Science: Health: Ergonomics
Vibrating/Auditory Carpal Tunnel Alarm   (+6, -1)  [vote for, against]
Vibrating pad mounted to desk, chair that warns users of carpal tunnel/muscle injury risk

A pressure sensitive pad or cushion that warms with body heat. When the heat or pressure reach a certain point, the pad vibrates or sounds a gentle alarm that reminds the user to change position or take a break to avoid repetitive stress injury and carpal tunnel.
-- naveline, Jul 15 2000

You could add a little voice-synthesizer chip that says, "Get up from that desk and get a life!"
-- Ander, Jul 26 2000


As I understand it, one can avoid this affliction by adopting correct finger and wrist positioning (or so a piano teacher once had me believe). What we need is a keyboard with little metal antennae on the side that will whip you across the knuckles if you get out of posture.
-- centauri, Mar 16 2001


A forward-thinking operating-system vendor could come out with an OS which (by default as shipped) forces you to take a short break several times a day. The operating system would disable the mouse and keyboard, and blank the screen (perhaps with a pleasant blue color to remind you to go outdoors). It would enforce a period of rest and idleness before allowing you to resume your work.
-- wiml, Mar 16 2001


There are plenty of software programs that will do this after a certain amount of typing activity. Why would you need a separate device?
-- egnor, Mar 16 2001


The error codes are your cover for when your boss asks why you're not working.
-- beauxeault, Mar 16 2001



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