Toshiba Computer Parts

For years, the computer laptop part Toshiba has been the subject of much discussion among ergonomists. Consequently, there is an array of products to compensate for its ergonomic failings - screens to control glare, special keyboards and wrist pads, foot rests, even mice sized to fit the user's hand. The laptop has not received the same amount of attention.

However, as more employees are using laptops, related problems will become a pressing issue for employers. The intrinsic benefit of laptops - that they are portable - also generates specific ergonomic problems. Most people carry the laptop slung over their shoulder, which creates discomfort in the neck, shoulder, and back. But as more employees are using laptops related problems will become a pressing issue for employers.

That there is a health risk associated with the use of laptops is obvious. "Their key boards tend to be small and the monitors are attached," says an ergonomist at 3M, St. Paul, Minnesota. "So it works out that either your hands will be comfortable or your neck. But you can't have both." The intrinsic benefit of laptops is that they are portable-also generates specific ergonomic problems. Most people carry the laptop slung over their shoulder, which creates discomfort in the neck, shoulder, and back. "If you are like me you load everything into your computer bag, and it ends up weighing 120 pounds," he says. "It puts a lot of stress on the shoulder."

Those are the obvious problems surrounding the use of laptops. To date, more specific issues and answers have not been available, as not many studies have been done on the subject. One of the few-conducted by Dr. Jerome Congleton, professor and co-director of the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center in Ergonomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas-yielded perhaps unexpected results, suggesting the importance of further research. "What we found," says Congleton, "is laptop users end up with about a third of the problems from an ergonomics perspective in terms of symptoms and complaints than they would at a regular desktop computer in their office. We compared our results to previous studies done by NIOSH and others."

There is an easy explanation for these findings. "People are not on their laptop as often," says Congleton. "And, when it is used, it is for shorter periods of time. So even though a laptop may have what we would consider ergonomic shortcomings, if you don't use it all the time apparently you are not going to have the problems." This is a stipulation easily met by traditional users of laptops-employees whose work requires travel, with infrequent use of the computer for secondary responsibilities. They are not doing computer-intensive work such as data entry or writing.

The concern, however, is users have adapted to the machine without adapting the machine to the situation. "We are seeing a change in the way people are using laptops," says 3M's Albin. "Employees are using them in their office much more than they used to as their standard desktop machine." This will likely create more physiological problems for users