Review: Ergonomic PC Aids Offer Comfort

Jan. 2 -- The fledgling science of ergonomics has undergone a small revolution over the past decade, which has radically changed the way safety-conscious manufacturers design peripherals and accessories.

Novel designs have all but replaced earlier ones that sometimes contributed to repetitive-stress injuries instead of reducing them.

The latest principles of ergonomic design are now applied to everything from monitor stands to document holders, footrests, and luggage. Even the lowly keyboard continues to be reinvented in a mind-boggling array of shapes.

In this story, we take a look at some of the most comfort-enhancing peripherals and accessories we've found.

Air Tech Computer Ergonomic Flex Foot Rest

Price: Standard, $21.95 direct; Tall, $25.95 Company Info: Air Technologies Corp., www.airtech.net/footrests.html

Sitting in front of a computer all day is a great way to develop chronic lower-back pain, but if your boss isn't willing to buy you a chair with lower-lumbar support, your next-best bet might be a footrest.

Regardless of how often you change your seating position, footrests ensure that your feet and legs are always situated to facilitate proper back curvature, reduce foot fatigue, alleviate pressure points in your chair seat, and ensure proper circulation in your feet and legs.

Consider either version of the ruggedly built Air Tech Computer Ergonomic Flex Foot Rest, which comes in 3-inch-high Standard and double-height Tall models. Both feature a nonskid rubber surface and a clever sliding tilt/height mechanism that can be adjusted with gentle foot pressure.

Kensington ClipNGlow Task Light and Copyholder

Price: $20 street Company Info: Kensington Technology Group, www.kensington.com

The Kensington ClipNGlow Task Light and Copyholder is one of the most affordable ways we know to reduce the hassle and strain of on-the-road computing. Although not strictly an ergonomic device, it does a good enough job of reducing awkward motions and postures to earn itself a spot in our story.

The ClipNGlow is a USB gooseneck lamp that you can attach to the top of a CRT or clamp to a notebook's LCD. A second clip lets you suspend documents in almost any position, eliminating the contortions that are often necessary when working on a plane, in a waiting room, or in the back seat of a cab.