The Monitor
Because you often find yourself staring
at the computer monitor trying to think of the appropriate
word to write or searching for a particular piece of
data, you actually use your computer more than your
keyboard. If you sit improperly while viewing your monitor,
you can develop pains in your lower back, neck, shoulders,
and eyes.
To reduce these pains and the risk of developing them:
- Place your monitor directly in front of you
so you can view it without twisting at the waist
or turning your neck.
- Type with your head centered over your shoulders.
- Place your monitor arm’s length away.
- Place your monitor in a location where there are no reflections on the screen from outside light
sources. A glare screen can help remove reflections.
- Adjust your monitor so that the top is just below eye level. You want to look down at a 15-20
degree angle at your screen.
- Adjust the contrast and brightness so that the characters and graphics are clear from arm’s length
away.
- If you have trouble viewing your monitor from arms length away, you may be able to make the viewing
area larger. Some monitors come with software, called video drivers, which let you change the size of
the viewing area. Check with the monitor manufacturer, your in-house computer department or the documentation
that came with your monitor for instructions.
See the
Mouse,
Keyboard, and
Lighting sections for related
information.