12-14Safety and Comfort

Adjusting the Keyboard Height and Slope

Your elbow height should be near the height of your keyboard’s home row (see illustration under “Shoulders and Elbows”). Adjust your keyboard slope so that your wrists are straight.

Aligning the Mouse and Keyboard

When using a mouse or detached trackball, position the device immediately to the right or left of your keyboard.

Using a Keyboard Tray Comfortably

If you use a keyboard tray, make sure it is wide enough to accommodate your pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball. Otherwise, you will probably place the mouse on your desktop, higher and farther away than the keyboard. This will lead you to stretch forward repeatedly, and uncomfortably, to reach the mouse.

RIGHT!

Position your pointing device immediately to the right or left of your keyboard.

WRONG!

Don’t position your keyboard and pointing device at different levels and distances.