| Edited by Diane McGrath, Kansas State University |
formerly Journal of Research on Computing in
Education
The Effect of Computer
Workstation Design on Student
Posture
Kathryn L. Laeser, Lorraine E.
Maxwell,
and Alan Hedge
Cornell University
Abstract
Although the use of computers in the classroom is increasing,
little attention has been paid by educators,
furniture manufacturers,
or researchers to the ergonomic design issues of
educational
furniture for computer use. Children in the sixth
and eighth
grades performed keyboarding and mousing tasks at
two different
computer workstations; one a traditional desktop
arrangement,
and the second a station that consisted of an
adjustable
keyboard. Overall student posture scores improved,
as measured
by the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment, at the
adjustable workstation.
Contributors
Kathryn L. Laeser has an MS in facility planning
and management
from Cornell University. Most recently she has
consulted
with corporate clients on workplace and real
estate issues,
and she continues to pursue her interest in
improving the
quality of educational environments. Lorraine E.
Maxwell
is an assistant professor of design and
environmental analysis
at Cornell University. Her research focuses on the
relationship
between the physical environment and children's
well-being
and development. She studies children in child
care, schools,
playgrounds, and residential settings. Alan Hedge
is a professor
in the Department of Design and Environmental
Analysis at
Cornell University. His research and teaching in
human factors
and ergonomics focus on workplace design issues
that affect
the health, comfort, and productivity of workers.
He conducts
research on carpal tunnel syndrome risk factors,
the effects
of poor work posture on performance, lighting,
indoor air
quality, and sick building syndrome. He has
authored more
than 100 publications. (Address: Lorraine E.
Maxwell, Design
and Environmental Analysis, Cornell University,
Ithaca,
NY 14853-4401; lem2@cornell.edu.)
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the full article (PDF, 175 KB, 27 seconds PDF Instructions)
Copyright © 1998, ISTE (International Society for Technology
in Education).
All rights reserved.
| ergonomics, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment, adjustable workstation |
|
