USING COMPUTERS SAFELY

To: Mr Macintosh
Company: Shenton College
Completed: March 10th, 2014
Due Date: March 10th, 2014

SUMMARY

This report is about computers and how to use them safely. It investigates topics about sitting correctly, injury risks, keyboards, and safety online and being aware of online risks. The major findings are as follows: When using a computer, make sure you have the correct seating posture to help avoid such injuries, remember to keep your face around 2 feet from the monitor to avoid eye strain and don’t stay on looking at the monitor for too long and keep your wrists straight while using the keyboard because you may develop repetitive stress injuries if not used correctly.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover Page ……………………………………………………………1
Title Page……………..………………………………………………..2
Summary…………..………………………………………………...…3
Table of Contents………………….....……………………………….4
Introduction……….…………………………………………………….5
Discussion………………………………………………………………6
Recommendations……………………….………………………….…8
Conclusions…………………………….………………………………7
References……………………………………………………………...9

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this report is to investigate the usage of computers and the consequences of incorrect usage such as eyestrain, carpel tunnel syndrome, hurt back or other repetitive stress injuries. It also explores the correct usage of the computer. This report states about some students’ incorrect uses through observations and provides recommendations for the students when in use of the computers

DISCUSSION – SUMMARY OF ARTICLE

Sitting Right
You need to make sure you are sitting correctly when using a computer. People should sit up straight and hold your head erect. Have a suitable chair (preferably a desk chair) when using your laptop, keep your wrists straight when you are using your laptop and keep your knee angle at 90 degrees and keep your elbows at a 90 degree angle. You shouldn’t use the computer for more than an hour or two at a time or if you have to work for longer than the time suggested, stretch or walk every half and hour and focus on things that are far away to give your eyes a rest.
Those Burning Eyes
To avoid eyestrain, make sure that you are seated in front of the monitor and that your face is around 2 feet away from the monitor. Don’t stare at the monitor too long, also to avoid eyestrain, and remember to blink during the use of the laptop, as studies show that when people are in use of computers, they forget to blink their eyes.
Keyboarding and Mousing Around
To avoid mousing injuries, position the mouse and keyboard close to your body so you don’t have to reach for them and make sure you don’t rest your elbows on the desk whilst using your laptop. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is a repetitive stress injury characterized by a swollen carpel tunnel, which causes pain, numbing or tingling. This is from incorrect usage of the keyboard, which is important you take breaks every so often.
OBSERVATIONS/RECCOMENDATIONS FOR STUDENTS

Through this investigation, I have concluded that 60 percent of the students were slouching when using their laptops. This was a habit that was bad as when in use of laptops, you must always keep your back straight against the desk chair (although in most classrooms students did not have access to the desk chairs) to avoid back problems and spinal injuries.
10 percent of the students in the business class were resting their elbows on the desk. This habit was bad because when in use of laptops, your elbows must be bent at a 90-degree angle close to your body to avoid hand injuries or stress injuries.
5 percent of the students in the class had their legs on the chair. The reason this was not recommended is because it is bad posture for when in use of the