Analytical Design Methodology for Recommending VDT Workstation Settings and Computer Accessories Layout

Repetitive stress injury at the wrist has been reported as a common injury among visual display terminal (VDT) users (i.e., computer users). Adjusting a VDT workstation (computer table and chair) to maintain a correct seated posture while operating a keyboard is perhaps the most frequently recommended preventive solution. This paper proposes an analytical design methodology based on ergonomic design principles for recommending appropriate VDT workstation settings and layout of individual computer accessories on the computer table. The proposed design methodology consists of two interrelated phases: (1) determination of VDT workstation settings, and (2) design of computer accessories layout. Based on the information about the VDT user, dominant task to be performed, typing skill, and degrees of physical and visual interactions between the user and computer accessories, adjustment and layout solutions are recommended to allow having a correct seated posture while minimizing both physical and visual movements. The results from an experiment show that when adjusting the workstation and locating the computer accessories according to the recommendations given by the proposed design methodology, the user's hand movements can be significantly reduced.