Avoid hemorrhoids: Improve Hacking and Health by Moving Your Chair(spideroak.com)
spideroak.com
Avoid hemorrhoids: Improve Hacking and Health by Moving Your Chair
https://spideroak.com/blog/201003291900-improve-productivity-and-health-by-relocating-the-chair
28 comments
are you a dwarf? i might be seeing it wrong but it looks pretty low for a standing desk.
I'm 6'0". The desk surface is 3'9" from the ground. It's not low. My girlfriend is 5'6" and can't use it comfortably without standing on a yoga block.
I've been sitting on an exercise ball for the last couple years, since I read a local newspaper article about schools in my community that offer those to schoolchildren to sit on. But only last week I discovered that most school exercise balls have knobs on them that keep them in place. Mine is a regular ball, which can roll in any direction. Maintaining my balance provides subtle movement any time I am at the computer, which is a lot of each day for me.
P.S. What do all of you recommend for more ergonomic keyboards and pointing devices? I am not happy with my Dell keyboard nor with any mouse, but the last trackball I tried was even more annoying than my current mouse. (I have liked trackballs very well in the past, but I have to favor my thumb basal joints now that I am older.)
P.S. What do all of you recommend for more ergonomic keyboards and pointing devices? I am not happy with my Dell keyboard nor with any mouse, but the last trackball I tried was even more annoying than my current mouse. (I have liked trackballs very well in the past, but I have to favor my thumb basal joints now that I am older.)
When your palms face the ground, the orientation of the two bones in your forearm compress the tendons slightly. So, I'd really like to try a vertical keyboard. Kinesis makes them, but I'm not convinced I'd find the keys as comfortable as the aluminum Apple keyboards, which require very little pressure.
What I'd really prefer is a makeshift vertical arrangement with two of the small Apple USB keyboards back to back. The trouble then is that modifier keys don't work correctly (like shift plus a letter on the opposite keyboard wouldn't capitalize.) Is anyone aware of a hack that could solve this?
What I'd really prefer is a makeshift vertical arrangement with two of the small Apple USB keyboards back to back. The trouble then is that modifier keys don't work correctly (like shift plus a letter on the opposite keyboard wouldn't capitalize.) Is anyone aware of a hack that could solve this?
I tried trackballs and various kinds of mice. Then, I switched to laptops and I decided to only rely on the touchpad. So I forced myself to learn keyboard shortcuts for all the programs that I use regularly, which sped up my productivity and now I only use a mouse for occational gaming.
Truth be told, I never liked trackpads, then I came across TrackPoint (i.e. 'the nipple') on a ThinkPad. Best... pointing... device... ever...
Moreover, you can buy a USB version of that ThinkPad keyboard which plugs into any computer: "ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint" (part 55Y9003), $59, link to Lenovo store is
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPo...
TrackPoint is the one reason I'm really reluctant to get a netbook. I'll just stick with my X41 (or maybe get a used X60 or X61) until they get a netbook with TrackPoint.
I sit at one also, but mostly because it is a mild form of passive exercise.
Moreover, it's a fun break / mental aid sometimes. Bounce while listening to Di.FM and see if a smile doesn't form on your face.
Moreover, it's a fun break / mental aid sometimes. Bounce while listening to Di.FM and see if a smile doesn't form on your face.
I have one question as regards ergonomics. How do you keep good neck posture? I've a habit of protruding my head outward really close to the monitor, and reading books at a very close distance (like 6 inches). As a result, my shoulders, neck, and head now make out the x^3 curve (it should of course ideally be somewhat straight). I have to consciously think about keeping my neck straight... but it's very hard to be mindful of this 24/7.
For me it's a large screen and big comfy font size. You might find that resistance training helps, especially back and core/abdominal. An expert trainer will likely be able to identify what's needed.
Raise the monitor until you have to look straight ahead to use it. Bring it closer to you if necessary. Get glasses.
My eye sight is perfectly fine (well, with the glasses on), so that's not a problem. It's just a habit I've had for as long as I can remember. I would bring it closer to me, but I think that's bad for the eyes. I'd kill for the E-ink technology to come to computer screen monitors, even if it's with a bad refresh rate.
People usually say "exercise" as a tip for better posture in general, but nutrition is probably a stronger influence because of its effects on core strength, which will make you tend one way or the other.
So if you aren't already supplementing, try protein and a multivitamin. It might be all you need.
So if you aren't already supplementing, try protein and a multivitamin. It might be all you need.
This stand-up hacking approach, does not only make my hacking productive, but also helps me on critical thinking. When I'm not typing, I just walk away from screen, and do some critical thinking instead. After I cleared my head, I'll continue typing and hacking.
Looking at screen while thinking would make me scatterbrained, and get nothing done.
Looking at screen while thinking would make me scatterbrained, and get nothing done.
I used a standing workstation for about a year. I now have a really nice ergonomic chair and a good desk. The standing workstation was pretty nice, and the OP is right, you do get used to standing after a couple weeks of doing it. The fact was, however, that because it took more effort to stand than sit, on the days I didn't really feel like working I was much more inclined to sit on my couch or at the kitchen table than I was to use my standing workstation, which of course negated any benefit I had from using the standing workstation. So I eventually abandoned the idea. I encourage people to try it, but I have a sneaking suspicion that most people grow tired of it and move back to a desk eventually.
I've had a standing desk for about a year, and largely for the reason you're describing. I have a tendency to stay up late coding, and a standing desk makes it harder to waste time staring at a bright screen when I'm tired enough that I should be sleeping. It's a feature in my book, but probably not so much if you're someone with a morning deadline.
Reading this from my chair
I stand all day as it is, so I prefer my computer time to be spent with my buttocks in a nice comfy chair.
I like this idea but couldn't implement it due to problems with my heart. I think the old company of diet + exercise + not being grossly overweight should never be overlooked. Also I find frequent walks (on the pretense of getting coffee) can be very beneficial.
or more importantly: workout regularly
Donald Rumsfeld does this. He used it to justify "stress positions."
http://www.time.com/time/columnist/klein/article/0,9565,6582...
http://www.time.com/time/columnist/klein/article/0,9565,6582...
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If you stand, proper keyboard height is very important. Your wrists should not be bent while you type; otherwise, you risk a repetitive stress injury.
People get this wrong all the time, and use cheap, sticky keyboards. I made this mistake, and got a repetitive stress injury that made typing painful.
Now I've got a better keyboard and zealous devotion to proper keyboard height, and my hands don't hurt anymore. Don't make the mistakes I did. POSITION YOUR KEYBOARD CORRECTLY! This is important, and warrants capital letters.
Now I've got a better keyboard and zealous devotion to proper keyboard height, and my hands don't hurt anymore. Don't make the mistakes I did. POSITION YOUR KEYBOARD CORRECTLY! This is important, and warrants capital letters.
Yes, it is important. I've met two programmers who can no longer type at all because of a repetitive stress injury.
I have a standing desk now. Highly recommended.
It's a "Fredrik" from Ikea, which courteously lets you choose the height of the desk and shelves, and doesn't stop you from putting them in the wrong spots. I've been using it for almost a year, and it's perfectly sturdy.
One caveat: make sure you make it high enough. Using a standing desk when the keyboard is even a few inches too low can be miserable on your back. The desk should be at the height of your elbows, and no lower.