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You vs. Your Monitor

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Adults in the U.S. on average spend a whopping 10 hours per day staring at a screen. Therefore, it  is important to have your computer monitors placed in a way that reduces strain on your eyes, posture, and neck.

Computer Monitor

So, where is that, you ask? Well, check out these tips:

Screen height
When it comes to acceptable screen positioning, that which is acceptable will vary slightly from person to person. This depends on their height, amongst other factors. Broadly speaking, any screen position that forces you to tilt your chin, or otherwise bend or tilt any part of your body, is incorrect. Such positions may not only cause the aforementioned strain, discomfort, and pain, but may also have an effect on your productivity.

Viewing distance
Viewing distance has everything to do with how far away you are from the computer screen. Too far away, and you will not be able to read the screen properly. Too close, and you will be forced to deal with uncomfortable eye strain. When it comes to effective positioning, the key is to find the sweet spot. Moreover, distance is not just an issue for the eyes.

If it is too close or too far away, you may subconsciously begin to lean back or forward, or under/over-extend your arms. The point is, a small miscalculation in viewing distance can disrupt all your ergonomic efforts. In order to set up a perfect viewing distance, first be aware of ocular accommodation and convergence, which reference involuntary eye functions when too close to an object.

These are what cause eye strain. To avoid this and other such issues, the resolution is quite straight straightforward. When sitting in front of the computer screen, simply place the monitor at the exact length equal to that of your fully extended arm.

Because computer screen sizes vary, make sure to double check that the monitor is neither too close nor too far away. When done properly, you should be able to see the entire screen and work comfortably without straining your vision or moving any part of your body.

Angles
Not only should the computer screen be placed directly in front of you, but it is also important to be aware of the angle at which you are viewing it. Position your computer screen at a poor angle for long enough, and you could find yourself experiencing neck pain and possibly even damage.

When it comes down to it, the angle of the screen is more or less its height in reference to the user. A six-foot-tall person should not have his or her screen at the same position as a five-foot-three-inch person, for instance.

Getting into the numbers of it all, your screen should be placed anywhere between eye level and thirty-degrees below your line of sight. This range is determined based on the fact that our eyes naturally trend straight ahead and downward when at rest. Bearing that in mind, the trick to determining the angle that’s best for you, without breaking out the protractor, is remarkably simple.

When gazing at a computer monitor, your eyes should be at rest when viewing a the address bar on a browser. If that is not the case, and you are seeing the trash bin or upper toolbar, then you may want to adjust the angle at which you are viewing the screen.

Original post from Spiceworks

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