The Importance of Ergonomics in Your Everyday Life
Ergonomics literally means "work and its study" in Greek. To be more precise, it means "the study of work". Ergonomics studies how the body reacts and responds to the environment that it is placed in. The field of ergonomics has expanded beyond this simple concept. It now involves researches and studies which show how human beings are able to live with technology, machines and environments as part of the modern world.
In the work place, ergonomics studies the compatibility between the workers and the tools and environment used for the work. Its more specific areas, even focus on the development or tools and furniture that can alleviate work-related issues such as chronic fatigue and stress syndrome.
Most people think that ergonomics has nothing to do with them because it sounds technical. But the truth is, ergonomics affects their daily lives specifically when they spend longer hours working in the office. This field of science promotes the creation of ergonomic designed products which can improve the quality of our lives at work and even at home. The absence of ergonomic-designed items can increase the risks of injuries and stress to people.
Ergonomists are consulted for the production of the above-mentioned items. They study humans as they interact with different machines and environments. In connection to this, ergonomists observe:
- how humans move
- the repetitive motions humans perform and how these motions affect the human body
- what makes certain situations more stressful on the body.
Work environment stress can be relieved by making changes to certain work-related practices. It can be as simple as altering how you sit in a chair or adjusting the distance of your eyes from your computer monitor.
Below is a video I stumbled upon. It shows the practical and ergonomic benefits of using a trackball instead of mouse.
Note: All credits to the owner. I’m not promoting the trackball’s brand.
In the work place, ergonomics studies the compatibility between the workers and the tools and environment used for the work. Its more specific areas, even focus on the development or tools and furniture that can alleviate work-related issues such as chronic fatigue and stress syndrome.
Most people think that ergonomics has nothing to do with them because it sounds technical. But the truth is, ergonomics affects their daily lives specifically when they spend longer hours working in the office. This field of science promotes the creation of ergonomic designed products which can improve the quality of our lives at work and even at home. The absence of ergonomic-designed items can increase the risks of injuries and stress to people.
Ergonomists are consulted for the production of the above-mentioned items. They study humans as they interact with different machines and environments. In connection to this, ergonomists observe:
- how humans move
- the repetitive motions humans perform and how these motions affect the human body
- what makes certain situations more stressful on the body.
Work environment stress can be relieved by making changes to certain work-related practices. It can be as simple as altering how you sit in a chair or adjusting the distance of your eyes from your computer monitor.
Below is a video I stumbled upon. It shows the practical and ergonomic benefits of using a trackball instead of mouse.
Note: All credits to the owner. I’m not promoting the trackball’s brand.
