Cornell University Ergonomics Web
Alan Hedge and James R. Powers
Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, NYS College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, MVR Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-4401, U.S.A.
ABSTRACT
Video-motion analysis was used to analyze hand/wrist posture for subjects typing at a 101 key QWERTY keyboard on a 68cm worksurface. Three conditions were tested: subjects typed at the keyboard without arm support, subjects typed with adjustable full motion forearm supports, and subjects typed with an adjustable negative slope keyboard support system. The average declination of the negative slope keyboard support chosen by subjects was 12 degrees below horizontal, which flattened the angle of the key tops. Ulnar deviation was comparable in all conditions and averaged 13 degrees for the right hand and 15 degrees for the left hand. Full motion forearm supports did not significantly affect any postural measures. Dorsal wrist extension averaged 13 degrees when typing with or without the full motion forearm supports, but this was reduced to an average -1 degree; with the use of the negative slope keyboard support system. Subjects chose to sit at 79cm from the computer screen distance when using the negative slope keyboard system compared with 69cm without this.