I don’t think so Roger. I think that when you read about ‘ergonomic’ furniture, you are reading what somebody copied from a book. And, I think that most ‘somebodies’ don’t know much about anatomy, and probably don’t know much about furniture.
It is a verifiable fact that numerous ‘computer-users’ complain to doctors about work-related stresses and strains, and a painful neck is one of these complaints.
So, how did this happen?
If you walked into an office 30 years ago and watched a secretary using a typewriter, you would notice the typewriter was placed on a special typing table which was about 120 mms lower than the desk (I think the height was 26 inches), and that the secretary looked at what she was typing not at the keyboard.
When the computer replaced the typewriter, the typing table disappeared and the monitor was stuck on the desk because it was already there. No thought was given to re-designing the desk to accommodate this new technology. People just kept on using a desk that had evolved to suit people reading and writing. And, of course, the computer monitor comes with a base which lifts it up about 120 mms. The result of this was to position the monitor several inches higher than the typewriter platen and paper used to be.
Try this experiment. Put a thick book under your computer’s monitor. This will require you to look up and extend your neck. This will cause you to have a pain in your neck. Now remove the book and notice how much more comfortable your neck is. If this doesn’t cause a pain in your neck then I owe you a pint of your favourite brew.
My computer desk, which is several years old now, facilitates my looking down and is much easier on my neck than anything else I have ever used in 24 years of using computers. The monitor is a little more than one arm’s length away from eyes and I do not hunch up to look at it. I think that if you watch people using a computer, you will see that most people who hunch do so to get closer to the keyboard, because they never learned touch typing and they hunch to find the keys.
Look at these links. There is a market for ‘down looking.’
http://www.versatables.com/pages/produc ... dv3630.php
and
http://www.smartdesks.com/computer-desks-fiseries.asp
Sean
PS Woodbloke also says that the eyes need to look down. Now try looking sown without flexing your neck. That's right. I knew you couldn't do it.