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Tame Your Savage Computer!
Newsletter Archive from 10/16/06
I recently went on a vacation out in the woods where no computers hummed, and even cell phone reception was spotty. A friend was there who is normally always on the computer like I am, and we talked about ways to make our computer use a little less onerous. Here's what we came up with:
1. Experiment with different input devices. My mouse was dying so I tried a drawing pen and two different mice before settling on a mouse that was acceptable. I've heard that large trackballs work well as input devices that are easy on the wrist. The drawing pen was easy on the wrist but it was too weird for me, even after a week.
2 Get the right monitor(s)! Replace an old monitor with a flat-screen LCD. Those old CRT types are a little fuzzier, take up way too much space, and emit radiation out their sides. I personally have two monitors hooked up side by side to increase my work space. I roll my mouse off the right edge of my first monitor and it appears out the left edge of my second. The top of the monitor should be at eye level.
3. Get a good chair. I use one of those kneeling chairs. They're not exactly the most comfortable to sit on, but since I switched to them I don't get lower back pain any more. Plus since they're mildly uncomfortable, it forces me to move around, get up and stretch more often.
4. When not using the computer, turn it off. This is such a simple thing, but I almost always forget to do it. But by turning it off, the temptation to check my email twice a minute vanishes, and I can focus on non-computer things. Plus it's quieter.
Good luck!
- Julian
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