🚀 go-pugleaf

     Hi All,

     This is my first time on this listserve so I'd like to start by
     throwing in my two cents about this trackball issue.

     I've been an ergonomist for 7 years now, coming from the Industrial
     Engineering side.  At the company where I used to work, our CAD
     operators and our Document Control office complained of discomfort
     from using their mouses.  These people spend 8+ hours working on PCs
     on a daily basis.  I specified the Kensington Expert Mouse 5.0 for
     them to try, and got good feedback.  I was able to take the trackball,
     place it on the keyboard platform with a palm support, and allow them
     to use a neutral wrist position while keeping the shoulder back and
     elbow next to the body. The Kensington has a "cue-ball" sized ball
     which is easy to control, covers the entire screen, and is
     programmable for double-clicking, opening windows, etc.  No grasping
     or stressful motion is required to operate it.  I have recommended the
     trackball since then, and have found very few people that don't like
     it.
     Before you categorically rule out trackballs for PC use, be aware that
     there are a number of different types available.  I think the larger
     cue-ball sized ones have some definite advantages!

     Don't hesitate to write me if you'd like to discuss this further.

     Steve Jones
     Ergonomist/IE
     Lenox China
     stephan_jones@b-f.com


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: REAL Ergonomics- Mouse Vs Trackball Vs Touchpad
Author:  James Golden <james-XL@contourdes.com> at Internet
Date:    1/30/98 11:21 AM


AMEN!!!!  Kirsten, This is the smartest remark I have ever seen on this
list.  Every ergonomist, who claims to offer sound ergonomic advice should
read it. the only thing I could ad is to also mention adding "drag lock"
programability to reduce static strain(hang time) on flexor tendon. James
Golden

Hi all,

This is the first time I add something to this list. Luckily I am not
suffering from RSI/ CTD/ WMSD or whatever you would like to call it. As
an ergonomist and closely related to the dutch RSI 'patient association'
I am doing consultancy and research in RSI.

Last year I did some research to detect the differences using
trackballs, touchpads, mice, etc. The results were very interesting.
Globally, for healthy people, the best alternative for a mouse is ... a
mouse! Trackballs work as twice as slow as a mouse (even a B-mark mouse,
made in Timbouctou). They are very inaccurate indeed and becuase of the
muscle tension gets higher because one gets frustrated that the thing
does not work appropriately. Watch out for trackballs like marble or
vista. You have got plenty of beautiful muscles (in shoulders etc.) that
you do not use when only rolling a ball with your thumb/ index. That
little thumb-/ index muscle is not build to work that hard! So be
careful using it. Anyway, it can be a good alternative for RSI
sufferers, but make sure you got the correct advice!
Touchpads are even worse in functioning. At first I thought it to be
pretty ok because you can operate it with you little finger, thumb, a
soft pen, left, right etc. Plenty choice! But: it is working even more
inaccurate causing even more tension. Further it is getting dirty in no
time so that your frustrations augment to heaven. The area for using it
is even too small for a 14'' monitor; you have to touch it twice to
arrive at the other corner using a standard cursor speed. But, as I said
earlier; for some cases it might be a good alternative.

Well, as for mice.. A good mouse has some software to remplace the
double click with a click of an extra button (ufortunately you need some
software indeed). The cable is at least 2 m (when the cpu is on the
ground, you must have some extra space to move it), preferably neutrally
formed (no anatomical curves etc.); you can swap it more easily from the
right to the left without working uncomfortably. Make sure the ball is
positioned as far as possible to the fingers.

Hopefully worhtful information for you all.

Kind regards, Kirsten Schreibers
vhp consultancy
The Hague



David J Walland wrote:

>
> I have been using the Trackman Marble now for about a year
> (I had another earlier Trackman trackerball bfore that) and
> I like it very much but unlike you I don't actually suffer
> from RSI.
> I use a mouse on my old Opus at home and find that (despite
> a rather better set up than here at work and less use)
> often gives me "warnings" - twinges in my wrist.
>
> I think there are two things to be said about the "Marble".
> One is that tracker balls are inherently slightly less
> accurate.  No-one else here in Bristol Uni Safety Office
> can bear it - they also hate my chair which has the seat
> correctly raked forward.
>
> Secondly, I find that I am always accidentally pressing the
> centre button for the left one.
>
> I've never used the really quite impressive pile of
> software that came with the trackerball.  I just use it as
> a conventional mouse.
>
> Incidentally someone was complaining that they found the
> "Marble" stiff to operate.  This only happens on mine if
> the supports get dirty.  Take the ball out clean the 3
> point supports and it's fine again.
>
> Regards
>
> David
>
> David J Walland
> University of Bristol Radiation Protection Adviser
> David.Walland@bristol.ac.uk
> Tel +44 (0)117 928 8323
> Fax +44 (0)117 929 1209
>

James Golden
Contour Design, Inc.
http://www.contourdes.com
800-462-6678 X 11
fax:603-893-4558