38
13.2 Appendix
-
History of the Kinesis Family Contoured of Keyboards
Development of the first Kinesis Contoured ergonomic keyboard began in 1991, and involved extensive
research and collaboration with experts from the fields of medicine, ergonomics, and engineering. The
guiding design principal was to provide the most effective design that would co
-
optimize comfort and
productivity, without requiring users to re
-
learn how to type. Since its commercial debut in 1992 as the first
letter
-
based ergonomic keyboard in the US, the Kinesis Contoured keyboard design has been widely
recognized for providing the ultimate in keyboarding comfort and productivity. The Kinesis Contoured
TM
design has been imitated by others interested in paying lip
-
service to ergonomics, but no other keyboard
addresses the major repetitive strain injury
(“
RSI
”)
risk factors associated with keyboarding like the
Advantage2.
13.3 Appendix
-
Ergonomic Guidelines
Ergonomics is the science of adapting tools and environments to reflect human capabilities. Ergonomists
principles enhance comfort, reduce the risk of injury, and educate people how to safely use technology
products. Ergonomic issues involve many aspects of the work environment and as a result no single product
can be expected to provide a universal solution.
Your experiences with a Kinesis keyboard will be affected by a number of non
-
keyboard factors, including
your stress level, the chair you sit in, and the desk and other work surfaces in your office. In fact, hand and
arm injuries can result from elements of your workstation other than your keyboard.
To enhance the comfort of your work environment, Kinesis has joined with Herman Miller, Inc. to provide
guidance for creating an ergonomically appropriate workspace. The following ergonomic guidelines are
reprinted with the permission of Herman Miller, Inc.. These guidelines include references to ANSI (American
National Standards Institute) standards. They do not constitute research conducted by Kinesis.
Introduction by Herman Miller, Inc.
The proper positioning of the furniture and equipment in your office is dictated by the size and shape of your
body. To work comfortably, you must make a series of adjustments to the components around you. And
remember, if you experience discomfort while working, consult a health care professional.
Adjusting Your Chair
First adjust your
“
seat
-
height
”.
Seat
-
height means the distance from the floor to the top of your chair
’
s seat
when you are sitting in your chair. First, sit in your chair in a comfortable, upright position. Adjust your seat
height up or down so that your feet rest comfortably flat on the floor and your thighs are approximately parallel
to the floor. If your feet dangle slightly and the backs of your thighs press hard on the front of the seat, the
chair is probably too high. If your knees are elevated and your thighs don
’
t touch the front of the seat, the
chair is probably too low.
If you like to lean back when working, try it now. If your heels are lifted off the floor, consider lowering your
chair. If your heels rise as you push off with your feet to lean back, consider loosening your chair
’
s tilt tension.
If you like to sit forward, try it now. If you must tuck your feet in or stick them out in front of you, consider
raising your chair. If you feel the chair seat gives too much, consider tightening your chair
’
s tilt tension. When
you have adjusted your chair, compare the position of your chair with the standard ANSI ranges.
Fig 35. First prototype used in workplace
Fig 36. Model 100, August 1992
Fig 34. Early adjustable working prototype
