ERGONOMIC FACTORS INVOLVED IN
OPTIMUM COMPUTER WORKSTATION DESIGN
A PRAGMATIC APPROACH
Presented by:
Harry C. Sweere
Chairman, Chief Scientist
Ergotron, Inc., and
Constant Force Technology, LLC
1181 Trapp Road
St. Paul, MN 55121
(651) 681-7600
(651) 681-7710 (Fax)
hsweere@ergotron.com
www.ergotron.com
www.cftproducts.com
Revised 6/14/02
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ERGONOMIC FACTORS INVOLVED IN
OPTIMUM COMPUTER WORKSTATION DESIGN
A PRAGMATIC APPROACH
Ergonomics: Application of scientific knowledge to the work place in an effort to improve the
well being and efficiency of workers.
“The future…depends on how we develop human interfaces that create a
match between the internal rhythms of the operator and the computer.”
– Dr. Joel Orr, Computer Graphics Consultant –
Background
Over the past several years numerous scientific papers have been written on the ergonomic
factors involved in computer workstation design. This paper will not attempt to duplicate the
large base of scientific knowledge and the many ergonomic studies already well documented.
The goal of this paper is to offer a practical guide to interpreting published ergonomic guidelines
and the anthropometric data that can be used to create a user friendly, ergonomically correct
computer work environment.
Many factors are involved in the design of a computer workstation such as:
• VDT adjustability
• Keyboard placement/adjustability
• Worksurface adjustability
• Chair design/adjustability
• Foot rests
• Wrist rests
• Glare screens
• Lighting, task lighting
• Ease of adjustability
• Accessibility to components
• Human Computer Interfaces (HCI’s)
• Space savings
All of the above issues concern themselves with the reduction or elimination of a class of
physical disorders associated with poor ergonomic design known as Musculoskeletal Stress
Disorders (MSD’s), which result in:
• Eye, neck and back strain
• Fatigue, headache
• Wrist, hand, elbow and shoulder diseases
¾ Carpal Tunnel