Ergonomic Aspects of Personal Digital Assistant (pda) and Laptop Use

Methods Two similar but separate surveys , each consisting of 39 questions , were conducted among 37 laptop users and 34 PDA users. The survey participants constituted a convenience sample from a group of business professionals and graduate students. The survey questions were designed to evaluate characteristics of use, design adequacy of keyboard and screen, hand -forearm and neck postures, discomfort level and health complaints that derive from the use of these devices. In a separate laboratory experiment, electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded using skin electrodes from six hand and forearm muscles (abductor polli cis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, the portion of the first dorsal interosseus closer to the index finger, extensor digitorum, abductor digiti minimi, and flexor digitorum superficialis) while two participants used a laptop for 30 minute word processing and one participant used a PDA for 15 minute typing e-mails.