Are you Sitting Comfortably

Where can you try out the comfiest chairs – in the world? And where can you also see the most exciting ideas for productivity improvement since, well, the invention of the wheel?

Fall – Autumn as Brits will have it - is always an exciting time for the folks in our busy offices as we contemplate the various treats ahead. First Thanksgiving and Halloween. Then slipping in before the ultimate family treat of Christmas, the most exciting event in this glittering and colourful season. Picture this – hundreds of experts, gathered in the most glamorous and desirable location. Meeting and sharing their expertise, working towards making the world safer, more productive, and – let it be said - more comfortable!

For those of us in the Health and Safety, Ergonomics – and (new rising star) Office Efficiency business, the Fall ErgoExpo conference is just few short weeks away. Hosted at, arguably one of the world finest destinations, Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, this ‘state of the art’ conference brings together the world’s leading professionals from a wide range of organisation and learning, to contemplate a safer workplace, medical facility, school, college. And plan towards a future in which musculo-skeletal pain is not only banished, but prevented from happening again, where man and machine are in perfect harmony, and productivity and efficiency optimised for health and wealth.

ErgoExpo comprises a four-day conference, with a wide remit. Working Safer not Harder, Speech Recognition in the Oil Industry, Managing Office Productivity, Assisting the Disabled Worker, Design for an Aging Work-force, Hospital Efficiency, Comfort and the Learning Experience, are just a few of the topics covered. Attendees and participants include leading experts from academia, and from corporates in the energy, IT, education, public, service and health industries. Researchers, users and suppliers mingle and share. Industry giants – such as Chevron Texaco, talking with Herman Miller. Small innovative and dynamic newbies, such as Goldtouch, interacting with academics from Cornell, Harvard and beyond.

It was here I first learned that the Iraq Desert Storm campaign was nearly lost due to poor ergonomics, and that the range of human motion and adaptabilities runs into millions of different movements and skills. Now our academic attendees are able to show us the many benefits of computer modelling for these many human activities. Which in turn leads to better and better product design, from chairs, desking, keyboards, to every kind of industrial and military activity, processes of all kinds that need optimising, and made more efficient and safe.

In addition to the many learned and real-world papers presented over the four-day period, there’s also an excellent 3 day exposition, with vendors from round the world, - USA, Europe and Pacific - demonstrating and exhibiting the best available equipment designs, and software management tools. Choose from Fellowes, 3M Herman Miller, Kinesis, Ergomat, Appleton, Remedy, Dane, Goldtouch, and dozens of other fine vendors.

Amongst our RSIAction team, attendance at ErgoExpo is hotly competed for. This year I am joined by a new colleague and intern, Elizabeth, for whom this will be a first glimpse of the ‘work-practices’ of the future. For me this is a 4th visit, and I hope to see many of our readers enjoying this landmark event. To refresh an old phrase – “If you’re serious about ergonomics - be there or be square”

Tim Roberts is Editor of RSI Action, a web-based resource for IT users everywhere. www.rsi.org.uk

ErgoExpo is at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, USA
Conference Nov 27 –30; 2007
Exhibition Nov 28 – 30; 2007
www.ergoexpo.com

Tim Roberts
05/11/2007