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An ergonomic study on the biomechanical consequences in children, generated by the use of computers at school

Issue title: IEA 2012: 18th World congress on Ergonomics - Designing a sustainable future

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Paraizo, Claudia | de Moraes, Anamaria

Affiliations: Pontifical Catholic University (PUC- Rio) LEUI-PUC-Rio Laboratório de Ergonomia e Usabilidade de Interfaces (Ergonomics and Interface Usability Laboratory) – Brazil [email protected] | Communication Faculty, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (ECO/UFRJ) LEUI-PUC-Rio, Ergonomics and Interface Usability Laboratory) – Brazil [email protected]

Keywords: ergonomics, computer, child, school furniture, postural constraints

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0254-857

Journal: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 857-862, 2012

Published: 2012
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Abstract

Abstract This research deals with the influence of the computer use in schools related to the children posture, in an ergonomic point of view. The research tries to identify probable causes for the children early postural constraints, relating it to the sedentary behavior and the lack of an ergonomic project in schools. The survey involved 186 children, between 8 and 12 years old, students of a private school in Rio de Janeiro – Brasil.

An historical and theoretical school furniture research was conducted as well as a survey with the students and teachers, computer postural evaluation, ergonomic evaluation (RULA method), and observations in the computer classroom. The research dealt with the student´s perception with respect to the furniture utilized by him in the classroom during the use of the computer, his body complaint, the time he spent working on the school computer and the possibility of the existence of sedentariness. Also deals with the teachers´ perception and knowledge regarding ergonomics with reference to schoolroom furniture and its Regulatory Norms (RN). The purpose of the research work is to highlight the importance of this knowledge, having in view the possibility of the teachers´ collaboration in the ergonomic adaptation of the classroom environment and in their conscientious opinion during the purchasing of this furniture. A questionnaire was utilized and its results showed some discontent on the part of the teachers with relation to the schoolroom furniture as well as the teachers´ scant knowledge of Ergonomics.

We conclude with a survey that despite the children had constraints in postural assessments and school furniture needs a major ergonomic action, the time that children use the computer at school is small compared with the time of use at home and therefore insufficient to be the main cause of quantified commitments, thus the study of computer use at home as a development and continuity of this research.

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