iPad Ergonomics Part One: Best Practices for using your iPad
September 19, 2012
With the boom in sales of the iPad and similar handheld mobile computers, many users are discovering the convenience of the tablet form factor for the first time. But while this new style of computer is extremely popular, it presents a host of new ergonomic challenges that could have lasting implications on the health of our bodies. As we spend more and more time holding, typing, and swiping on our iPads, we’re putting new stresses on our bodies that can have serious physical implications down the line. Because we spend as much time on our iPads as anbody, we set out to examine the best practices of iPad ergonomics that will keep tablet usage efficient, comfortable, and–most of all–healthy.
A study conducted by Harvard School of Public Health researchers and published earlier this year in Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation is one of the best examinations so far of ergonomics for iPad owners. In the study, fifteen adult tablet users rotated through four different common usage positions on both an iPad with an iPad Smart Case and a Motorola Xoom with a Portfolio Case. Each user had their head and neck posture measured by an infrared 3d motion analysis system. The positions included holding the tablet on their lap with their hands, resting the tablet in its case on their lap, resting the tablet in its case on a table at a low angle (such as for typing on it), and propping the tablet up higher on the table for watching media. To keep things realistic, users were even given an ottoman to put their feet up on, as in so many of those first popular ipad advertisements. Then they did typical tablet things: browsed the web, sent some e-mail, played a game, and watched a video.
So, what did they learn? It turns out that by combining our monitor and our keyboard, we’re putting ourselves at risk of spending far too much time hunched over looking down. When using their tablets in low positions, such as on our lap or laid nearly flat on a tabletop, subjects in this test ended up lowering their heads and putting stress on their neck, which can lead to pain over time. Of the two tablets tested, the iPad actually fared worse than the Motorola Xoom, but only when being used with the iPad Smart Case. (Held in users’ hands without a case, they were nearly even.) At just 15°, the low angle setting of the Smart Case cover caused users to gaze further down than Xoom users and that tablet’s 45° low angle setting. Ideally, you want to be sitting up straight, looking straight ahead, holding your head in a neutral position. The most healthy positions of the test were those in which the tablets were propped up on tables and used for watching videos. By moving our tablets down to our laps, such as when sitting on the couch (or laying in bed, perhaps), we’re putting ourselves at risk in a way not seen in typical desktop computing.
The solution? A lot of work has been put into figuring out the optimal ergonomics for desktop usage, and that information still applies to iPad ergonomics as well. While it may feel right to ditch the desk when using our tablets, it’s actually best to have your iPad propped up as close to eye level as possible, similar to a computer monitor. This may seem to defeat the purpose of having a tablet in the first place, but there are ways to make this possible. Though the iPad Smart Case is sleek, sexy, and shows up in all of those lovely ads, it’s not the best accessory on the market. But you shouldn’t hold a bare iPad–with nothing propping it up, you’re sure to end up stressing your neck to keep it in view. When purchasing an iPad case, dock, or holder, consider how you’ll be using it; don’t commit to a case that will force you to crane your neck. Additionally, consider getting a keyboard if you’ll be doing extensive tablet typing, as laying a tablet completely flat is the worst position of them all. And finally, don’t be so static. Study author Jack Dennerlein recommends changing posture as often as every 15 minutes while using your iPad or other tablet device. They call it a mobile device for a reason, don’t they?
While this initial study focused on the head and necks of tablet users, the researchers at the Harvard School of Head and Neck are still looking for answers; their next study will focus on our hands and wrists. And we’re not done examining iPad ergonomics here at the Octa Blog, either. Stay tuned for Part Two of our series, in which we’ll look at some specific accessories that will help you stay healthy.
Alexei Bochenek is a lifelong tech nerd & film buff based in Los Angeles. When he’s not playing with his phone, it’s because the movie has started. Shhhhh!
