NCD ThinSTAR 200 Installation Manual - page 9
ThinSTAR 200 Installation Guide
9
Guidelines For Productive and Healthy Use of Your Terminal
You might have read or heard of articles that linked prolonged viewing of computer video displays with
eye fatigue, and prolonged use of computer keyboards and mouse devices with repetitive stress injuries
such as carpal tunnel syndrome. One common example is the syndrome known as “tennis elbow.”
Although a conclusive direct causal relationship between computer use and these adverse health effects
has yet to be scientifically proven,
NCD
recommends that you read and follow these guidelines in setting
up and using your new terminal.
• Set up your terminal in a well lit, glare and shadow-free environment.
• Do not use your terminal in a position you find awkward or unnatural.
• Use a chair that provides good lower back support. Adjust your chair so that your feet rest flat on the
floor with your thighs in a horizontal position.
• Place your keyboard on a surface so that your wrists are not tilted, or only slightly tilted, while using
the keyboard. Many people find a comfortable keyboard height is at the same level as their elbows.
• If the height of your work surface cannot be adjusted, position the chair at a comfortable height and use
a footrest to place your feet on a level surface.
• Place your mouse on a surface that is at the same height as your keyboard. Many people find using the
mouse and keyboard within 16 inches (0.4 m) of the body is comfortable.
• Avoid resting your arm on your work surface and merely bending your wrist when using your mouse.
• Consider using a wrist rest to provide a padded surface for your wrists when working with your
mouse.
• Place your display monitor at a comfortable viewing distance. Many people favor a distance of 16
inches to 28 inches (0.4 m to 0.7 m) from their eyes. Position the screen so that you are not looking up
or down at it.
• Take breaks to rest your eyes, stretch your muscles, and move around.
• Vary your work patterns so that you alternate working at your computer with other tasks that use
different muscle groups and allow you to focus your eyes at different distances.
• See your physician if you experience persistent muscle ache, joint pain, eye fatigue or other discomfort
when using your terminal.
These are guidelines. What is comfortable for some might not be comfortable for you. You are the only
one who can decide if these guidelines are appropriate for your needs.
What about electromagnetic emissions from your monitor?
Many objects we encounter in our everyday lives produce very low frequency (
VLF
) and extremely low
frequency (
ELF
) electromagnetic emissions. These objects include such common appliances as portable
cellular telephones, televisions, toasters, electric blankets, and video display terminals (
VDT
) such as the
monitor that is part of your terminal.
VDT
s have been the focus of a growing controversy over the
potential health effect of
VLF
and
ELF
emissions.
NCD
is monitoring this issue and shares the public’s concern over the potential health consequences of
exposure to
VLF
and
ELF
emissions from
VDT
s. To date, the research and testing on this subject is
inconclusive. Moreover, the link, if any, between
VDT
emissions and adverse health effects is unproven
and the subject of much debate. Stress, postural strain, and poor working conditions are frequently cited
in addition to, or instead of,
VDT
emissions as posing potential health hazards to frequent users of
VDT
s.
The prevailing professional opinion to date is that
VDT
s are safe.
NCD
products comply with the
applicable regulations and standards for electromagnetic radiation set forth by the U.S. Code of Federal
Regulations, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., the Canadian Standards Association, and the German
VDE
Standard. When and if new or additional standards are adopted,
NCD
will take appropriate steps to
comply with them.
Even though the preponderance of professional opinion is that
VDT
s are safe, some of our customers have
asked us for information on how to reduce their exposure to
VLF
and
ELF
emissions. Although
NCD
does
not endorse the following as having health benefits, the easiest and perhaps most economical and
effective measures are to turn off your display when not in use, to position your display at arm’s length,
and to avoid working in areas where you are positioned close to the rear of a
VDT
(where the emissions
are strongest). Also, third party vendors offer shields that reduce glare and electric emissions.