PRESENTATION FROM PREMUS- 2010
A SURVEY OF COMPUTER USAGE AND ERGONOMIC PRACTICES AMONG FACULTY AT A UNIVERSITY WITH A MANDATORY MOBILE PC PROGRAM COOPER K.1, CAMPBELL-KYUREGHYAN N.1, SOMMERICH C.2
INTRODUCTION
2
1 University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Center for Ergonomics, Milwaukee, WI USA The Ohio State University, Dept. of Integrated Systems Engineering, Columbus, OH USA
While computing, faculty (Mobile-74%, Desktop PC-80%) reported assuming awkward postures at least “Sometimes”.
Mandatory mobile PC (laptop or tablet) programs for college students and faculty are increasingly popular. Justification for these programs are based on viewing the mobile PC as … • A important An i t t learning l i ttooll • Highly relevant to students’ future careers. (Cooper et al, 2009) Previous research has focused on the student perspective rather than faculty; mobile PCspecific functionality, or satisfaction (Weintz, 2006), and only a little on computer ergonomics A small study investigated use of mobile PCs by high school teachers and their students, with respect to ergonomics-related issues (hours of use/day, location, and related self-reported pain (Sommerich and Korkmaz, 2009)
Time Spent in Awkward, Uncomfortable, or “Poor” Postures Mobile PC
Desktop PC
RESULTS
50 faculty completed an online questionnaire; overall 73% response rate (RR), 78% completion rate(CR).
AIM
Evaluate the relationship between computer usage and self-reported pain among university faculty with a mandatory mobile PC requirement.
Over 70% of respondents used multiple computer configurations on a daily basis
METHODS
The computer type most frequently used:
Duration
Online questionnaire administered to faculty at a US engineering college with a mandatory mobile PC program. Responses categorized by computer used most often: • Mobile PC (Tablet or Laptop/Notebook) • Desktop PC The questionnaire inquired about: • Healthy computing knowledge • Computer usage with respect to • Duration • Frequency • Posture • Discomfort Additional ergonomic evaluations: • PCSit Score - a composite score of the duration of continuous computing (S (Sommerich, 2002) • For example, if the participant indicates
...for more than 30 minutes
1
...for more than 90 minutes
3
...for more than 60 minutes ...for more than 120 minutes
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
1
2
3
2 4
Quite Often
Almost Always
4
5
X X
X X
The PCSit CS Score S is calculated as ffollows: (4x1 + 4x2 + 3x3 + 2x4)/(1+2+3+4) = 2.9 PCPain - the number of body regions in which participants reported experiencing frequent pain during or immediately after computer use (Sommerich, 2002) • Only “Quite Often” or “Almost Always” pain frequency responses considered •
Body regions include: neck, upper back, lower back, buttocks, legs or feet, eyes, head (headache), wrist, forearm or elbow, and shoulder
CONTACT INFORMATION
COOPER K. 1
[email protected] CAMPBELL-KYUREGHYAN N. 1,
[email protected] SOMMERICH C.M.2
[email protected]
Main PC Type
None 2%
TabletPC 10%
Knowledge off ‘Healthy ‘ Computing’ Practices 33%
20%
1 (None)
The • • • •
5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00
40% 2
29%
3
60%
4
9% 5%
80%
5 (High)
Duration of Continuous Computing: PCSit Scores (Mean, SD)
Mobile PC
2.93 Desktop PC
17%
59%
Rarely
20%
40%
Sometimes
27% 21% 60%
Quite Often
80%
100%
Almost Always
35% of faculty respondents reported pain in at least one body area “Almost Always” or “Quite Often” during or immediately after using a computer. Pearson Correlation • Strong (r=0.75, p
