Date: Sun, 18 Sep 1994 23:30:42 -0400 From: "Thomas L. Ensminger Esq" Subject: Speed Kills To: Multiple recipients of list C+HEALTH Some companies are getting the message. Fountain Hills has an ergonomic keyboard that, for $20 additional, will provide break notices and exercise cues. And I heard last night on the Jones Computer Network that Compaq is including a booklet with warnings and recommended exercises with every new computer sold. The liability thing is the main obstacle to progress right now and at the same time the main reason we are starting to see more good things. There was an article in the paper here in Dayton last Sunday about the new Microsoft keyboard (purported ergonomic) and the next day my office had three inquiries about it. My own view is that eventually either hardware or software will have to control the speed and make the person take breaks. It's not that hard to lock out entry and it's not that hard to write good software to do it. It's the mentality of management in many cases that prevents even thinking about it. When I tell people to buy a six dollar timer at Radio Shack and set it for 15 minutes their first fear is that their boss will ravage them for too many breaks. If you went in to some large company, any large company, and told upper management that you were going to reduce keystroke entries by 10% and enforce a five minute break every half hour and a 20 minute break every 2 hours you would be shot. And yet that is exactly what is needed to save people from major problems (along with other things). When people brag to me about speed I show them the 9 inch scar on my left arm from radial tunnel surgery. Then I show them the Z-shaped scar on my elbow that's six inches long. Then I show them what my carpal tunnel surgery will do. Finally I describe the cubital tunnel surgery that I will probably have to have. Usually, they get the point. Thirty years ago there was a slogan "Speed Kills". The game is different but the message is the same here.... --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tom Ensminger ensming@wpdis01.wpafb.af.mil Air Force Material Command "Prol work is dangerous" Wright-Patterson AFB, OH Last Day @ work = 30 Dec 2001 ---------------------------------------------------------------------