Kinesis KB510USB USB Contoured Ergonomic Keyboards - Manual (Page 38)

Adjusting your work surface
The proper height of the work surface is related to the clearance you have beneath it to accommodate your
legs while in a seated position.
1. Pull up to the work surface while seated. With your feet flat on the floor, adjust the height of your work
surface so that your knees do not bump the edge of the work surface, pencil drawer, or keyboard support
tray (when the tray is in its working position). The tops of your thighs should not touch the underside of
the work surface.
2. When pulled up to the work surface, your feet or knees should not bump against the back of the work
surface or wall supporting the work surface.
3. Swivel to grasp something within easy reach on your work surface. You need enough clearance beneath
your work surface to move freely. Your knees should not bump against storage drawers or support
brackets.
4. While sitting in an upright position, your forearms should rest comfortably on the work surface.
If the height of the work surface causes your shoulders to be raised up or hunched, consider lowering your
work surface. If you must slump or hunch over your work surface, consider raising it so that you can work in
a comfortable, upright position. Check the height of your work surface against the standards recommended by
ANSI.
According to ANSI
1. Knee space should measure at least 20” from side to side under the work surface; 24” of knee space is
preferred.
2. The underside of the work surface or keyboard tray should be higher than your knees. If you work at a
desk with a work surface that cannot be raised or lowered, the clearance under the work surface should be
at least 26.2”.
There should be at least 12.2” of front-to-back clearance at knee height, measured from underneath the front
edge of the work surface back toward the wall supporting the work surface. Taller people will need more
clearance. Now adjust your Kinesis keyboard and computer monitor.
Adjusting your Keyboard
Adjust the angle and height of your keyboard so that the front of the keyboard is approximately at the same
height as your elbows. Your forearms should be parallel to the floor. Be Careful of the Following:
1. Are you striking the keys on your keyboard too hard? Try to remember to soften your touch.
2. Are your shoulders raised or hunched? Relax and lower them. If the armrests of your chair are forcing your
shoulders up, consider asking to have the armrests removed. If your work surface is forcing your
shoulders up, consider asking to have it lowered.
3. Do you keep your hands poised above the keyboard? Relax them; don’t allow yourself to keep your hands
frozen in one position. Remember mini-breaks.
4. Are you leaning against a sharply angled edge? Move back to relieve pressure on your forearms.
5. Are you leaning over to reach things in your workstation that could be placed closer? Do you often reach
behind your body or above shoulder height to retrieve something that could be moved forward or down?
Try to find an arrangement that keeps materials you frequently use within convenient reach (about 20”
away for a heavy object).
Finally, listen to your body. If you think you may be more comfortable adopting a different posture or way of
working, experiment! And if you are experiencing persistent discomfort or unusual sensations, see a health
care professional for advice.
Reprinted in part with the permission of Herman Miller, Inc., Zeeland, MI USA. Herman Miller, Inc. does not necessarily recommend the use of
the Kinesis keyboard. Design concept; LANDMARK bv DESIGN & CONSULT, THE NETHERLANDS
© 1992 HERMAN MILLER, INC., Zeeland, MI USA