Robert_Charlton - 5:54 am on Oct 26, 2003 (gmt 0)

This kind of problem can be very serious. Some years back, I was having a huge amount of trouble with my shoulder, embarked on physical therapy, and they warned me if I didn't do my exercises I might permanently lose the use of my shoulder.

The exercises didn't help, and it was only by chance that I discovered the problem was computer-related. I was away from my computer for a week and my shoulder started getting better.

It turned out that my computer desk was about three or four inches too high, and the problem was from using my mouse (I'd just converted to Windows from DOS). Since I'd built the desk myself using unfinished furniture store drawer pedestals as supports, it wasn't too difficult to cut the height down.

Roughly, the ergonomics of this are:
- When you sit, your butt should be very slightly higher than the bottom of your legs at your knees.
- At this height, when you look straight ahead, with your eyes level, your eyes should be roughly at the middle of your screen.
- Drop your arms straight down and raise your forearms so they're horizontal. This is roughly your typing position. You should have wrist rests, etc, and, ideally, all heights should be independently adjustable.

I decided to buy a keyboard tray, but was shocked to see the prices (~$200) and huge varieties. So, could anyone tell me their experience and opinion with them? What things to look for, what things to avoid? And how do they attach to your desk?!

When I was lowered the desk, I considered using a keyboard tray instead, but I couldn't find anything satisfactory. They all seemed to wobble just enough to be annoying... I didn't see anything that was adjustable... A pull-out tray seemed to be a gerry-rigged retrofit that would leave all my work areas at different heights... and there was an appalling lack of information on boxes the tray units came in about things like width, depth, etc.

I've lowered the desk to 26"... not adjustable as I'd like... and it works for me, though every once in a while I wish I'd made it an inch lower. Height will vary depending on your lower leg length (which affects chair height), your trunk height, your upper arm length, etc.

I'd love to get more educated feedback on this.

Perhaps not a great solution but have you concidered a dictation program where you talk and it types. Something similar to via-voice perhaps?

I understand that dictating all day can lead to its own variation of repetitive stress that will affect vocal cords.

I'm finding that sitting for the hours needed to finish projects is also a problem. I schedule two or three walks a day, not to mention stretches and swimming, but if I put in several days of long sessions at the computer, my legs get really messed up... they need more exercise.