- Use an
external keyboard and mouse—it is the single best thing you can do to make
your
laptop friendlier.
-
Position your keyboard so that your elbows are at a 90o angle and your
wrists are not bent.
- Do not
pound the keys on either an external keyboard or a laptop
keyboard—especially with laptops, the touch is often lighter and the
keyboard bed is shallow.
- Adjust
the screen so that the top is even with your eye level (you may need to put
your laptop on a computer pedestal or a phone book). A specially designed
laptop holder which is portable and lightweight may also be used. There are
many different designs available commercially.
- Make
sure your screen is at least 18 inches away (ideally 24 to 30 inches between
your eyes and the screen).
- Clean
your screen frequently; dust on the screen can make it difficult to read and
increase eye strain. Be sure to use an appropriate anti-static cleaning
material that is safe for laptop computers.
- Use a
document holder so that you don’t have to constantly twist or bend your neck
(there are several lightweight, compact document holders that you can take
wherever you go). The most popular document holders for laptops are portable
clip-on or sidemounting styles.
- If you
can’t find a good surface to work on, try your lap—
-
Sit with your knees and hips level to make a flat surface for
your computer.
-
Angle the screen so that you can see it comfortably.
-
Use a chair that doesn’t have armrests so that you have more
room for your elbows.
-
Try using pillows to support your arms while typing.
-
Protect your lap from any possible burns from contact with the
laptop—place a buffer of material between you and the
computer.
.
-
Position your laptop 90o from windows or bright light sources to reduce
glare.
.
- Change
your position occasionally; sitting in one position or leaning on your arms
for an extended period of time can interfere with circulation.
-
Finally, a laptop is often heavy so you should avoid carrying
one with a handle.
Use a bag with a padded shoulder strap, remove unnecessary accessories to
lighten your load, and
switch the laptop
bag from shoulder to shoulder to relieve the weight. Better yet, newer
laptops are small enough to fit in backpacks, which allows you to carry your
laptop on your back
and two shoulders,
distributing the weight. And best of all—use
a laptop bag with
wheels or a wheeled luggage cart and roll
your computer with
you!
