Adjustments of posture and viewing parameters of the eye to changes in the screen height of the visual display terminal.

To understand the motions caused by the interaction among the different body parts, adjustments of both eye position and body posture to screen height settings of 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 cm were determined in 10 subjects. The subjects engaged in a non-keyboard, interactive computer game requiring constant visual monitoring. Changes in body positions were determined by video image analysis for the posture parameters and by video frame analysis for the eye parameters. Analysis of variance and correlation analysis showed that neck angle, thoracic bending and vertical eye position were significantly affected by changes in the screen height of the VDT. The study of the interrelationship of eye position and body posture suggested that changes in body positions served to complement the eye position in attaining a better view of the visual target. Viewing angle was observed to be decided mainly by inclination of the neck and the eye. Thoracic bending was also noted to contribute in setting the viewing angle, although to a lesser extent. On the other hand, viewing distance and trunk inclination showed significant correlation.

[1]  D. Chaffin Localized muscle fatigue--definiton and measurement. , 1973, Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association.

[2]  R. Ortengren,et al.  Lumbar disc pressure and myoelectric back muscle activity during sitting. II. Studies on an office chair. , 1976, Scandinavian journal of rehabilitation medicine.

[3]  E Grandjean,et al.  Postural and visual loads at VDT workplaces. I. Constrained postures. , 1981, Ergonomics.

[4]  R Arndt,et al.  Working posture and musculoskeletal problems of video display terminal operators--review and reappraisal. , 1983, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[5]  B. Knave,et al.  Work with video display terminals among office employees. I. Subjective symptoms and discomfort. , 1985, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[6]  K H Kroemer,et al.  Preferred line of sight angle. , 1986, Ergonomics.

[7]  G. Németh,et al.  Effects of changes in sitting work posture on static neck and shoulder muscle activity. , 1986, Ergonomics.

[8]  A Cavalleri,et al.  Visual fatigue in video display terminal operators: objective measure and relation to environmental conditions , 1988, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[9]  Y Yaginuma,et al.  Study of the relationship between lacrimation and blink in VDT work. , 1990, Ergonomics.

[10]  L M Schleifer,et al.  Work Posture, Workstation Design, and Musculoskeletal Discomfort in a VDT Data Entry Task , 1991, Human factors.

[11]  M Brüwer,et al.  Preferred vertical gaze direction and observation distance. , 1991, Ergonomics.

[12]  S Saito,et al.  Visual comfort in VDT operation: physiological resting states of the eye. , 1993, Industrial health.

[13]  K. Tsubota,et al.  Dry eyes and video display terminals. , 1993, The New England journal of medicine.

[14]  B. Knave,et al.  Eye discomfort and work with visual display terminals. , 1994 .

[15]  S Saito,et al.  Ocular surface area as an informative index of visual ergonomics. , 1995, Industrial health.

[16]  B Nilsson,et al.  Musculoskeletal disorders among visual display terminal workers: individual, ergonomic, and work organizational factors. , 1995, Ergonomics.