip to tail and weighing up to 12 tonnes. Why did he not wait around?
This Pliosaurs was form of plesiosaur, which were a group of giant aquatic reptiles that terrorised the ocean 150m years ago, around the same time the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. They had short necks and huge, crocodile-like heads that contained immensely powerful jaws and a set of huge, razor-sharp teeth. Well, I think that we all knew that much!
Using four paddle-like limbs to propel its bulky body through the water, the Pliosaur made easy work of passing prey such as dolphin-like ichthyosaurs and even other plesiosaurs and Richard Forrest, a plesiosaur expert, said “something like a T-Rex would have been breakfast for a beast like this”. Again, common knowledge within my cross stitching group.
David Martill, a palaeontologist from the University of Portsmouth said “They had massive muscles on their necks, and you would have imagined that they would bite into the animal and get a good grip, and then with these massive neck muscles they probably would have thrashed the animals around and torn chunks off. It would have been a bit of a blood bath”. Very nice, not too disimilar from TV news most nights, the blood bath bit I mean.
What this article did for me however, was it reminded me of a book that I was once reading to son number 3, about dinosaurs. The amazing thing to me about these guys was that kept getting more aggressive, developing more means of killing another, and therefore, more means of defending themselves. The sheer weight and amount of body armour that these dudes sported, must have put a huge demand on their physiques, and on their requirement for food to ‘feed the beast’. Whether we are digging up their bones from their demise some 150 million years, for reasons unrelated to their bulk or appetites, is a matter of debate, but what is clear to me is that there appeared to be some inborn preoccupation of these fellas to evolve in a way that might ultimately have destroyed them.
Forget the follies associated with the ‘arms race’, and forget issues relating to ‘global warming’ and ‘population growth’ and lets focus on something that we all have a choice about. That is our own wellbeing, or that of people that we are responsible for. Are we perpetuating the apparent follies of the long extinct dinos, by failing to wake up to the damage that we are doing to ourselves in homes, schools, colleges, universties, and the workplace, with our generally dumb approach to the way we interface with the computer?
It took me quite a few years to work out why my neck, shoulders, arms and right hand hurt. Rather silly really, it was right in front of me the whole time. Yeap, pretty much the whole of my working time anyhow, in the form of not so much the computer, but my interface devices, of the keyboard and the mouse that made that computer work for.
Now, with the benefit of our knowledge that the dino’s, as big, strong and diverse as they were, somehow got it wrong, and the benefit of some 150 million years of ‘development’ to what then became us, surely we can use our brains and let the intelligence that gave us the computor, give us better ways to interface with the beloved ‘box’.
The injuries and damage that I have observed are muscular, relating to posture. The requirement to sit and lean forward to apply downward pressure to a keyboard and mouse is rediculas. We must demand ‘point & click’ – ‘click & go’ applications to drive our programs, we must demand deskless solutions for the keyboard and the mouse. I meter range wireless keyboards are not the answer, 10 meter range is starting to walk the talk.
As far as the mouse goes, if you still have a desk – flat surface required mouse, will maybe you should call up Big Mouth’s ghost, and ask what he would do in the circumstances? I know his reply; he shared it with me, WeraMouse mate!!! True!
Is the Computer Mouse a Medical Disaster? November 30, 2009
Posted by Dr Revlis in Computer Mouse, Health, RSI, Wireless Mouse.add a comment
I have had my battles with the conventional downward pressure mouse. In fact, the little beast caused me as much pain in my arms, shoulders and neck, as prolonged running did to my ankles. The difference of course, was that I knew the ankles were taking a hammering.
I thought it might be worthwhile to see what is understood about the effects that constant use of a conventional downward pressure mouse can have on us, and found the following, very interesting references.
Dr. Pascarelli’s Complete guide to repetitive Strain Injury: What You Need to know about RSI and carpal Tunnel Syndrome, of 2004 states:
• “The Mouse is a significant source of injury for computer users. These point and click devices generally conform to the shape of your hand, are usually right-hand-oriented, and cause you to flex your index or middle finger to activate the screen arrow. The thumb and opposing fourth and fifth fingers usually grip the mouse. If the grip is too intense, you risk getting thumb and finger tendonitis. When placed too high and too far to the side, the mouse can cause shoulder and bicep tendonitis as well as muscle fatigue”.
• “Although mouse placement is critical to prevent arm and shoulder problems, it is the gripping of the mouse that leads to the disabling thumb tendonitis. Having the mouse higher than the keyboard (flexion) or too far to the side (ulnar or radial deviation) or using it with the wrist bent up (extension) are all awkward positions that need to be corrected with biomechanical retraining”.
• “There are clear reasons why dorsiflexion is harmful. First, with the wrist extended, one set of forearms muscles (the flexors) is stretched, while another (the extensors) is shortened. The shortened muscles have to pull against the stronger set of flexor muscles to keep the wrist in an extended position (static loading), causing fatigue from overuse. Static loading occurs when the muscle appears to be still, although it actually is working with the added disadvantage of decreased blood supply. The extended wrist position also involves the flexor muscle group of the forearm in a detrimental way. The flexors are working to press the computer keys in a stretched state. This is an example of eccentric muscle contraction. It is like pulling on an already stretched rubber band, which is the most harmful way a muscle can be used. It is very important to keep the wrist in a straight line (neutral position) so the tendons and other soft-tissue structures glide in a more or less straight direction”.
The University of British Columbia, School of Library, Archival and Information Studies, Library Workers and Ergonomics: A necessary Alliance, states:
• “Anyone who works extensively with computers should consider their machines as potential occupational hazards. The majority of us rely heavily on our computers, both at work and at home. Professionally and personally, computers have become indispensable, allowing us to communicate by e-mail and instant messaging, produce word documents and create multimedia presentations, to name just a few. Yet the repetitive actions of typing and using a mouse can take its toll on the human body, which was not designed to sit at workstations for many hours a day, as most of us now do on a regular basis. Problems related to poor ergonomics can manifest as persistent pain and, in some cases, disability”.
• Old typewriters made it impossible to hit the keys with your wrists and forearms on the desk, which forced you to keep a neutral and correct position while typing.
Now, there are some very sobering comments included in the above, a few being:
• The Mouse is a significant source of injury for computer users
• If the grip is too intense, you risk getting thumb and finger tendonitis
• the mouse can cause shoulder and bicep tendonitis as well as muscle fatigue
• the gripping of the mouse that leads to the disabling thumb tendonitis
• It is like pulling on an already stretched rubber band, which is the most harmful way a muscle can be used
• Anyone who works extensively with computers should consider their machines as potential occupational hazards.
As far as I know, no one is contradicting these observations, and let’s face it, few seem to be taking much notice. What concerns me is the sort of life that we are committing our children to, with issues discussed above certainly not being addressed in the schools that I go to.
I know of firms that have tried to introduce ergonomic wireless and deskless, (WeraMouse) to several schools, but in all cases the IT people said no.
Very scary really, went IT geeks are in control of health and safety. Anyhow, more on this another day.
An Ode to a Matriarch November 18, 2009
Posted by Dr Revlis in Computer Mouse, Health, Life.add a comment
I recently wrote of my mother’s relationship with the computer, her family and therefore her world. We buried her recently, and I would like to share the eulogy my wife wrote.
“My position in Wins’ family is that of daughter in law; married to her “Beautiful Bryan,” as she called him; and mother of her two youngest grandchildren, Angel and Jesse.
The other night I asked 6 year old Jesse if there was anything he wanted people to know about his Gran. He responded that he wants people to know that she was a nice person. I went on to ask him what it was about her that he thought made her nice, and he replied, “Because she lived her life being good, and she always had ice-creams in her freezer.” Gran would have thought that was very funny.
While Win did live her life being good, one of the many things that impressed me about her was her rather naughty sense of humour, and her love of a jolly good laugh. She was always a dignified gentlewoman, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
Another thing I appreciated in Win was her love of colour, and beautiful objects. She reminded me of a lovely bird in full plumage, and she took such pleasure in collecting and adorning herself with pretty things that any fancy bird would covet.
On Sunday morning I told Angel and Jesse that Gran was getting ready to go and be with God and Granddad. They were solemn for a moment, and then became excited upon realizing that Gran would also see Monkey, their recently deceased dog.
Bruce told us that on Sunday afternoon Win had been chatting with Silver (her late husband). When she started speaking to him she said “Oh my darling, it’s so lovely to see you.” Theirs was indeed a true and real love story. They may not have always been on the same page, but they held fast to their plot, and the love and adoration that their story began with was greatly magnified come life’s’ end.
When school ended on Tuesday afternoon, Angel asked me if Gran was still alive. When I replied that she was, Angel said “wow”. I think most of us as family and friends were amazed, yet not really surprised by her enduring life force in her final days. Win always lived her life with such a strong spirit. Angel, Jesse and I concluded that on Sunday Granddad must have asked Gran for a bit more time to get the house tidied up, and get a big party organised for her.
Win thought her children to be as glorious as the sun and moon, and she respected and adored the women her sons chose to marry, and the families we made for her to embrace. Win was indeed the grand elder of our family, yet she never imposed her opinions or views about how we function as individuals or nuclear families. She trusted us to make mindful choices and lead good lives, and she accepted whatever made us happy.
Win was an astute and insightful woman. She understood every one of us. If she saw our imperfections, she never said. She made me believe that every member of her family is just perfect for her, and she loved each of us unwaveringly.
Win often spoke of the candid relationship she enjoyed with Silvers’ mother, who always offered an unbiased ear if Win needed to talk about the challenges that marriage and family can create. I believe that Win deliberately chose to be that kind of mother in law herself, as we would often swap stories, and end up giggling about life being married to a Revlis man.
Win was my mother in law by title, but really, despite more than 50 years of age difference, she and I were just two girls who would chat about men, marriage and babies. We would find a reason to laugh together; we shared a love of colour, pretty things, clothes, shoes, and anything that sparkles. We loved to talk about, create, and eat fabulous food, and we love many of the same people. Win was a fun friend, mother, Gran and Great Gran, whose youthful spirit was always visible, and always ready to play. It has been a privilege to be part of her extraordinary life, and a humbling experience to behold the joy and immense caring shared between Win, her friends, and family.
Wins’ ashes will be scattered in Bryan’s rose garden at our home, as per her request, where she will be surrounded by beauty, our many beloved four legged friends, and her cherished family. The memory of Wins laughter is very vivid in my mind, and I shall imagine her hearty chuckle intermingling with the laughter of our family in our garden”
Very hard to be unhappy about a life that ends with these words, and so lovely to be able to share it with you wonderful people, thanks to our computers, the internet, and the common joys of being people. Oh, yes, the WeraMouse makes computers so much easier to use!
Treadmilling playing a winning hand? November 16, 2009
Posted by Dr Revlis in 1, Computer Mouse, Health, Wireless Mouse.Tags: Computer Mouse, Wireless Mouse
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Just the other day, we got a call from Nancy. The last time we saw Nance was about 10 years ago when we waved her goodbye as she was squeezing herself into her Towncar, heading for a new life in Florida. Her husband of 30 years had recently died, no doubt of something relating to Nancy’s wonderful cooking, and especially her cakes, so Nance said, it is time for a change. Now I hesitate to say that the dear lady was fat, but suffice to say, the Towncar did not look all that comfortable with her in it, and I don’t think it all related to the chattels that she had with her.
Anyhow, the surprising thing about Nance’s call was that she told me that life was great, and to tell my wife that she was down to a 16! I didn’t know whether this was good or bad, as I have seen some very large 16 year olds, but anyhow, assumed that Nancy was very happy about that. Trying to get a handle on this I asked Nance how she did it. “The treadmill Rev” she said, “and I love it”, and then she asked to speak with my wife, who was out at the time. Surprise, surprise, but I said that she would get her to ring back.
This got me thinking, how could anyone ‘love’ a treadmill? So I undertook a little research, which confirmed my views. I found that the word treadmill traditionally refers to a type of mill which was operated by a person or animal treading steps of a wheel to grind grain. They were also historically used as a method of reforming offenders in prison, and of course we are all aware of what are called hamster wheels, designed I am told to exercise hamsters and other rodents. A more pointless and inhumane treatment of a captured animal I cannot image. So what was ringing Nancy’s bells?
The return phone call happened, and the answer came out. Nance was playing online poker while she was treadmilling!!! Apparently her and a few of the girls played every day (I am not sure where the men were?). They leotarded up, had internet links to the wide screens in front of their treadmills, started trotting, and played online, not for money poker. Huge fun said Nancy, before you knew it was time for lunch, and on a good day, back for an afternoon session.
After hearing all of this, I just had to talk with Nance again. How did this work? Don’t you have to flick cards etc???? Simple said Nance, we use wireless, deskless, computer mouse that lets you run the internet from up to 10 meters away (stupid – I am sure that I heard her say!). ‘Oh’, I replied, of course, ‘what sort do you use’ I asked, WeraMouse was the reply.
So I researched this beast, and sure enough, you can interface with a computer from 30 feet away, it runs for 15 hours at least per charge, and will charge off a USB port, while one has lunch, if necessary.
So back to dear old Nancy, she is in true feminine fashion, multitasking in a very positive way, with very positive results, treadmilling, enjoying her poker, and getting her weight down to that of a 16 year old. All with the help of technology and the WeraMouse. Go Nancy!
RSI in Employment – Is this a form of Russian Roulette? November 4, 2009
Posted by Dr Revlis in Health, RSI, Wireless Mouse.Tags: Computer Mouse, RSI, Wireless Keyboard, Wireless Mouse
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I was astonished the other day when the following was referred to me as part of an Application for Employment:
“Is there any health aspect that might prevent you from performing the full range of tasks involved in this position to a fully competent standard, including the effects from any previous or current injuries or health conditions, e.g. hearing loss, chemical sensitivity, repetitive strain injury?
No
Yes (If ‘yes’, please give brief details).”
This job was for a senior management position in a business faculty at a University, so I can probably understand how hearing loss may be a disadvantage, (but surely we have moved far enough to know that hearing loss can be compensated for), and I guess I can buy into ‘chemical sensitivity’ if this is code for a bad drug habit!
However, I really struggle with the repetitive strain injury (RSI) disclose requirement. What is it with RSI that this employer thinks sufficiently about to ask for a specific disclose?
Let’s look at RSI and the stages that it can progress through. According to a publication from the University of British Columbia, School of Library, Archival and Information Studies, What is RSI, RSI as a range of conditions brought on by repetitive actions, and as such, can affect many different parts of the body. However, it primarily affects the soft tissue muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and blood vessels of the upper body: the neck, shoulders, back and upper limbs. Pain in the wrists and fingers due to carpal tunnel syndrome or neck and back pain from poor posture at a workstation can all be termed as RSIs. While carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common RSI, it is only one of many.
UBC refer to three stages to the development of RSI:
1. Aches and fatigue during work hours only with no change in work performance. Damage at this stage is reversible.
2. Symptoms begin early in work shift and do not resolve overnight. Ability to perform at work is diminished.
3. Symptoms persist while at rest; worker has difficulty performing light tasks.
UBC posit that ergonomics is of most use to individuals in stage one, as early intervention can put an end to symptoms, whereas stages two and three may require both medical intervention as well as ergonomics.
Herein might be the problem as far as a potential employer who had the RSI disclosure requirement. What will happen if they employ someone who is in stage 1 as described by UBC?
As reported by the National Academies Press, Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace: Low Back and Upper Extremities (2001)”, there is substantial reason to think that a significant proportion of musculoskeletal disorders that might be attributable to work are never reported as such. A 1998 study found that about 1 in 10 working-age adults suffer from a condition that would meet qualification for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, arm, wrist, or hand, and that in over 20 percent of these a physician had made such a diagnosis by report.
The real worrying part is that it was found that, only 10 percent of these workers that took part in the above study, had accepted workers’ compensation claims, which would suggest a very high rate of underreporting.
It is over 10 years since this study, those studied would have had 10 more years with these issues, and 1,000s more would have joined those that under take tasks bring on RSI.
In my opinion, this under reporting is the REAL issue, and why the Application for Employment referred to above asked for the RSI disclosure. The problem is however, that a natural tension exists here. An employer wants to know whether they are likely to ‘import’ a problem, and the employee knows full well that if they honestly disclosure any discomfort, that will most likely not get the job.
What is the way forward then? A responsible, open acknowledgement that computer use (and many other factors in many other industries) is not human friendly. Being clued to a desk, with a requirement to sit for long hours, leaning forward to hit keys on a board, and apply downward pressure to a desk bound mouse, is patently unhealthy. It is well past time that ‘click & go’ or ‘point & click’ programs became the norm, and that wireless, deskfree peripherals became standard. We know that the WeraMouse is leading the way with desk free – wireless mousing. We are waiting for them to push the boundaries on applications now.
Now, how did the Application for Employment get completed? With a Yes or a No? You be the judge. Hint, the applicant wasn’t Russian!
Computers and the Disabled October 29, 2009
Posted by Dr Revlis in Computer Mouse, Health, Wireless Mouse.Tags: Computer Mouse, Wireless Keyboard, Wireless Mouse
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The inborn prejudices that some of us have towards disabled people may well be a primal, ‘survival of the fittest’ instinct. Fortunately, as intelligent beings, we have the mental abilities to overcome such thoughts, and in many classes, be prompted by the plight of disadvantaged people, provide ‘additional’ care and compassion to them. History is full of wonderful stories of wonderful people devoting their lives to those less fortunate in many ways, than themselves.
I have been privileged enough to have grown up with a sister who, at age 25 was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at a time that she was a national golf champion, a trained radiographer, and accountant.
Now it took 24 years for this disease to kill my sister, and for those years, she lived a happy life, variously living with friends, then with my family, then to a specialist MS unit, and finally to 24 hour care and her death. The first 20 of these years were normal life stuff, some good, some wonderful, some, well not so good. However, the last few, very a real burden to my sister
MS is a disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder and definitely affects muscular functions. What it does not do is cause mental deterioration, so therefore, as was my sister’s case, a healthy and active mind exists inside a failing body. Frustrating??? You better believe it!
I saw my sister, unable to do most things, just sit or lie and watch brainless television, unable to hold a book, or do a great deal to simulate her brain. Her death was 15 years ago.
With today’s computer technology, we could have added a very valuable aspect and dimension to my sister’s life. We could have placed a wide screen on the ceiling, hooked that up to the TV and a computer, placed a wireless keyboard close by, and provided her a desk free, wireless mouse. At her very worst, she could have rested the desk free, wireless mouse on her chest, and with the help of the onscreen key board function that Windows provides (programs > accessories > accessibility > onscreen keyboard), ‘computered’ away to her heart’s content!
Image, she could have emailed friends and family, shared photos and experiences from within the family and without, had world news and events literally at her finger tip, and then there is that boring old stuff, like watching a movie of her choice, when she liked! Phew, I just wish that we could have done this for the girl.
I have had the privilege in my working life, to run discussion regarding computers and their uses to ‘senior citizens’. A nicer group of people to associate with would be hard to find. They generally at this stage of their lives have left their baggage behind, and have a rather philosophical approach to life.
As Paul Newman famously said, ‘this growing old ain’t for sissies’. These senior citizens did attest to Newman’s comments, with ample evidence of bent and deformed arthritic hands, failing slight, paralysis caused by strokes to name a few of their impairments. However, they were there, at the computer, compensating for their frailties, with determination and vigor. I have not meet many who feel sorry for themselves, yes frustrated, but that is about it.
What really helps the disabled and elderly is an understanding of their needs and an understanding of the areas where they require assistance. The computer of today and associated entertainment facilities can be placed almost anywhere, at a cost that can be easily borne by a compassionate society. What we need to do is to take way the barriers, such as those of having to use a keyboard and desk requiring mouse, as the main input devises. We must develop and promote more ‘point & click’ applications, and then provide the tools that requires the simplest way to ‘point & click’, at affordable prices.
We know that there is some very high tech stuff around; Stephen Hawkins demonstrates this, as does some of the eye movement and touch screen technology. Bad seriously, we do not have to go there. The onscreen keyboard facility, the digital image keyboard, and a wireless – deskless mouse such as The WeraMouse, can provide all this at a relatively small cost.
For my sister, a scratch golfer in her days, all of this would have been as great as any good day at the course. She reckoned she never had a bad one!!! Maybe that was why she was so good at the game?
The Computer and Dementia October 23, 2009
Posted by Dr Revlis in Computer Mouse, Health, Wireless Keyboard, Wireless Mouse.Tags: Wireless Keyboard, Wireless Mouse
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I read with interest the other day that according to research carried out at the University of California, that such a simple thing as searching the internet may help slow down and even reverse the onset of dementia.
The research suggests that older folk can boost their brain activity by performing simple online searches, and that this action alone could well be a defence against mental decline. ‘Googling’ is apparently particularly beneficial because this process involves a number of simultaneous mental processes, including memory of the original search term, and the comprehension and analysis of the results.
Teena Moody, a researcher at UCLA, states that ‘searching online may be a simple form of brain exercise that might be employed to enhance cognition in older adults’. As part of the study, 24 people between the ages of 55 and 78 were asked to do a series of online searches while having the flow of blood around their brains monitored. The same test a fortnight later, after doing online searches at their homes, showed that improvements detected in the initial scans had spread to other areas of the brain responsible for memory and decision making.
This comes as no surprise to me, who although far from an expert in anything to do with this subject, I have observed over time, the later years of many people’s lives, and noted that those that keep using their brains, in a multitude of different ways, seem to enjoy a far better balance and happiness in their lives, than those that do not.
This retirement from work business is something that I think we have to seriously look at. Sure, age 60 – 65 might have been appropriate in days gone by, with lower life expectancy, and a prevalence of hard manual work, but in today’s world, the only real justification for obligatory retirement in the early to mid 60s, can be to make way for a younger person in the work force.
There are of course many ‘mental’ activities for people of all ages in be involved in; club activities, cards, reading, crosswords, you name it; but very few offer the platform that the an internet connected computer does. The cost of a computer is now mainly affordable. The costs of internet access also keep coming down, and when one compares to costs that are associated with providing for those who suffer from dementia and the like, the computer related costs are insignificant.
Example. An internet capable computer, with 20inch screen, wireless keyboard, and a desk free wireless mouse; $600? Internet connection on top of that; $10 per month?
Now compare that to one day/night in full care!
I am not suggesting that the UCLA findings is the total answer by a long way, but everything that we can do to enhance the lives of older people, needs considering.
Image, after 40/50 years in a work force, surrounded by the banter of the workplace; the camaraderie; the ‘getting out of the house’, and the feeling of belonging, – adjusting to life without this? How much depression results from this?
So my advice? Get these folk comfortably in front of a computer, teach them the skills, give them the tools, and expand their lives and enhance their well being.
Remember, the tools are available for even those seriously physically disabled. Check out ‘onscreen keyboard’ functions; wireless keyboards, and desk free and wireless mouse; Correctly set up, there is no need to go anywhere near a desk!
Who shrunk the kids? Was it the Computer Mouse? October 21, 2009
Posted by Dr Revlis in Computer Mouse, Health, RSI.Tags: computert mouse, our children, parents, RSI
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As parents we have two fundamental, basic instincts when it comes to our children:
- We will do absolutely everything in our power to protect them from harm, and
- We will try and prepare them for the big wide world by teaching them life skills, and helping in their general education.
We feel that in trying to help our children in their education process by introducing them so early in life to the computer, we might actually be harming them in the longer term.
Examples.
Parents, grandparents, uncles/aunties, sit down with pre-school kids and work through books on animal noises. We help them with questions like what animal makes a meow sound; can you point to the cat, and where is a bell.
We have put the pre-schooler in front of a computer and had the early learning software do much the same thing – and there is some really good software around for this.
We know that these young children cannot recognise letters, spell, or type, so they are left with only the one input device — the mouse, which regretfully, is a major health and safety issue for our children.
The computer mouse can be a cause of RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury). An internet search will show you many thousands of pages on this subject. The insidious thing about RSI is that it develops over time, and is not something you catch, but rather a condition that develops through doing the same action over and over again, that is as the name suggests — repetitive.
Using a traditional, ‘downward pressure mouse’ to move the cursor around the screen and then ‘point & click’, over and over again is repetitive to say the least. There are health and bio-mechanic industry figures that indicate over the course of an 8 hour day using a computer in an average office based job, the combined pressure of mouse clicking could be as much as 3 tons – moving from the fingers through the wrist, forearm and up to the shoulder.
Where does this put our children who are starting to point and click from as young as 2 and what could happen to them over 20 years? Their way of learning is different from older generations, and they are more than likely going to use (or have even started using!) computers all through their school years and beyond. A recipe for disaster by the time that they are 25 or 30?
My friend tells the story of watching his 3 year old son, then playing on an early learning software program. He was kneeling upright on the chair, leaning forward on the desk so that he could manipulate the mouse. It looked uncomfortable and ungainly.
Without giving any instruction, he was given a WeraMouse prototype and said to have a go with it — and the change was absolutely amazing! Apparently he immediately sat back in the chair, rested his arm in his lap, and continued to play.
Now that more and more information on RSI and computer mouse use is available – we as parents should be doing everything we can to protect ourselves and our children. Having just seen this new product - I believe that the WeraMouse, makes a very good start in this.
