Undo IT Blog

We have been to the moon and peeked into the depths of outer space. We have built incredible devices for every aspect of our lives. However, the question arises whether or not we are adapted to the world we have created. Are human bodies adapted to sitting around for hours on end staring at a lit-up screen?

Sure, cavemen and cavewomen probably sat around watching the fire. But this was after a fair amount of time and energy spent gathering and hunting food. These days, for many of us the hunt consists of checking into the office, sitting in an uncomfortable office chair for eight hours or so and then heading home to sit around and watch the modern day fire, TV. This cannot be a healthy pattern and it is a good idea to make adjustments to our workplace ergonomics. Even if we don’t have a 9 to 5 office job, when more than one hour per day is spent sitting in front of the computer it is important to be aware of some ergonomics.

What can we do to maintain our status as Homo erectus? Below are a few key points.

1. Positioning: We should position our computer and furniture for optimal comfort.

• Monitor: The monitor should be centered in front of us with the top of the screen around eye-level and situated to avoid glare. If possible, we should use an LCD monitor instead of a CRT monitor. An LCD monitor takes up much less space on the desk, reduces eye-strain, eliminates exposure to cathode-ray radiation and consumes less electricity. If you are still using a CRT monitor, this is the first thing you should upgrade.
• Chair: Our chair should be adjusted so that we can sit with with our feet flat on the floor and have our legs comfortably supported. The chair should allow us to sit with spine erect and if we sit back into the chair it should provide proper support for our back.
• Keyboard: The height of the keyboard should be adjusted so that our upper arms can remain relaxed and as close to the body as possible. Usually, the best position for the keyboard is just above the lap. Consider using an ergonomic keyboard which allows the wrists and arms to stay in a more natural position. As always, make adjustments to find your own personal comfort zone.

2. Taking breaks: This is the fun part! Every 15 minutes or so we should take a break. Look up from the computer screen and let the eyes focus on something in the distance. Perhaps close the eyes for a moment. Stretch, take some deep breaths and get up to shake the legs out if you’ve been sitting for a while. Making a habit to do this every 15 minutes will keep us fresh for our entire computing session and prevent us from getting into an awkward position for any extended period of time. This is the fun part, but it is also crucial. Set a timer if necessary.

3. Add some greenery: Not only do houseplants beautify a drab office, they also provide health benefits. According to the EPA there are an estimated 100 to 200 different air contaminants in the average American home. During the late 1980s NASA conducted a study to try and solve the problem of removing toxins and improving air quality in confined spaces. They found that houseplants are very effective for removing common pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. Here are a couple of links with more information on the study and which plants are most effective for specific toxins: Top Houseplants for Improving Indoor Air Quality and Houseplants that Help Purify the Air.

4. Making it a habit: It may require some effort to adjust in the beginning, but after we make a habit of healthy computing it becomes second-nature; we will only occasionally have to remind ourselves when we have started to slump over the keyboard or need a break. If you have children or loved ones who use the computer let them know about computing in a healthy way. It is especially important for children because they will develop a positive habit early and avoid health complications later in life.

This is a summary of the more important aspects of computing ergonomics. I highly recommend visiting HealthyComputing.com. There is a wealth of free information to help prevent some irreversible health problems caused by poor computing habits. Here’s to happy healthy computing!

If you are tired of dealing with malware that hijacks your web browser, sluggish page loading and poor flexibility when it comes to customization, it may be time to consider switching to a new browser. Most if not all savvy computer users agree that either Firefox or Opera are superior to Internet Explorer.

According to the latest statistics from W3schools (May, 2006) 62.3% of people browsing the internet are using a version of Internet Explorer. 28% of users are browsing with a version of Firefox / Mozilla and 1.5% are using Opera. (06/14/2006 Update: Here are more statistics on browser usage courtesy of PC World: Firefox Market Share: On the Rise Again?)

If Firefox and Opera are so much better, why are the majority of people still using Internet Explorer? Referencing back to W3Schools again we can see that 89.2% of computer users are using a version of Microsoft Windows as of April, 2006. Because Windows comes prepackaged solely with Internet Explorer and not many new computer users know that there are better browsers available, it is no wonder that Internet Explorer is the most popular web browser regardless of its drawbacks.

Speaking of drawbacks, here are a few reasons why it would be a good idea to start using Firefox.

1. Security: Firefox does not run ActiveX or VB script, which are notoriously exploited by malware programs in Internet Explorer. When either of these are running it is possible to download and install a malicious program on your computer without even knowing it, simply by visiting a website. Firefox is constantly being improved and the programming code is written much tighter than Internet Explorer so there is less room for hackers to take advantage of vulnerabilities.

2. Expandability: There are many extensions available that add handy features to Firefox: Extensions. You can also customize the appearance of Firefox using Themes. There is not a lot you can do to customize Internet Explorer.

3. Standards Support: Firefox has excellent support for the latest web standards. When a browser properly supports current standards it is possible for web designers to create websites that utilize the latest capabilities and features. There is nothing more frustrating for a web developer than having to hobble or jerry-rig their beautiful and functional website so that it will work properly in a browser with poor standards support (I.E. Internet Explorer, pun intended).

4. It’s Free: Firefox is developed by Mozilla foundation, a tax exempt non-profit foundation that is completely funded by donations. Like a public radio station they are supported by happy users and strive to make the best possible browser. On the other hand, Microsoft almost has a monopoly on the operating systems used to run computers and of course Windows comes pre-loaded with Internet Explorer. There is no incentive for Microsoft to put much effort into upgrading or supporting the functionality of their web browser in a timely fashion.

5. It’s Easy to Get: Firefox only requires a small amount space on your hard drive. It is easy to download and install and it will import all of your settings from Internet Explorer if you want it to. And, it will automatically download new updates keeping you secure with the latest version.

Firefox was named PC World’s Product of the Year for 2005. It also earned Softpedia’s User’s Choice, Forbes’ Best of the Web, SC Magazine’s “Editor in Chief” award, CNET Editor’s Choice, Laptop Magazine Editor’s Choice, PC-Welt’s Readers Choice Best Internet Tool, and more.

Firefox is an excellent browser, but Opera is also a contender. Opera was found to be the fastest browser according to recent testing conducted on this site: Browser Speed Comparisons.

The important thing to know is that there are much better browsers than Internet Explorer. They are easy to download/install and will reward you a much better internet experience. You may need to keep Internet Explorer around for a few of the websites out there that only work in Internet Explorer. However, if you are ready to try a new browser the latest versions of Firefox and Opera can be downloaded using the links below:

Firefox: http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

Opera: http://www.opera.com/index.dml

P.S. If you’d like to read a humorous comparison, check out Browser Showdown: Firefox vs. Internet Explorer

Many people neglect cleaning the LCD screen on their laptop or flat panel monitor. Sometimes it is worry of damaging the screen, other times cleaning it is not even considered as something to do. As dust and smudges accumulate it becomes more difficult to view the screen because the images and text are obscured by the accumulated detritus. Since this is a gradual process it often goes unnoticed. However, the poor visibility of an unclean screen quickly becomes apparent in bright light. Anyone who has taken their laptop outside and tried to use it on a sunny day will know what I’m talking about.

So, what can be done? The safest, easiest way to clean your LCD screen is to find an old soft t-shirt and dampen it slightly with water. Make sure the laptop or display is turned off. Then swab the screen with small circular motions and light pressure. Finally, dry the screen with a dry section of the t-shirt until all dampness is removed. This is a very effective, safe and simple way to clean. There are times when some of the smudges are more difficult to remove. In these cases it is safe to use a mild glass cleaner that contains no alcohol or ammonia. There are also commercial products specifically designed for cleaning LCD screens:

http://www.klearscreen.com/

http://us.kensington.com/html/1081.html

After your screen has been restored to its pristine state it is easy to maintain by occasionally clearing the dust with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. NEVER use a paper towel or any other harsh fabric. Soft 100% cotton that has been through the washing machine several times is best.

Having a clean screen reduces eye-strain and makes onscreen images appear more vibrant and colorful. What are you waiting for? Do your eyes a favor and clean that screen.