Mr. Spock Would Be Baffled.
It is difficult for me to understand why people make illogical choices when it comes to assessing their everyday risks. For example: we know through proven statistics that it is far more likely that we would be injured or die in an automobile accident than in an airplane crash. Yet, people break out in a cold sweat when flying across the country only to happily retrieve a rental car at the airport and drive off without fastening the seat belt.

Personal risk assessments and choices are difficult to justify. As individuals, it is likely that not one of us could rationally explain our thoughts and actions regarding the choices we make every day. It is nearly impossible to attempt a simple explanation without using a phrase like: "I don't know." or " It just makes me uncomfortable." or "I wouldn't do it for a million bucks!"

I could present one hundred scenarios of juxtaposed risks, but you get the idea. So, why bring this subject into this forum? Risk. I would rather anonymously suggest the theory to potentially thousands than debate it face-to-face at a conference to a certain two hundred.

Dr. Spock
Today we spend millions -- some say billions -- of dollars on fixing and avoiding negative conditions (non-ergonomic) in the workplace. In comparison, virtually nothing has been done regarding ergonomics in the home.

Some estimates in the United States place 30 million children with access to computers at school and nearly 14 million kids using computers at home.* Many children spend more time in front of the computer than do their parents. If the estimates are anywhere near accurate, we have something about which to be concerned.

Don't Touch! (Touch Type.)
Generally, the computer companies only reluctantly integrate minimal ergonomic concepts into the design of their equipment. The bulk of that task is left to the furniture manufacturers. Of course, most of the computer support furniture is based on adult anthropometric percentiles. This probably means that no matter where the child is -- school or home -- he sits at a computer where the keyboard is at his chin and/or his feet do not touch the floor and he looks up at the monitor with his head tilted backward. To top it off: he, probably, cannot touch type.

Alas, there is some good news! Children constantly grow and quickly heal. Kids may seem to play computer games all night, but most children come with another little twist: They have a built-in timer we generally call a short attention span. Just try to get a kid under 17 to work at anything for more than one hour!

The one adult attribute they have acquired is adaptability. It sounds positive. But, by the time they move into the work force, our children will have developed all the most awful postures and habits a computer user can amass. Worst of all is that they will have adapted so well to the bad conditions that a corrected ergonomic condition will seem awkward and wrong to them. In addition, if we add a dash of stubbornness to these dynamos . . . well, presto: instant trauma! As they age, the damage will begin to settle-in and become outwardly apparent.

The Cure?
There is no magic ergonomics pill and changing a child's habits is "impossible" unless he thinks his parents would not like it. If only you could convince him that learning to touch type is cool, maybe. . .

But, mark my words: If we don't do something soon, we just might see more Ace bandages on our kids and considerably more of the physical therapist after school.

Humans make hundreds of split second risk assessments everyday. Most of our decisions regarding risk are of little consequence and probably are made with only short term gratification in mind. If only we could become a little more worried about the decisions we make regarding the long term issues.