"Ergonomically designed" no longer just applies to cars.

Furniture, office equipment and even computers are now ergonomically designed, said Maurine Claver, manager of the University Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

Ergonomics, the way employee or user comfort relates to the work environment, has become increasingly important in computer design. In recent years, more computer users have experienced adverse health effects such as eyestrain, back strain and a wrist disorder called the carpal tunnel syndrome, according to a 1990 guideline from the University Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

The guideline established recommendations for people who work at video display terminals for long periods of time, such as secretaries or computer programmers.

But even students who work at computers for extended periods of time are at risk.

"The eyestrain for me is the worst," said Andy Harned (senior-computer engineering). "I also get occasional headaches, but there's no real way to get around it."

Harned said he spends as much as 15 hours a day in front of a computer when he has a project due.

Jason Webster (senior-computer engineering) said he plans to see an eye doctor for glasses after experiencing a lot of eyestrain last semester.

"My eyes are the only good sense I have left so I'd like to preserve it," he joked.

Some ways to cut down on eyestrain include using a computer with an amber-colored screen, using a desk light next to the monitor and dimming overhead lights, if possible, Claver said. Such adjustments cut down on glare. It also helps to close window blinds near a monitor since sunlight produces glare, she said.

Another adverse effect computer users face is back strain and muscle fatigue.

"The biggest key is the chair," Claver said. "If you put a computer at any height, by adjusting the chair you can make the desired angles (to reduce back strain)."

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety guideline recommends using a chair with a sturdy, adjustable backrest and support for the lower back.

"Most equipment and chairs today are designed for that," Claver said.

Sitting properly in a computer chair can also prevent back strain. The Environmental Health and Safety guideline recommends sitting with a 115- to 130-degree angle between the spine and thighs, bending the arms to a 90-degree angle and keeping the wrists straight.

The user should also sit between 15 and 30 inches from the screen, the usual distance for reading written material, the guideline stated.

Webster said he sometimes puts a pillow on his desk chair to prevent back strain when working at his computer.

"Other than my eyes going, I just get tired of sitting," Webster said, adding that he works anywhere from two to 10 hours at a time when he has a computer project due.

A third and less common computer-related health effect is carpal tunnel syndrome, a wrist disorder that occurs when too much pressure is placed on a nerve in the wrist. The pressure is due to excessively bending the wrist for an extended period of time, according to information from Drs. Philip Roberts and M.E. Sevick, 911 University Drive.

To prevent prolonged wrist bending, Claver suggested using a wrist rest, which fits underneath a computer keyboard and supports the wrists.

Courtenay McMillan (senior-aerospace engineering) said she first heard about wrist rests from her mother, who experienced wrist discomfort as an information systems employee.

McMillan also read an article about a Massachusetts Institute of Technology student who developed carpal tunnel syndrome so badly that she could no longer type.

Such a condition will not affect most students however, because many do not work at computers for more than a few hours at a time, Claver said.