It's always a bonus to uncover a shortcut or program enhancement, and here we bring you 100 tips and tricks that we hope will make your computing experience quicker, simpler or more rewarding.
Ergonomics
1 Position the display so that the top of the screen is just below eye level. This will ensure better neck posture and reduce muscular concerns. The screen should be approximately one arm's length from the user.
2 The monitor must be directly in front of the user and centred to face them. Angled screens strain the eyes, while screens that are not directly in front of the user mean neck muscles are under stress.
3 A professional typing chair – with adjustable armrests – will improve posture and reduce back and neck strain during long periods at the PC. A good chair will be expensive, but what value can be placed on health, particularly considering potential industrial damages claims? Studies suggest the best posture positions the back at a 100-110 degree angle.
4 Ensure keyboard positioning minimises bend in the wrists and maintains elbow bend at less than 90 degrees. This reduces stress on the muscles and nerves at these key joints.
5 Crabbing your hand over a small mouse is the computing equivalent of a 'Go to jail' card in Monopoly. Do not pass Go, move directly to RSI. Generally, big is better.
6 Arrange the input devices to tailor for usage. If you're mainly word processing, the main keyboard and mouse should take priority. For data input, the keyboard and numeric keypad take preference, while in gaming and Web-surfing the mouse and keyboard are prime concerns.
7 Take a break. Eyes, limbs and brains need a change of direction, focus or stress to avoid aches and pains, and eyestrains. Every 15 minutes look away from the monitor for two minutes to help reduce eyestrain and headaches and do stretching exercises to reduce muscle fatigue.
8 It's all too easy to forget how long you've been working. Ergonomic software, such as ErgoEnterprise from www.magnitude.com, assesses how much work you've been doing and reminds you to stop at appropriate intervals. It even suggests suitable stretching exercises.
9 Treat 'ergonomic goods' with scepticism. Almost every manufacturer claims their hardware is ergonomic, but unless independent experts agree, such claims could well be marketing hype.
10 Don't use wrist pads. Surveys suggest these actually increase pressure on the carpal tunnel and can increase the risk of RSI