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Health Hazards

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00am

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This is the most widely recognized medical diagnosis of repetitive strain injury. Sufferers often experience swelling of membrane linings and the surrounding tendons in the base of the palm of the hand. This inflammation compresses the nerve that supplies most of the feeling to the hand, causing numbness and aching in the inflamed area.  Read more

Janice's story

Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00am
RSI - Janice's story | Health Hazards

RSI - Janice's story

'It all happened very fast. It began with a very sore arm which my doctor diagnosed as tennis elbow. I took some anti-inflammatory drugs and by the time I returned from a scheduled holiday, it all felt fine.  Read more

Health Hazards

Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00am
In the past writer's cramp and eye problems plagued writers. A writer these days is going to spend a lot of time at their computer. These pages are designed to help.

These pages assemble the available advice and will include:  Read more


Your Working Environment

Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00am

Setting Up your Office:

Desk

Be realistic about the desk, file and shelf space you will need when designing your desk

Is there enough room for your research material and the notes you need? Use shelving and magazine racks to stop paperwork encroaching on the space in front of your computer monitor.   Read more

Input devices

Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00am
Keyboards and Mice

Keyboards:

Your keyboard should be just above the level of your lap, which is probably lower than you might expect. It leaves your elbows at a comfortable angle and minimises the pressure on wrists and fingers. Your forearms should be roughly parallel to the floor.  Read more

Visual Display

Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00am
Monitors and laptops
Positioning your monitor

A position away from a window is normally best, although there will still be some problems with reflections. You also need to be able to relax your eyes and stare into the distance so a nearby window is handy.  Read more

Your Computer Chair

Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00am

Your chair is probably the single most important component of your working environment. You should select and adjust your chair first as it will affect how you position your keyboard and monitor.  Read more

Looking after your eyes

Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00am

Humans were not designed to sit and stare at computer screens. The good news is that there is no evidence that prolonged computer use causes any eye damage. The bad news is that if you do not accept the limits imposed by physics and physiology you could induce numerous painful problems.  Read more


Things to check

Repetitive Strain Injury

Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00am
Repetitive Strain Injury


Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is an umbrella term, used to refer to various musculo-skeletal injuries.   Read more

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Linked items...

20 January 2020 - What's new

January 2020
  • ‘The biggest kick is reading something new and exciting and then getting other people to share your enthusiasm... Beyond all the cant and hypocrisy in publishing, that's what it's all about... I have always found comfort in the confines of a book or a manuscript, Reading is how I spend most of my time and is still the most joyful aspect of my day.
  Read more

Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2020

Information

Closing date: 
2 March 2020
Entry: 
Open to writers of any nationality writing in English. Entry fee £20
Prize: 
£15,000 for each prize plus a publishing deal with Bonnier for Best Unpublished Manuscript

Submissions for the two 2020 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prizes are now open. The international prize is now in its fifth year. Entries are accepted from writers of any nationality, writing in English. The deadline is 2 March.  Read more

'Sometimes the ideas just come to me. Other times I have to sweat and almost bleed to make ideas come. It's a mysterious process, but I hope I never find out exactly how it works. I like a mystery, as you may have noticed.'

— J K Rowling

'The biggest kick'

20 January 2020

‘The biggest kick is reading something new and exciting and then getting other people to share your enthusiasm... Beyond all the cant and hypocrisy in publishing, that's what it's all about...'

On receiving the Maxwell Perkins Award for lifetime achievement:  Read more