Ergonomics Today™

12th Annual National Ergonomics Conference & Exposition Adds 6th Track for Total of 80 Sessions

August 25, 2006
NECE-2006, at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas from November 28 to December 1, is one of the most important event of the year for professionals looking to improve productivity, reduce workplace injuries and grow the bottom line.

“Burning Love Part II” -- Fears of Fiery Laptops on the Lap

August 21, 2006
The news is that some laptop users could be endangering more than their musculoskeletal system from using a laptop on their lap.

Revisited Study May Help Employers Meet the Workplace Thermostat Challenge

August 18, 2006
Does the mind play a bigger role in being too hot or too cold at work than the thermostat? A revisited study says Yes.

American and European Ergonomics Conferences Seek Presenters

August 16, 2006
Two conferences, the Applied Ergonomics Conference and the Ergonomics Society’s Annual Conference, both to be held in 2007, seek proposals for papers and workshops.

“Donut Hole” Adds to Medicare Part D Drug Benefits Confusion

August 14, 2006
A recently discovered gap in Medicare Plan D coverage, dubbed the "donut hole," piles confusion on a government program that seems designed only to confuse.

New HSA Publication Tackles Problem Shift Work Patterns

August 11, 2006
Shift work can't be eliminated, but its ill-effects on workers and productivity can be ameliorated. A new publication from Britain's Health and Safety Executive shows employers how.

Handheld Device Could Enable More Blind People to Write Braille

August 7, 2006
Portable and affordable, a Braille-writing device invented by undergraduates could enhance the lives of millions of blind people around the world.

Usability Bypassed in Rush for Feature-Rich Cell Phones

August 4, 2006
It may have reached the point where cell phones couldn’t possibly be smaller or more laden with “bells and whistles,” and the price appears to be usability.

Confusion Looms As Factor That Could Bedevil November 7 Election

July 31, 2006
On November 7 ergonomics-minded election authorities could prevent a nationwide polling debacle like the "hanging chads" election of 2000.

Rubber Sidewalks Offer Ergonomic Benefits – And Much More

July 28, 2006
There appears to be a score of good reason for pulling up concrete sidewalks and replacing them with rubber pavement, and one of them has ergonomic benefits.

Medication Errors Study Reveals Alarming Figures

July 24, 2006
New research reveals that medication errors harm 1.5 million people and kill several thousand each year in the United States. An ergonomic approach to the problem would be to look at human error as a symptom, not the cause.

Ease Through Summer Outdoors -- In Ergonomic Chairs

July 21, 2006
Some outdoor seating taps into ergonomics to increase the pleasures of relaxing on the deck or patio.

New Talking Camera Opens Up World of Print for Blind People

July 17, 2006
Talking camera "reads" printed materials, such as newspapers and office memos, for blind and visually-impaired people. It promises to help them towards fuller and more productive lives.

Two-billionth Cell Phone User in July: Health Risk Findings Still Contradictory

July 14, 2006
The world’s two-billionth cell phone user was connected up in July. The milestone is a reminder that it is still not clear if the devices are a health menace. Cell phone makers and service carriers say No, but health fears persist.

New Pen Fits Hand More Naturally

July 10, 2006
Every 50 years or so a writing instrument is invented that represents a design milestone. A pen promoted as "ergonomically efficient" may signal the next milestone.

Trend Towards Ergonomic Rings Worth Singing About

July 7, 2006
More women choosing an engagement ring are seeing the value in ergonomic qualities as well as beauty, a development worth singing about.

New Research Underlines Danger of Using a Cell Phone While Driving

July 3, 2006
Driving while under the influence of alcohol can be deadly, and new research shows driving while using a cell phone has the same or an even greater potential for accidents.

New Guitar a Reminder that Making Music Can Be Risky Business

June 30, 2006
For musicians, practicing and performing invite some of the painful medical conditions that lurk at worksites like factories. One answer may lie in modified instruments, like the new "Tomcat" guitar.

Driver Safety Research Shifting from Injury Prevention to Crash Prevention

June 26, 2006
The challenge is creating collision avoidance systems that minimize added distractions and trigger the safest response from the driver.

Hospital Medication Errors Point to Need for Ergonomics

June 23, 2006
In June researchers released findings on the accuracy of a hospital-wide system for reporting medication mistakes. They describe a scourge without pointing fingers, yet a cure may not be found without ergonomics.