Compaq Notebook PC User Manual
www.compaq.com
Presario
Mobile Internet PC Safety
and Comfort Guide
© 2000 Compaq Computer Corporation.
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States,
Brazil, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan,
and the United Kingdom. Compaq is registered
in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
First Edition March 2000.
www.compaq.com
2000
191432-001
Notice
© 2000 Compaq Computer Corporation
COMPAQ and the Compaq logo Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
All other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies.
Compaq shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions co ntained herein. The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
The information in this publication is subject to change without notice and is provided "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
INFORMATION REMAINS WITH RECIPIENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL COMPAQ BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR OTHER DAMAGES
WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS
PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION), EVEN IF COMPAQ HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE FOREGOING
SHALL APPLY REGARDLESS OF THE NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER FAULT OF EITHER PARTY
AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH LIABILITY SOUNDS IN CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE,
TOR T, OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LEGAL LIABILITY, AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANY FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY.
The limited warranties for Compaq products are exclusively set forth in the documentation accompanying
such products. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting a further or additional warranty.
Compaq Presario Notebook Safety and Comfort Guide
First Editi on (April 2000)
Part Number 191432-001
C
ONTENTS
Chapter 1 Safety and Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Promoting a Safe and Comfortable Work
Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Important Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Take Action for Safety and Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Key Principles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Finding Your Comfort Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
A Range of Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Different Tasks, Different Postures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Organizing Your Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Feet, Knees, and Legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Forearms, Wrists, and Hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Shoulders and Elbows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Arranging Your Work Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Keyboard and Pointing Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
i
Arm Supports and a Palm Rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Papers and Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Working in Comfort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Using a Notebook Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Typing Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Pointing Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Using a Keyboard on a Sofa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Taking Breaks and Varying Your Tasks . . . . . . . . 1-21
Monitoring Your Health Habits and Exercise . . . . . 1-22
Organizing Your Adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
From the Ground Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
From the Top Do w n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Self-Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Seated Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Shoulders, Arms, Wrists, and Hands . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
ii
Eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Typing Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Keyboard and Pointing Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Notebook Computing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
General Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Electrical and Mechanical Safety Information. . . . . . . . 1-27
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
Product Safety Policy and General Practice . . . . . 1-27
Safety Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
Installation Require ment s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28
General Precautions for Compaq Products . . . . . . 1-28
Precautions for Portable Computer Products . . . . 1-32
Precautions for Server and Network Products . . . . 1-32
Precautions for Products with External Television
Antenna Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-34
Antenna Grounding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-36
Precautions for Products with Modems,
Telecommunications, or Local Area Network
Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-37
Precautions for Products with Laser Devices . . . . 1-37
For More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-39
Chapter 2 Government Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
European Union Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Federal Communications Commission Notice . . . . . . . . 2-2
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Declaration of Conformity for Produc ts Marked with
the FCC Logo (United States Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Canadian Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Avis Canadien . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Japanese Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Telecom Network Approvals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
U.S. Regulations Governing the Use of Modems. . . . . . 2-4
Ringer Equivalence Number (REN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991. . . . . . . . . 2-5
Canadian Regulations Governing the Use of Modems . 2-6
U.K. BABT Users Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
iii
Telephone Network Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Auto Dialing with the Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Benutzerhinweise für besondere Bestimmungen in
Österreich. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Hinweis für die Benutzung in osterreich . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Wahlsperre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Benutzerhinweise für besondere Bestimmungen in
Deutschland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Hinweis für die Benutzung in der Bundesrepublik
Deutschland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Brugerinstruktioner i overensst emmelse med
danske krav . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Opkaldskoder P og T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Speciale gebruiksinstructies voor Nederland . . . . . . . . 2-10
Aansluitfactor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Wachten op kiestoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Handenvrij bellen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
iv
Användarinstruktioner i överensstämmelse
med svenska krav. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Uppringning skod P och T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
New Zealand Modem Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Power Cords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Laser Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
CDRH Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Using the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
German Ergonomics Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Mobile Products – German Ergonomics Notice . . . 2-15
Locating the Regulatory Compliance Markings
Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Energy Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
v
vi
Chapter 1
Safety and Comfort
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WARNING: There may be a risk of serious physical injuries from working at your computer
workstation. Read and follow the recommendations in this section to minimize the risk of injury and to
increase your comfort.
Some studies hav e suggeste d that lon g period s of ty ping, imp roper wo rkstation s etup,
incorrect work habits, stressful work conditions and relationships, or problems in
your personal health may be linked to injuries. These injuries could include carpal
tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, and other musculoske letal disorders.
The warning signs of these disorders can occur in the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders,
neck, or back, and can include:
◆ Numbness, burning, or tingling
◆ Soreness, aching, or tenderness
◆ Pain, throbbing, or swelling
◆ Tightness or stiffness
◆ Weakness or coldness
Symptoms may be felt during typi ng, whil e using a mous e, or at other ti mes when no
work with the hands is being performed, including during the night when these
symptoms might awaken you. If you experience these symptoms, or any other
persistent or recurring pain or discomfort that you think may be related to using a
computer, you should promptly consult a qualified physician and, if available, your
company’ s health an d safety dep artment. The earlier a problem is p roperly di agnosed
and treated, the less chance there is that it will progress to a disabling condition.
The following pages des cribe prop er works tation s etup, pos ture, and healt h and wor k
habits for computer users. In addition, this Guide contains product safety information
applicable to all Compaq products.
Safety and Comfort 1-1
Promoting a Safe and Comfortable Work Environment
Posture, lighting, furniture, work organization, and other work conditions and habits
may affect the way you feel and how well you work. By adjusting your work
environment and personal practices, you may be able to minimize fatigue and
discomfort, and reduce the risk of resulting strains that some scientists b e lieve can
lead to injury.
Important
Choices
Take Action for
Safety and
Comfort
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If you share a computer with others, readjust the work environment to your needs.
Each time you sit down to work, adjust into your comfort zone.
Whenever you use a computer, you make choices that can affect your comfort and
potentially your safety. This is true whether you use a full-size keyboard and monitor
on a desk, a notebook computer, or a wireless keyboard on your lap. In every case,
you choose your working posture and you r body’s position relative to your keyboard,
pointing device, monitor, remote control, phone, and any reference books and papers.
You may also have some control over lighting and other factors.
Many factors in our work environment determine whether we work ef ficiently and in
a manner that promotes good health and safety.
By considering, acting on, and periodically reevaluating the recommendations in this
Section, it is possible to create a safer, more comfortable, healthful, and efficient
work environment.
NOTE: Some scientists believe that working intensely, or for a long time in uncomfortable or unnatural
positions, may pose risks, such as those mentioned in the warning. The information included in this
Section is designed to help you work more safely by recommending ways to work more comfortably
and effectively.
HINT: SELF-CHECK: After reviewing the information in this chapter, double-check your postures and
habits using the section
Self-Check
on page 24.
1-2 Safety and Comfort
Key Principles
To promote safety and comfort, follow these principles whenever you use your
computer.
Adjust
Adjust your body position and your work equipment.
There is no one “right” position. Find your comfort
zone, as described in this Section, and when working at
your computer, frequently adjust within this zone.
Move
Vary your tasks so that you can move around; avoid
sitting in one posture all day. Perform tasks that require
walking.
Relax
Build positive relationships at work and home. Relax
and strive to reduce sources of stress. Stay aware of
physical tension such as clenching your muscles and
shrugging your shoulders. Continually release tension.
Take frequent short breaks.
Listen
Listen to your body. Pay attention to any tension,
discomfort, or pain you may feel, and take immediate
action to relieve it.
Safety and Comfort 1-3
Finding Your Comfort Zone
Remember
Remember to exercise regularly and maintain general
fitness. Doing this will help your body withstand the
rigors of sedentary work. Respect any medical
conditions you may have or other health factors you
may know of. Adjust your work habits accordingly.
A Range of
Positions
Rather than working in a single posture, find your comfort zone. Your comfort zone
is a range of positions that is generally appropriate and comfortable for your given
work situation.
Vary Your Posture
Depending on your tasks, y ou may fin d a range of s eated
and standing postures that are comfortable. Within your
comfort zone, change postures often throughout the day.
Move
Sitting still for long periods can cause discomfort and muscle fatigue. Changing
postures is good for many parts of your body, including your spine, joints, muscles,
and circulatory system.
Within your comfort zone, change postures often throughout the day. Take frequent
short breaks: stand up, carefully stretch, or walk around. Frequently switch to brief
tasks that require getting up, such as retrieving output from a printer, filing
paperwork, or consulting a colleague down the hall.
If your furniture offer s a wid e rang e of adjus t ments , you mi ght fi nd it comf ort ab le to
switch back and forth between sitting and standing positions.
1-4 Safety and Comfort
Different Tasks,
Different
Postures
Your choice of posture within your comfort zone may vary with your task. For
example, you may find a reclined posture most comfortable for computer tasks, and a
more upright posture more comfortable for tasks requiring fre quent reference to
papers or books.
Organizing Your
Adjustments
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AVOID!
The order in which you make various adjustments to your body position and work
area may vary depending on the adjustability of your furniture. For tips on how to
order your adjustments see the section Arranging Your Work Area on page 10.
HINT: THAT AFTERNOON SLUMP: Pay particular attention to adjusting your posture in the afternoon
when you may tend to get fatigued.
HINT: EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED: When you reposition any one part of your body, you may need to
adjust other parts as well.
Don't sit in one fixed posture all day.
◆
Avoid slouching forward.
◆
Be sure not to lean back too far.
◆
Safety and Comfort 1-5
Feet, Knees, and
Legs
Make sure your feet can rest solidly and comfortably on the floor while sitting. Use
an adjustable work surface and chair that allow your feet to r est firmly on the floor, or
use a footrest. If you use a footrest, be sure it is wide enough to accommodate
different leg positions within your comfort zone.
Providing enough leg room
Be sure you have sufficient space under your work surface for your knees and legs.
Avoid concentrated pressure points along the underside of your thigh near the knee
and the back side of your lower leg. Stretch your legs and vary your leg posture
throughout the day.
RIGHT!
Rest your feet firmly on the floor or a footrest.
WRONG!
Don’t dangle your feet and compress your thighs.
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AVOID! Avoid placing boxes or other items under your desk that limit your leg room. You should be able to pull
1-6 Safety and Comfort
HINT: WALK: Get up from your desk frequently and take brief walks.
HINT: LEG COMFORT: Vary your leg positions throughout the day.
yourself all the way up to your desk without interference.
Back
Use your chair to fully support your body. Distribute your weight evenly and use the
entire seat and backrest to support your body. If your chair has adjustable low back
support, match the contours of the chair’s backrest to the natural curve of your lower
spine.
Getting comfortable
Always make sure your lower back is we ll-su pporte d. Make sure it feels comf ortable
in the position in which you are working.
RIGHT!
Distribute your weight evenly and use the entire seat and
backrest to support your body.
WRONG!
Don’t slouch forward.
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AVOID! If you get a new adjustable chair, or if you share a chair with someone else, don’t assume the settings
Safety and Comfort 1-7
HINT: ADJUST OFTEN: If your chair is adjustable, experiment with the adjustments to find numerous
comfortable positions, then adjust the chair frequently.
are properly set for you.
Forearms,
Wrists, and
Hands
Keep your forearms, wrists , and hands aligned in a straight, neutral po siti on, whet her
you are working at a desk or table, or sitting on a couch or bed. Avoid bending or
angling your wrists while typing or using a pointing device.
Don’t anchor your wrists
When typing, do not anchor or rest your wrists on your work surface, your thighs, or
a palm rest (sometimes called a wrist rest). Resting your palms while typing may be
harmful because it can cause you to bend your wrists back and can apply pressure to
the undersides of your wrists. A palm rest is designed to provide support during
pauses, when you are not typing.
RIGHT!
Hold a straight, neutral wrist position while typing.
WRONG!
Don’t rest your palms on a work surface while typing.
RIGHT!
Hold a straight, neutral wrist position while typing.
WRONG!
Don’t angle your wrists; this may cause unnecessary
strain.
1-8 Safety and Comfort
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AVOID! Be sure not to rest your wrists on sharp edges.
HINT: Split Keyboards
If you find it difficult to type with a straight, neutral wrist position, you may want to try a split keyboard.
Be aware, however, that improper setup or posture while using a split keyboard can increase bending
in your wrists. So if you try one, set it up properly to align your forearms, wrists, and hands.
Shoulders and
Elbows
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Adjust your chair height or keyboard height so that your shoulders are relaxed and
your elbows hang comfort ably at your s ides. A djust you r keybo ard sl ope so that you r
wrists are straight.
Checking elbow height
Position your elbows in a zone that is near the height of your keyboard’s home row
(the row that includes the letters G and H). This position allows you to relax your
shoulders. If you have long upper arms, you may find you need to position your
elbows a bit below the height of home row in order to provide enough space under
the work surface for your knees and legs.
RIGHT!
Turn your chair to the side to help determine if your
elbow height is near the height of your keyboard’s
home row.
HINT: RELAX: Remember to relax, particularly in areas where muscle tension often builds, such as
your shoulders.
Eyes
Safety and Comfort 1-9
W orking at your computer for long periods can be a visually demanding task and may
cause your eyes to become irritated and fatigued. Therefore, you should give special
attention to vision care, including the following recommendations:
Resting your eyes
Give your eyes frequent breaks. Periodically look away from the monitor and focus
at a distant point. This may also be a good time to stretch, breathe deeply, and relax.
Cleaning your monitor and eyeglasses
Keep your display screen and your eyeglasses or contact lenses clean. If you use a
glare-reduction filter, clean it according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Having your eyes examined
To be sure that your vision is adequately corrected, have your eyes examined
regularly by a vision care specialist. Consider having glasses made that are
specifically suited for working with a computer monitor. If you wear bifocals or
trifocals, you may find these special monofocal glasses more comfortable for
computer use. For more information, see Adjusting monitor height for bifocal and
trifocal users on page 12.
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HINT: Eye Comfort
While looking at your monitor and also while resting your eyes, remember to blink. This helps keep
your eyes naturally protected and lubricated and helps prevent dryness, a common source of
discomfort.
HINT: Eye Break
Give your eyes frequent rests by focusing them on a distant point.
Arranging Your Work Area
You may find a range of monitor heights that allows your head to be balanced
comfortably over your shoulders.
Monitor
You will reduce eye strain and muscle fatigue in your neck, shoulders, and upper
back by properly positioning your monitor and adjusting its angle.
1-10 Safety and Comfort
Positioning the monitor
Place the monitor directly in front of you. To
determine a comfortable viewing distance, stretch
your arm toward the monitor and notice the location
of your knuckles. Place your monitor near that
location. Y ou sh ould be able to clearly see the text on
your monitor.
Adjusting the monitor height
Your monitor position should allow your head to be balanced comfortably over your
shoulders. It should not cause your neck to ben d forward unco mfort ably or backwar d
to any degree. You may find it more comfortable to position the monitor so that the
top line of text is just below your eye height. Your eyes should look slightly
downward when viewing the middle of the screen.
Many computer designs allow you to place the monitor on top of the system unit. If
this places the monitor too high, you may want to move the monitor to the desktop.
On the other hand, if the monitor sits on your work surface and you feel any
discomfort in your neck or upper back, the monitor may be too low. In that case, try
using a thick book or a monitor stand to raise the monitor.
Tilting the monitor
Tilt the monitor so that it faces your eyes. In general, the monitor screen and your
face should be parallel to each other. To check for correct monitor tilt, have someone
hold a small mirror in the center of the viewing area. When sitting in your normal
work posture, you should be able to see your eyes in the mirror.
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AVOID! If you look at the monitor more than you look at paper documents, avoid placing your monitor to the
Safety and Comfort 1-11
HINT: Eye Height
Your eye height will change considerably whether you use a reclining or upright posture, or some
posture in between. Remember to adjust your monitor’s height and tilt each time your eye height
changes as you move through your comfort zone.
side.
Adjusting monitor height for bifocal and trifocal users
If you wear bifocals or trifocals, it’ s especially important to properly adjust your monitor
height. A void tilting your head back to view the screen through the lower portion of your
glasses; this could lead to muscle fatigue in your neck and back. Instead, try lowering
your monitor . You may want to consider using mon ofocal glasses that are specially made
for computer use.
WRONG!
If you wear bifocals or trifocals, don't position your monitor
so high that you have to tilt your head back to view the
screen.
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HINT: Notebook Viewing
Whenever using a notebook computer for long periods, you may find it more comfortable to connect a fullsize monitor. A separate monitor gives you a wider range of viewing distance and height options.
HINT: Adjusting Brightness and Contrast
Reduce the potential for eye discomfort by using brightness and contrast controls on your monitor to
improve the quality of text and graphics.
Eliminating glare and reflections on your monitor
Take the time to eliminate glare and reflections. To control daylight, use blinds, shades,
or drapes, or try other glare-reducing measures. Use in di rect or red uced lig ht ing to avoid
bright spots on your display screen.
If glare is a problem, consider these actions:
◆ Move your monitor to a place where glare and bright reflections are eliminated.
◆ Turn of f or reduce ceili ng lights and us e task lightin g (one or more adju stable lamps)
to illuminate your work.
◆ If you cannot control the ceiling lights, try positioning your monitor between rows of
lights instead of directly beneath a row of lights.
◆ Attach a glare-reduction filter to your monitor.
1-12 Safety and Comfort
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