Harvard Study Says Tablet PCs are a Pain in the Neck
Harvard Study Says Tablet PCs are a Pain in the Neck
Posted 01/26/2012 at 8:18am
| by Paul Lilly
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Time flies when you're having fun, which would explain all the lost productivity to mobile apps like Angry Birds, Temple Run, and Kingdom Rush. These and other titles look and play great on tablet PCs, but if you're not careful, your intended 5-minute-turned-60-minute diversion can lead to aches and pains in head, neck and wrist, a new Harvard study warns.
In a study published online in the journal "Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation," researchers examined head and neck postures of tablet users performing common tasks and found that it wasn't always that great.
"The beauty of tablets and other mobile devices is their flexibility," said lead author Jack Dennerlein, director of the Occupational Biomechanics and Ergonomics Laboratory at HSPH. "You can use them almost anywhere and in different ways. You can hold them in your lap; you can hold them in your hand. The problem is that some of the postures people are in when using a tablet can be awkward and lead to discomfort with prolonged use."
Participants tended to position their heads and necks in more flexed positions when using a tablet compared to using a desktop or notebook. Having your head slumped forward with your neck flexed for long periods can lead to neck pain. To avoid this, Dennerlein recommends changing up your posture every 15 minutes and using a case that doubles as a stand.
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kixofmyg0t
January 28, 2012 at 11:49am
Or you can do what I do and not hold it in a uncomfortable position........
Doesn't take a genius to know if something hurts then you probably shouldn't be doing it.
Dartht33bagger
January 26, 2012 at 2:37pm
Or you could just not get a tablet in the first place because they really have no purpose.
JBaz
January 26, 2012 at 3:56pm
except for sexy girls who need to take a quick photo of their body in the mirror when they can't find their ipod, iphone or digicam fast enough... lol
dentaku
January 26, 2012 at 2:05pm
I've always found the standard slate form factor to be quite bad ergonomically. Convertible ultrabooks like the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga are much more practical because you can use them both ways.
JohnP
January 26, 2012 at 1:18pm
Yeah. I have already noticed this as I have Fibromyalgia and that makes me prone to increased discomfort in aches and pains. Holding the tablet up to eye level with one hand while finger pointing is tough, in my lap makes my neck sore, and constant wrist movement is a pain (heh). Using the kitchen table is nice but the best I have found is lying in bed and propping it on my knees (but then my eyes start to ache after an hour or so). This makes my tablet a short term enjoyment and a long term instrument of torture.
tekknyne
January 26, 2012 at 8:23am
I haven't bought a tablet yet because I don't want to spend all day using staring at my crotch :)
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