Child Computer Use and Anthropometry

Abstract

Despite all of the literature that exists on ergonomic considerations for adult computer use, there is a deficit of established objective data on how computer input device designs may affect children. By applying the relevant anthropometric data from children to the design of computer input devices, we have developed recommendations which may lead to new standards for child- and gender-specific computer input device designs, specifically, regarding mouse size (length, width, height, switch location), and mouse-button activation forces. Trends yielded four major size delineations based on age and gender, which happen to correspond well with the conventional grouping of grades in school in the United States. The data support that children and adult females may benefit from stature proportionate mice based on anthropometry.