bicycle desk

bicycle desk riding

Bicycle desk relaxed height

Laboratory ergonomics changes

Two simple changes can improve the work at a lab bench.

One:  The knee hole space under the counter should be less than 2 inches thick to allow for proper posture while doing work while seated.

The metal panel in below the counter makes this too thick to sit properly with elbows at the height of the work surface

The panel was removed to give more clearance for the legs. 

For this person the height of the counter is too high for this pipetting task.  - Notice the ulnar deviation at the wrist. 

Lower surface: Elbows angle is 90 degrees.  The wrist is in neutral.  The posture can be achieved by using a lower surface or adding a footstool for the higher desk height. 

Standing desk options for less than $25

Fixed standing desk for under $25

Instructions for setting up the desk are here.  Additional description with more pictures can be found at Colin Nederkoorn's blog.

Thanks to Amanda Fischer for allowing me to take a photo of the workstation.

Another lower cost solution with thanks to Peggy Talbot

Standing option using a cardboard box lid and two books

Sitting version of the same set up

Really low cost versions

Boxes of tissue paper and paper boxes

Standing with mouse on right just out of picture

Seated using laptop screen and mouse on right.

Using thoughts to control robots for people with disabilities

U of Minnesota Researchers have designed a robot human interface that allows the control of a quadcopter using mental thoughts. The results were published in Journal of Neural Engineering.  This is a CNN blogpost on the subject.  The video is posted below.

Tread Desk

Several people have asked if U of MN DEHS will provide partial reimbursement for a Treadmill desk.  The answer is no.  However, a person can purchase one on their own and try it out.

Notes: It does take up a larger footprint than a standard cubical layout.  There are some some safety concerns about falling while walking or getting off the treadmill.  Benefits include: increased calorie consumption and improved cardiovascular fitness.

Here are some photos provide with permission from the user.

Tread Desk with a Sit-Stand workstation

Tread desk in use.

Photos of ergonomics showroom w-162 BHS

Chairs Monitors and keyboard trays

Sit Stand workstations

Product Literature

The benefits of walking

Anatomy of Walking

Walking reduces arthritis symptoms http://everybodywalk.org