Ergonomic issues associated with the use of touchscreen desktop PC

摘要

In this laboratory experiment, potential ergonomic concerns associated with the use of a touchscreendesktop PC have been investigated by quantifying neck and shoulder muscle activities, subjectivediscomfort ratings, and user-preferred positions of the computer workstation in three different usagescenarios of touchscreen PC (no touch interface; standard keyboard for typing with display tapping; onscreenkeyboard with display tapping). Results found significantly greater (p < 0.05) activity of neck andshoulder muscles and increments in subjective discomfort ratings associated with the use of touch interfacessuch as the on-screen keyboard and display tapping. In addition, participants placed the touchscreen closerand lower with more tilt when using the touch interfaces. It was concluded that the use of a touchscreen indesktop PC setting could generate greater biomechanical stress and discomfort than a traditional setting, andit might be attributable to greater or more frequent arm and hand movement in floating arm postures.