| Interestingly, ergonomics though sounds to be a | | | | their optimum levels and increase efficiency by |
| modern and trendy phenomenon, its principles are | | | | increasing comfort in work and reducing fatigue. |
| based on primitive life style. It is a known fact | | | | For example, a 6 feet tall individual cannot be |
| that earlier generations did not have to face a | | | | comfortable in a low car where he or she has to |
| whole lot of medical complications that our | | | | place himself or herself in unnatural bodily postures |
| generation is facing. Some of the factors that | | | | that will result in fatigue that would even |
| contribute to these medical complications are | | | | undermine the safety measures. This means that |
| associated with our poor work conditions and our | | | | a car has to be designed to accommodate a six |
| unhealthy life style which our forefathers and | | | | feet tall individual to drive comfortably without |
| mothers instinctively avoided. We are running | | | | straining oneself. |
| short of that life saving instinct. They knew how | | | | Studies have proved that ergonomically designed |
| and how not an action is to be performed, when | | | | products reduce stress at work places. This |
| and when not something can be done easily. They | | | | applies especially to people who work in the IT |
| were attuned to nature and to their own bodily | | | | industry. Many psychological disorders have been |
| nature. They were sensitive to the bodily cues | | | | associated with people who work in poor IT |
| and were able to modify their actions and hence | | | | environments. This has lead to an in depth study |
| lead a healthy life. | | | | on how to reduce the anomalies, which in turn has |
| However there is a wide new awakening in this | | | | lead to the booming market of ergonomically |
| area in the form of Ergonomics. The word | | | | designed IT products. Some of the computer |
| Ergonomics finds its root in Greek. "Ergon" in | | | | accessories that are designed using ergonomic |
| Greek means work and "nomoi" means law or | | | | principles include, vertical mouse, ergonomic |
| rule. So ergonomics means law of work. | | | | keyboard, adjustable computer furniture and the |
| Ergonomics is a branch of science that deals with | | | | list extends. |
| the design of objects, systems and environment. | | | | While it is good to choose ergonomically designed |
| Though can be mislead by the etymological | | | | products for your use, you have to be careful in |
| meaning of the word, it is not limited to work but | | | | choosing a genuine product. Because, there are lot |
| generally physical actions including sports and | | | | of products that markup their price at an |
| leisure activities of human beings. Ergonomics is | | | | exorbitant rates in the name of ergonomic |
| not a stand-alone branch of science like many | | | | products. It may not be necessarily so - |
| other branches science. Ergonomics relies on the | | | | ergonomic product need not necessarily look too |
| principles of many other branches of science | | | | different from the one's that are already in use. |
| including, psychology of human beings, anatomy | | | | We often wrongly associate ergonomic products |
| and physiology and also on results of cultural | | | | with fancy looking products on which the product |
| studies. Ergonomics seeks to produce a job | | | | manufacturers thrive. |
| environment that will help people to operate in | | | | |