This is a pointer to a basenote and discussion pertaining to computer
pointing device injuries (mouse, trackballs, puck, stylus, etc.) in
sci.med.occupational.  For convienence I have included a copy of the
basenote below.  To follow net etiquette, please direct all responses to
the basenote below in sci.med.occupational notesgroup ONLY.

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                      (Copy of Basenote)

This note (which is being posted monthly) is for anyone that has been
injured using a computer pointing device (mouse, trackball, puck, tablet,
etc.).  I have been assisting computer operators who have been injured using
pointing devices for the past 4 years.  I am now presently doing research
at the University of California's (San Francisco and Berkeley's) Ergonomics
Lab on the design of computer pointing devices with the goal of reducing
injuries associated with their use.  In order to do this, I need to collect
information on pointing device design characteristics (button design, button
force, device size, device shape, etc.) that are important in minimizing
and/or reducing the physical stresses operators are subjected to.  Some of
this information will be collected through my laboratory research, but a
major and important source of information has to come from operators like
yourself.  I need to collect all the information I can from computer
operators that have been injured as a result of pointing device use.

In order to do this, I need your help.  If you have been injured using a
pointing device, I would appreciate it if you would send me a note with
information pertaining to your injury.  I would like the information e-

like the information sent to me is as follows, fill in as much as you
can:

 1) NAME: (optional)
 2) COMPANY: (optional)
 3) PHONE #: (optional)
 4) MANUFACTURER OF COMPUTER AND MODEL NUMBER:
 5) NUMBER OF HOURS SPENT IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER PER DAY:
 6) PERCENTAGE OF TIME SPENT USING A POINTING DEVICE:
 7) POINTING DEVICE USED AT TIME OF INJURY: (Please be specific)
      a) MANUFACTURER
      b) MODEL OR PART NUMBER
      c) DESCRIPTION OF DEVICE
 8) NUMBER OF MONTHS/YEARS USING ABOVE POINTING DEVICE
 9) NUMBER OF MONTHS/YEARS USING POINTING DEVICES
10) PRIMARY SOFTWARE APPLICATION USED AT THE TIME OF YOUR INJURY
11) TYPE OF INJURY
12) WHAT YOU THINK CAUSED YOUR INJURY
13) IF INJURY IS RESOLVED OR YOUR CONDITIONS HAVE IMPROVED, WHAT CHANGES
    WERE MADE (This is probably the most beneficial information)
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My intent is to enter this information into a database in order to
gather information and look for trends.  Each month I will share
relevant information by posting a monthly summary document titled
"Pointing Device Injury Summary Document" in sci.med.occupational similar
to what has been done with keyboard information.  If you are presently
experiencing problems, feel free to call me (510/231-9405) and I will
share with you what I know.  I am also open for suggestions, please post
responses to this basenote or e-mail me if you have any further
suggestions or input.

If your company has internal bulletin boards, please post this note or
provide a pointer telling your co-workers about this basenote in the
sci.med.occupational newsgroup.  I will be also be posting a pointer to
this basenote in comp.risks, comp.human-factors, and sci.med as well.

Finally, if you have any opinions or inputs on a particular pointing
device or pointing device design in general, send me a note or call me.
Our lab is assisting some manufacturers with the design of their pointing
devices. If you have some inputs for a particular company, I will be happy
to direct them to the appropriate person.

Thanks for your help.

Peter W. Johnson
                          (End of Basenote)
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