dekay.org » ergonomics http://www.dekay.org/blog Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:03:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 MacBreakZ’s return to OSX – glorious and pretty. http://www.dekay.org/blog/archives/macbreakzs-return-to-osx-glorious-and-pretty http://www.dekay.org/blog/archives/macbreakzs-return-to-osx-glorious-and-pretty#comments Thu, 07 Sep 2006 12:25:15 +0000 dekay http://www.dekay.org/blog/archives/macbreakzs-return-to-osx-glorious-and-pretty

MacBreakZ

Year: 2006 Version: 4 Author: Frank Reiff Platform: Mac OS Category: Utility Publisher: Publicspace Price: 9,95
Rating: 5 out of 5
The old-time classic of mac anti-RSI applications has been updated, finally, to a MacOSX-savvy version. [MacBreakZ](http://www.publicspace.net/MacBreakZ/) is now available in version 4 (free upgrade for anyone who purchased after Jan 1st 2005, else USD 10) and it is functional as before: it checks your activity level, stops you for short micro breaks during work phases, interrupts these work phases with short breaks and also suggests stretching exercises to do during these breaks. Additionally it warns you before these breaks happen and enforces them, but it doesn't do so if you are really busy. The application's look and feel is just as you would expect for a Mac application. It is transparent, as unobtrusive as you like, but can be as obvious as you need it -- customization of transparencies is available as well as of any other part of the application. Set your own timers, warnings and sounds effects. If you ever think you should do more breaks, working at the computer is killing you; this app is for you. Especially if you have first hand experience of RSI: don't take it too easy and give yourself the necessary breaks! It is well worth the effort! Note: more info on RSI and its prevention has been written [here](http://www.dekay.org/blog/archives/rsi-prevention)
Tags: rsi, anti-rsi, mac, osx, break, ergonomy Related posts:
  1. Getting things done with MacBreakZ You may have read my previous review of MacBreakZ, maybe...
  2. Civilization 4 on OSX Ⅰ just read that Aspyr is going to publish the...
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MacBreakZ

Year: 2006

Version: 4

Author: Frank Reiff

Platform: Mac OS

Category: Utility

Publisher: Publicspace

Price: 9,95

Rating: 5 out of 5

The old-time classic of mac anti-RSI applications has been updated, finally, to a MacOSX-savvy version. [MacBreakZ](http://www.publicspace.net/MacBreakZ/) is now available in version 4 (free upgrade for anyone who purchased after Jan 1st 2005, else USD 10) and it is functional as before: it checks your activity level, stops you for short micro breaks during work phases, interrupts these work phases with short breaks and also suggests stretching exercises to do during these breaks. Additionally it warns you before these breaks happen and enforces them, but it doesn’t do so if you are really busy. The application’s look and feel is just as you would expect for a Mac application. It is transparent, as unobtrusive as you like, but can be as obvious as you need it — customization of transparencies is available as well as of any other part of the application. Set your own timers, warnings and sounds effects. If you ever think you should do more breaks, working at the computer is killing you; this app is for you. Especially if you have first hand experience of RSI: don’t take it too easy and give yourself the necessary breaks! It is well worth the effort! Note: more info on RSI and its prevention has been written [here](http://www.dekay.org/blog/archives/rsi-prevention)

Tags: rsi, anti-rsi, mac, osx, break, ergonomy

Related posts:

  1. Getting things done with MacBreakZ You may have read my previous review of MacBreakZ, maybe...
  2. Civilization 4 on OSX Ⅰ just read that Aspyr is going to publish the...
  3. Addressbook/OSX on Steroiods My last post spawned some ideas for a better, much...

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]]> http://www.dekay.org/blog/archives/macbreakzs-return-to-osx-glorious-and-pretty/feed 2 RSI prevention http://www.dekay.org/blog/archives/rsi-prevention http://www.dekay.org/blog/archives/rsi-prevention#comments Sat, 20 May 2006 11:39:39 +0000 dekay http://www.dekay.org/blog/archives/rsi-prevention
  • Getting things done with MacBreakZ You may have read my previous review of MacBreakZ, maybe...
  • MacBreakZ’s return to OSX – glorious and pretty. MacBreakZ Year: 2006 Version: 4 Author: Frank Reiff Platform:...
  • dekay.org will break soon. be prepared, don’t despair. Argh, it is time again. Ⅰ am home sick and...
    • Ähnliche Artikel bereitgestellt von Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]>     RSI is not a specific disease but a loose group of other, more specific conditions. It is generally associated with work related injury due to repetetive movements, tasks and poor posture or ergonomics. It is very known amongst computer users who need to work on the keyboard or a mouse all day long.

    Some early signs of RSI are: recurring pain or soreness in neck, shoulders, back, wrists or hands. Often associated with feelings of numbness, tingling, coldness or general loss of sensation; in hands it is usally associated with a decrease in strength and muscle mass, a lack of endurance or general symproms of fatigue and weakness.

    Later stages of RSI can be very discomforting, ranging from inflammation related symptoms to far worse states of pain during work and other tasks. A story Ⅰ once heard was of a waoman who would have to chose in the morning between opening the door or brushing her teeth — as she would not be able to do both because of pain in her hands.

    There are no one-shot remedies for these problems. Most include a slow change of working habits, postures — accompanied by medication and anti-inflammatory treatment. Thus it is very advisable to prevent these syndromes from ever appearing or, ususally more applicable, from worsening.

    There are two major approaches to this, both which should be used in cooperation:

    1. Tools
    2. Changes in behaviour.

    Tools include a mutitude of input devices (such as a pen tablet, a trackball or ergonimc keyboards) as well as an ergonimic desktop setup (see your computer’s manual for example). Changes in behaviour is usually focussed on taking breaks, doing excercises and in general providing more change and less repetition of tasks.

    Also interesting and useful are applications that run on the computer which remind the user to take breaks, usually a mixture of “microbreaks” (which reduce the continuous work by introducing short, 15 second breaks every 5 to 7 minutes) and general breaks (about 5 to 7 minutes every hour of continuous break time, usefuly for taking a coffee break, doing some strtching excercises…)

    Software for Mac OSX:

    Some Tools:

    Related posts:

    1. Getting things done with MacBreakZ You may have read my previous review of MacBreakZ, maybe...
    2. MacBreakZ’s return to OSX – glorious and pretty. MacBreakZ Year: 2006 Version: 4 Author: Frank Reiff Platform:...
    3. dekay.org will break soon. be prepared, don’t despair. Argh, it is time again. Ⅰ am home sick and...

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    ]]>     http://www.dekay.org/blog/archives/rsi-prevention/feed 0