Choosing the right computer desk for use in your home office is a more important decision than a lot of people who work from home understand. This is especially true for those of us who run online businesses from home. Why? Because we are inclined to expend more hours at our desks than individuals who are working in offline projects. Any business personwho relies a great deal on computers must select a desk (and desk chair) cautiously.
Ergonomics is one component of the equation. What is ergonomics? The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language describes it as: "the applied science of equipment design, as for the workplace, intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort." The objective is to select office furniture that allows your body to be in the proper positions as you do your work. This reduces negative physical effects, such as being seated without the proper back and leg reinforcement, typing in an awkward position because your desk is not at the correct distance or height, and other circumstances.
Beyond simply being bothersome, an uncomfortable desk and desk chair combination might just be causing you to get less work done. who wants to work in such an environment? Even when you recognize that the work needs doing, a lot of people find suitable alibis to do other stuff when their bodies are being strained by poorly designed furniture. The end result of all of this is, naturally, low productivity.
The additional main aspect affecting your selection of a computer desk and your work efficiency is organization. Now, I'm not exactly the world's most organized person in my home office, but one thing I've discovered is that a bad desk choice makes it a lot tougher to keep organized.
There's more to this decision than you might think. Possibly the greatest concern is surface area. Smaller desktops are usually a 'no-no,' because they either tempt you to pile up important papers in an unorganized fashion, or to place them anywhere out of the way (and thus, easily forgotten). Unless you are severely limited in terms of office space, investing in a desk with a big desktop will compensate for itself several times over in the following years.
There's another good reason to go with a larger desk: your computer. Small-scale office desks just don't have sufficient space for the monitor, keyboard, mouse pad, etc. Add a printer, a fax machine, and a phone, and you'll discover that there isn't space for anything else. That just isn't convenient. Skip the small desks that look nice and match your other furniture. Go with a larger one, even if it isn't as visually attractive. Your home office, although it is within your home and you would like it to look good, is ultimately about you making money.
If you look hard enough, you can get hold of a computer desk that matches both standards: ergonomically designed and large enough to help you organize the important stuff. At the end of the day, you want your furniture to be an ally in your home office, not the adversary.
Computer furniture - what you have at your computer workstation -can if correctly selected and set up, help you avoid painful musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), and stay healthier and fitter at your PC.
It's not hard to do especially when you consider that a bad computer furniture arrangement will, even in the short term:
- create and maintain a distorted or unhealthy posture while using the computer
- give you inadequate lower back support, creating aches and pains later. - force you into staying in one position too long - another recipe for strain andmuscular tension.
- make you stretch bend and twist unecessarily.
So what features should your screen, desk, keyboard, mouse and chair have to keep you feeling good?
Your monitor should:
- swivel, tilt and elevate
- fit an extra adjustable stand to adjust the height if need be. Or replace it.
- be positioned so the top line of the monitor is not higher than your eyes or not lower than 20? below the horizon of your eyes or field of vision
- be at the same level and near the document holder (if you use one).
- be between 20 to 25 inches (50-56 cm) away from your face
Your keyboard should :
- be detachable and adjustable (with legs to adjust the angle).
- allow your forearms to be parallel to the floor without having to raise your elbows.
- allow your wrists to be in line with your forearms so your wrists don't have to be flexed up or down.
- include enough space to rest your wrists or should include a padded detachable wrist rest (or you can use a separate gel wrist rest which should be at least 2 inches (50 mm) deep.
- be placed directly in front of the monitor and at the same height as the mouse, track ball, touch pad, or any other pointing device.
The mouse or pointer device should :
- be close to the keyboard.
- allow you, (if possible), to use both left and right hands while handling the pointer/mouse.
Your computer chair should :
- support your back, and have a vertically adjustable independent back rest that returns to its original position, plus tilt adjustment to support your lower back.
- allow you to adjust its height while seated. - be adjusted so the back crease of the knee is slightly higher than the pan of the chair (use a suitable footrest, if required).
- be supported by a five prong caster base.
- have removable and adjustable armrests, if possible.
- have a contoured seat with breathable fabric and rounded edges to distribute the weight, and be adjustable to allow the seat pan to tilt forward or back
The table/desk should :
- provide ample leg room and be height adjustable (preferably).
- have enough room to support the computer equipment plus space for documents.
- be at least 36 inches (90 cm) deep.
- have rounded blunt and undamaged corners and edges
This covers the basics of good computer furniture setup, but you can improve your protection by taking further standard precautions:
- Ensure each user maintains their own set up.
- Taking regular breaks from working at your computer for a few minutes, at least once an hour.
- Alternating work tasks by mixing computer tasks with non computer tasks to avoid strain.
- Learning and carrying out keyboard shortcuts to reduce mouse usage.
- Carrying out regular gentle stretching to relax your body. - Using health support equipment such as footrests, wrist/palm rests, and document holders if required
- Adopting a NEUTRAL BODY POSTURE, with hands, wrists, and forearms inline, straight, and almost parallel to the floor, body facing forward, shoulders relaxed,elbows close to body and bent approximately at right angles.
If you organise and maintain a good PC furniture set up, you'll be well on track for fit and healthy computing through 2006 and beyond!
Both Azlan & Michael Madigan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Azlan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports, Fathers Day and K 15. Warren Murphy is a researcher and writer working for , where yo. Azlan's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
Michael Madigan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Personal Desktop, Stress Management and Information Technology. Mick Madigan lives in the UK, has a continual interest in healthy computing, and has recently published a unique detailed guide on avoiding the ways computing can harm you at: